Premier League football will return with a bang when Tottenham and Arsenal lock horns in an enthralling north London derby on Sunday.
At the best of times, fans don’t like international football, especially the timing of it and when it is situated during the season.
Martin Odegaard’s injury on Norway duty has enraged the Arsenal fans because now it looks likely that he won’t just miss the Tottenham trip, but also be on the sidelines for a while.
Mikel Arteta was already missing a key player in the middle of the park when Declan Rice was sent off against Brighton, added to the fact that new summer signing Mikel Merino is also sidelined.
Gary Neville believes this will have a huge effect on the game and how this will ‘harm’ the Premier League title chasers.
It also needs to be noted that Tottenham have got their own fingers crossed because club-record signing Dominic Solanke and key centre-back Micky van de Ven were missing before the international break.
Spurs fans are going to be hoping Ange Postecoglou can provide a positive injury update on them because, if they are ready to start, then the balance might tip towards the home team.
That’s probably why Jamie Carragher expects Tottenham to ‘dominate’ the game, with their rivals producing the best defence in the Premier League last season when they conceded just 29 goals.
Arsenal have only conceded once from their opening three matches this term – including a 2-0 win at Villa Park – with Brighton’s Joao Pedro scoring when the London club were down to ten men.
Despite all of this, both Neville and Carragher agreed with the end result. They feel it will be a 1-1 draw in the north London derby, as they told Stick to Football.
Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard to miss Arsenal’s trip to Tottenham
“I think Tottenham will dominate the game, but Arsenal’s defence will make sure they get something from the game,” said Carragher.
Neville added: “Arsenal have got a couple of players out. Big players. Declan Rice and Odegaard probably. I think that will harm them. They are massive players for Arsenal. 1-1 (with Carragher agreeing on the scoreline).”
Ange Postecoglou v Mikel Arteta
The duo drew at the Emirates last season, but then Arsenal outclassed their opponents in the reverse fixture, with Arteta winning back-to-back games at Spurs’ home ground.
There is pressure on both teams here. Many are doubting Arsenal’s Premier League title push, especially if they drop points here and do the same away at Manchester City next week.
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Plus, Odegaard is injured and nobody knows when he will be back and there not being an obvious name to fill his place in the starting XI.
You sense if this Arsenal XI is weak and Spurs don’t win, then their fans will make sure they know about it because it has been a while since they won a NLD.
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