Arsenal, despite maintaining strong performances in recent years, seems likely to fall short of the Premier League title once again this season.
Currently in second place, they trail leaders Liverpool by six points, having played one additional game. The Gunners have been resilient, with their last league defeat occurring in early November. They recorded victories over Crystal Palace (5-1), Ipswich (1-0), and Brentford (3-1) before being held to a 1-1 draw at Brighton.
However, their momentum took a hit with a 2-0 loss to Newcastle in the League Cup semi-final first leg. Arsenal recently hosted Manchester United in the FA Cup and remain in contention for direct qualification to the Champions League Round of 16, where they are currently third in their group.
Tottenham, meanwhile, is enduring a challenging season. Currently 12th in the Premier League with 24 points from 20 matches, they sit 10 points adrift of European qualification spots. Spurs have struggled for form, winning just once in their last eight league outings—a victory over bottom-placed Southampton. During this period, they managed two draws and suffered five losses, including a 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle.
Despite their league woes, Tottenham pulled off a surprising 1-0 win against Liverpool in the League Cup semi-final first leg. They also faced Tamworth in the FA Cup recently and are ninth in the Europa League standings, needing a stronger effort to secure a Round of 16 berth.
Arsenal faces several absences ahead of this match. Bukayo Saka remains sidelined, along with defender Ben White, substitute Tomiyasu, and youngster Ethan Nwaneri. Gabriel Jesus, who has had a relatively quiet season with just three league goals, has shown signs of regaining form and is expected to start. Supporting him will likely be Kai Havertz (7 goals, 2 assists), Gabriel Martinelli (5 goals, 2 assists), and Leandro Trossard (3 goals, 2 assists).
Tottenham also grapples with a lengthy injury list, including goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, defenders Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, and Destiny Udogie, and midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur. Additional absentees include Ben Davies, Odobert, and Richarlison, while Fraser Forster remains doubtful. However, new signing Czech goalkeeper Kinsky impressed in the League Cup semi-final against Arsenal.
On the attacking front, Tottenham boasts a strong lineup, including James Maddison (8 goals, 4 assists), Dominic Solanke (7 goals, 3 assists), Brennan Johnson (7 goals, 2 assists), Son Heung-min (5 goals, 6 assists), and Dejan Kulusevski (5 goals, 4 assists). The team also recently added South Korean winger Min-hyeok Yang to their squad.
Prediction
Arsenal’s recent record at home includes just one goalless draw in their last 20 Premier League matches, while Tottenham has gone 42 league games without a scoreless outcome. Given the attacking depth on both sides, a lively contest with goals is expected. Arsenal’s strong home form gives them the edge in what should be a competitive matchup.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham
