Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-Min has made a big claim about Arsenal before Spurs visit Emirates Stadium for the first north London derby of the season on Sunday.
The Gunners will play host to their fierce rival at the weekend looking to repeat last season’s successes. Arsenal did the double over Tottenham in the 2022/23 Premier League term with 3-1 and 2-0 results. It marked the first time either club had achieved the feat since 2013/14.
Thomas Partey (20’), Gabriel Jesus (49’) and Granit Xhaka (67’) secured Arsenal the points at the Emirates in October. Harry Kane (31’) pulled Spurs level from the penalty spot but they could not hold on. Martin Odegaard (36’) followed up Hugo Lloris’ (14’) own goal in January.
Arsenal have a brilliant recent record at home to Tottenham Hotspur
Arsenal have won each of the past three north London derbies at Emirates Stadium and are unbeaten at home to Tottenham in the Premier League since November 2010. The Gunners have won eight and drawn four of their 12 matches since Spurs won under Harry Redknapp.
But Tottenham will travel across north London with an identical record to Arsenal in the top-flight so far this term. Both rivals have won four and drawn one of their opening five games to the season. Only Manchester City and Liverpool are also unbeaten across their five matches.
Tottenham also sit above Arsenal in the table owing to their superior goal difference under new manager, Ange Postecoglou. Since taking over from Antonio Conte in the summer, the Australian has brought new life to Spurs’ tepid style and introduced a more attacking brand.
Postecoglou’s work, along with the summer transfer of James Maddison from Leicester City, has helped Tottenham to cope without Kane thus far. Only Brighton & Hove Albion (15) and Manchester City (14) have outscored Spurs (13) this season. Arsenal have hit home nine yet.
What has Son Heung-Min said ahead of the north London derby?
Arsenal (4) and Tottenham (5) also have two of the toughest defences in the Premier League this season. Only Manchester City (3) have allowed fewer goals than Mikel Arteta’s side and Liverpool have so far. So, Sunday’s north London derby could prove to be a closer encounter.
What Tottenham have produced under Postecoglou has also convinced Son that Arsenal will not want to play Spurs right now. The new Tottenham skipper believes last season’s Premier League runners-up will go into this weekend’s encounter afraid of what team they will meet.
“[Arsenal] won’t want to face us at this time,” Son said, via The Times. “Everyone is running for each other, everyone is fighting for each other. If someone comes off, you give a hand off and everyone is happy to do that. That makes us really strong as a team.”
Son’s position will not be one shared at Emirates Stadium, though, as Arsenal will go into the north London derby confident of continuing their brilliant run at home to Tottenham. Arteta and his players have already beaten Manchester United and were dogged to win at Everton.
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