BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton believes it will be ‘remarkable’ if Ange Postecoglou can secure Tottenham Hotspur’s first win at Arsenal since 2010 in the north London derby.
Sunday sees Spurs travel to their fierce rival in Postecoglou’s biggest test since taking over in the summer. Tottenham named the Australian as their latest manager in June. Yet he has already turned a defensive unit into an attacking side, even despite them selling Harry Kane.
Only Brighton & Hove Albion (15) and Manchester City (14) have outscored Tottenham (13) during the opening Premier League games. Arsenal rank seventh for goals scored with nine through their five fixtures so far. But the bitter rivals both have four wins and one draw yet.
Arsenal have dominated Tottenham at Emirates Stadium since 2010
Arsenal will hope they can be the first team to stop Tottenham from scoring at least twice in a Premier League match under Postecoglou. Spurs have scored two times in four games this season and hit five past Burnley. They also claimed an easy 2-0 win over Manchester United.
Manchester United also fell to a 3-1 defeat at Arsenal when they returned to north London. It marks the Gunners’ largest Premier League win of the term so far. Although Mikel Arteta also oversaw a 4-0 result over PSV Eindhoven when Arsenal returned to the Champions League.
Now, Arteta will hope Arsenal’s momentum can continue in the north London derby against Tottenham. The Gunners have dominated the contest in recent years when held at Emirates Stadium. Spurs have not won either of their last 12 visits since Harry Redknapp won in 2010.
Arsenal have won eight and drawn four of the 12 north London derbies at the Emirates since Tottenham last won. Redknapp oversaw a dramatic 3-2 win in November 2010 when Younes Kaboul scored an 85th-minute winner. Spurs came back from 2-0 down to edge the contest.
Chris Sutton predicts a five-goal thriller in the north London derby
Sutton predicts another five-goal thriller for this week’s north London derby, as well. But the Celtic legend expects Arsenal to win 3-2 as it would be incredible for Postecoglou to secure Tottenham’s first win at the Emirates in 13 years. Spurs have also lost each of the past three.
“I am expecting Spurs to cause Arsenal problems,” Sutton wrote in his column for BBC Sport. “But the same will apply to the Gunners when they go at the Spurs backline.
“This is the toughest game Postecoglou has faced since he took charge in the summer and Liverpool are next up. So, this is a very testing spell for him.
“It would be remarkable if he could continue the start he has made by going to the Emirates and getting a win on Arsenal’s home patch. He will have a real go. But it might prove to be a step too far.”
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