The pressure is on as Spurs host Arsenal in a high noon north London derby on Saturday, and Paul Higham is backing goals galore at Wembley.
Recommended bets
1pt over 3.5 goals in Tottenham v Arsenal at 7/4
For advised bookmakers and each-way terms visit our transparent tipping record
Tottenham v Arsenal (1230 GMT - BT Sport 1)
Just a week ago this game was penned as Arsenal being able to thwart Tottenham's title challenge but back-to-back defeats for Spurs suddenly has them looking over their shoulder and not even appearing to be a safe bet for the top four.
Spurs sit just four points above the Gunners, who have won three in a row since losing at Man City to remain in the fourth and final Champions League spot - but with Man Utd hot on their heels there is all to play for at Wembley.
While the fixture is always guaranteed to have plenty of energy and passion to it, the pressure adds another vital ingredient and when you throw in Arsenal's dodgy defence and Spurs' recent woes then would could see a glut of goals to brighten up our Saturday lunchtime.
Spurs do often respond to adversity though and Maurcio Pochettino will surely get an improvement out of them and given Arsenal's away day woes if the hosts can get back to something like their top form they should have enough to get the vital win.
Saying that, and I'm just playing a hunch here, but Spurs haven't drawn a league game all season and surely they won't go through the entire campaign without at least one. And Unai Emery's side do seem to be at least a bit more steely these days, so favoured is an entertaining stalemate.
Betting guide
Prediction: Tottenham 2-2 Arsenal (Sky Bet odds: 11/1)
There's going to be so much pressure on this game that it could easily be spoiled, but with so much attacking talent on display we'll surely get a few goals. Spurs' dodgy run means Arsenal will have great expectations heading across north London, and they've always got a chance with their firepower.
Best bet: Over 3.5 goals at 7/4
Arsenal away games usually have both teams scoring and over 2.5 goals in them, but we'll tag on an extra strike here as we're at the end of a busy week for both sides so we'll see some tired legs making mistakes, especially towards the end of the game so watch out for second half goals.
Goals/stats: Harry Kane & Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang both to score at 9/2
Kane almost always scores against Arsenal - he's got eight in eight in the Premier League against their derby rivals, while Aubameyang is the top London derby scorer this season. There's a bit of danger here in that Emery may not even start Aubameyang as lately he's gone with either him or Lacazette - but both strikers have a habit of scoring from the bench anyway.
RequestABet: Tottenham to draw with Arsenal, over 3.5 goals, Kane & Aubameyang to score at 22/1
Tottenham v Arsenal Opta stats
- Tottenham Hotspur have won five of their last seven home Premier League games against Arsenal (D1 L1), including each of the last two; only once in their top-flight history have Spurs won three consecutively at home against the Gunners (between January 1960 and August 1961).
- Arsenal are looking to complete a Premier League double over rival Spurs for only the fourth time, also doing so in 2004-05, 2007-08 and 2013-14.
- The away team have won just one of the last 16 Premier League fixtures between Spurs and Arsenal, with the Gunners winning 1-0 at White Hart Lane in March 2014; the home team has won each of the last four since April 2017.
- This will be the fifth meeting between Tottenham and Arsenal at Wembley, with Spurs winning two (D1 L1). They could become the first team to beat the Gunners on three separate occasions at the stadium.
- Tottenham haven’t lost three consecutive Premier League games since November 2012, the third defeat of which came against Arsenal.
- Arsenal have won five of their last six Premier League games (L1), as many as they had in their previous 13 in the competition (W5 D5 L3).
- Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has never lost a home Premier League game against Arsenal (P5 W3 D2 L0) – the only manager to have managed more home games against the Gunners without losing is Jose Mourinho (9).
- Spurs striker Harry Kane has scored eight of Spurs’ last 11 Premier League goals against Arsenal; only Wayne Rooney (12), Robbie Fowler (10) and Peter Crouch (9) have scored more Premier League goals against the Gunners than Kane’s tally of eight.
- Harry Kane has scored eight goals in eight Premier League games between Spurs and Arsenal, a joint-record in the competition along with Emmanuel Adebayor (8 in 13 games).
- Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored more London derby goals than any other player in the Premier League this season (6).
Odds correct as of 1938 GMT 28/2/19
