Struggling Spurs vs. Arsenal in crucial North London derby

Article content

The cliche is form goes out the window in a derby. Both sides better hope that’s the case in this weekend’s North London derby.

Article content

Tottenham vs. Arsenal is always a classic clash. But their fortunes the last few years have been nothing if not disparate. In 2017 Spurs ran close to the fairytale Foxes as Leicester won the title and Spurs fans felt they were at the dawn of a new era. That was bolstered when they got to their first Champions League Final in 2019, but then lost to Liverpool.

Article content

Article content

Surely greater things lay ahead with the construction and opening of a world-class stadium and the revenues that follow. It was a false dawn. While their fierce rivals Arsenal have been competing at the top end of the league every season, Spurs have never seemed so far away. They come into the match with yet another manager after firing Thomas Frank last week. He had been in charge for less than six months.

Article content

A handful of weeks ago, it seemed like Arsenal were marching to their first title since 2003. And while Spurs have struggled, the Gunners have had a seat at the big table the last few years, but a bad couple of weeks has seen a nine-point lead atop the table shrink such that heavy nerves are setting in.

Spurs haven’t won a league game in their last eight matches, the last one coming on Dec. 28 against Crystal Palace. How bad is it? Well, aside from not winning in nearly two months, they’re just five points ahead of West Ham, who are the last team in the relegation zone. And the Hammers have lost only once in their last five. Wins need to start coming for Spurs, and there would be no better place to start than at home against Arsenal this weekend.

Article content

Article content

New manager Igor Tudor has been described as a disciple of the style that Jurgen Klopp deployed at Liverpool, high-energy with lots of pressing. He also favours a system with wing backs that use three centre backs in defence, but Spurs currently are suffering a spate of injuries to their defenders, and have hot-headed defender Christian Romero out for another three games thanks to a four-game suspension. Hardly ideal to bring in a coach who favours different tactics and a demanding, intense system with a limping and thin squad. But Tudor has acknowledged there’s no time to ramp up a learning curve with the gap between the Londoners and the relegation zone perilously small.

Not only are the points sorely needed for Spurs safety, they could offer a bonus of putting a serious dent in their hated neighbour’s title chances.

Article content

Arsenal’s lead atop the table is now just five points over Manchester City after blowing a two-goal lead against the league’s worst team and drawing 2-2 with Wolves on Wednesday. And City also have a game in hand. Mikel Arteta’s team were coming of a 1-1 draw with Brentford, so dropping four points in their last two has opened the door for City, who don’t have an easy game hosting Newcastle this weekend, but the Magpies have only won one of their last five league matches. If City win their game in hand, and beat Arsenal at the Etihad in April, City would leapfrog the presumptive champions.

After Spurs, Arsenal face Chelsea in another London derby, then Brighton, Everton, Bournemouth and then a massive game against Manchester City, whom they also play March 22 in the Carabao Cup Final.

Article content

The Gunners are buoyed by the contract extension of Bukayo Saka, who has signed on for another five years, but they have to find a way to put away teams far below them in the table to snap their title drought.

Stock up

Bournemouth: After a stretch where they didn’t win in 14 games and were forced to sell their best player, Antoine Semenyo, to Manchester City, Bournemouth have not lost in their last five, three wins and two draws. They face a rejuvenated West Ham this weekend, but a win could propel them into the top seven.

West Ham: The miserable season the Hammers had endured has changed course but they’re still in the relegation zone. Three wins and a draw in their last five has pulled them withing striking distance of safety, they’re three points back of Nottingham Forest, but they need to keep getting results and Bournemouth won’t be easy even at home.

Article content

Chelsea: It certainly wasn’t ideal to see a two-goal lead squandered and draw with 15th-place Leeds, but that point coming after a four-game winning streak still has them on a tear, and they host 19th-place Burnley this weekend. Nothing’s guaranteed this season, just ask Arsenal, but Chelsea should get back on track this weekend.

Stock down

Fulham: At times this year Fulham have looked they’re a top-half team capable of beating anyone. And then they go and lose three in a row. As far from the relegation zone as they are the Champions League places, Fulham are the ultimate mid-table team that could beat a contender and lose to a relegation candidate.

Sunderland: They’re two points up on Fulham and while they played well in their last game, a 1-0 loss to Liverpool, that’s now three losses in the last four games. Liverpool was the first team to win at Sunderland all season and while that bubble has burst, they’ve been so good at the Stadium of Light you would be hard-pressed to see a second loss this weekend.

Article content

Nottingham Forest: If they don’t win this weekend against Liverpool will they fire another manager? They’re on their fourth manager of the season, a stunning revelation, but reports out the back door of the locker room make it clear the squad hated Sean Dyche. Maybe there’s a bounce back against Liverpool, who have had their share of clangers this season, but they’re only three points above the drop zone.

Crisis Club

Brighton: Forever one of those scrappy teams that looks capable of beating anyone they are struggling massively. They haven’t won in their last six games and have won just once in their last 13 games, and just once this calendar year. They go to Brentford, who haven’t lost in three and have been playing high-tempo, intense games. Huge test for a team that’s fallen to 14th and can’t afford to fall any further.

This weekend’s EPL schedule

Saturday: Aston Villa vs Leeds; Brentford vs Brighton; Chelsea vs Burnley; West Ham vs Bournemouth; Manchester City vs Newcastle.

Sunday: Crystal Palace vs Wolves; Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool; Sunderland vs Fulham; Tottenham vs Arsenal.

Monday: Everton vs Manchester United.

Article content