Good afternoon. It’s North London derby time!

Premier League / Matchday 28

Emirates Stadium / 14.03.2021

Arsenal

Completed

Tottenham Hotspur

M. Ødegaard(44')
A. Lacazette(64' PEN)

E. Lamela(33')

Live

Live Updates

ByDan Quarrell

Updated 14/03/2021 at 18:25 GMT

Premier League

'I look up, I don't look down' - Mourinho takes swipe at Arsenal

14/03/2021 at 12:17

I look up, I don’t look down. If Arsenal were seven points ahead of us I would look to them, but because we have seven points more than them I don’t look down. We feel we’re better than the position we have in the table and we want to improve our position so we need points for that. It doesn’t matter the opponent, doesn’t matter if it is a derby. It’s a Premier League match, three points are there to fight for and that’s what we’re going to do.

Jose Mourinho has taken a very different approach with his pre-game comments...

Arteta isn’t wrong; this is a Spurs attack fully firing right now. But today’s hosts have one of the best defensive records in the division and will surely arrive in this game with a plan. Whether that plan is enough contain BASK (or whatever ridiculous acronym we’re going with) we will see.

The level of quality, precision, understanding and chemistry that they have between them makes them probably one of the most special attacks in Europe. They are able to create their own chances, they are able to link as a team. They are a really organised team, a big threat in every counter-attack situation, good individual skills and great organisation.

The Arsenal manager spoke ahead of this game about the threat he experts the Spurs strike force to pose for his defence.

And one of the more mouth-watering prospects in store (for Spurs fans particularly I’d imagine) is how the Arsenal defence will cope with Tottenham’s in-form front three. Gareth Bale, Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son is arguably the best front-line in the division right now, particularly threatening when give space to exploit on the break. Will Arsenal adapt their tactics and sit a bit deeper to contain those three, or will they trust in Arteta’s blueprint? It’s going to be fascinating to find out.

Image credit: Getty Images

Quite an interesting development with the Arsenal team news as Arteta has revealed that Aubameyang has been left out of the starting XI for disciplinary reasons. That won’t be the last we hear about that I’m pretty sure!

Both teams go into this game on the back of convincing Europa League wins, although the Gunners did have to travel back from Greece on Thursday evening, which isn’t exactly ideal preparation for a game against their local rivals.

There have certainly been meetings between these two clubs with greater implications for the league, but there’s still something riding on this one. Spurs in particular would benefit enormously from three points as they hunt down the European qualification spots. For Arsenal it’s going to take quite a conclusion to the season if they are to climb high enough to make even the Europa League berths, but a win today would at least keep those hopes alive.

Spurs name largely the side expected with six changes in total from the starting XI in midweek, although Doherty is preferred to Aurier at right-back which will raise one or two eyebrows. The attacking unit of Bale, Son and Kane all start, with Lucas again preferred to Dele and Lamela in the No 10 role.

So Arteta makes three changes for Arsenal, with Bellerin, Willian and Aubameyang settling for a place on the bench and Cedric, Smith Rowe and Lacazette replacing them in the XI.

12345