Arsenal
Aston Villa
Chelsea
Crystal Palace
Everton
Fulham
Leeds United
Liverpool
Manchester City
Manchester United
Newcastle United
Nottingham Forest
Southampton
Tottenham Hotspur
West Ham United
Wolverhampton Wanderers
News
Paul Merson shares why Arsenal should be worried about Tottenham on Sunday
Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal lock horns in one of the biggest fixtures in the English calendar this Sunday.
Spurs will host the Gunners at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a North London derby that has huge implications already.
Tottenham could’ve easily won all three of their Premier League games so far this season, but a lack of cutting edge and issues at the back means they’ve got just four points.
Meanwhile, Arsenal failed to win against Brighton before the international break, and they’re also in the midst of a personnel crisis in midfield.
With that in mind, both Spurs and Arsenal will be desperate to win in order to stabilise their seasons, along with the obvious bragging rights.
Highbury legend Paul Merson has now shared his thoughts about the fixture and explained why Arsenal should be worried about Tottenham.
Paul Merson says Arsenal must pick up at least four points against Tottenham and Manchester City
Merson, writing on , reiterated that he’s nowhere near as bullish about the outcome as he was last year.
The Gunners icon also said Arsenal cannot afford to draw at Tottenham and then lose at Manchester City a week later, as it would be disastrous for their title hopes.
“I know there are 30-odd games left but I just can’t see how they make up the seven points,” said Merson.
“I was very bullish last year saying Arsenal would definitely win the North London Derby but I’m not so sure this season – and it’s a game they can’t afford to lose in the title race.
“I’m a bit worried for Arsenal without the suspended Declan Rice and Tottenham being at home.
“Last season, Arsenal dominated and then all of a sudden they let in a goal and you could only see one result, and that was Tottenham coming back.”
READ MORE: Arsenal masterstroke could soon have them ‘laughing all the way to the bank’
Merson warns Arsenal that Tottenham are better than their points tally suggests
Merson also stressed that Spurs’ lack of points this season is largely down to bad luck and that they’re not as bad as their tally suggests.
“I don’t think there’s a lot wrong with Tottenham at the moment,” Merson continued. “They have been bang unlucky. They could easily be sitting on nine points and top of the league.
“Tottenham dominated Leicester and then should have got a draw against Newcastle at worst. They end up drawing and losing those two games.
“With experience, you make sure you don’t get beat at Newcastle and at Leicester when it did go 1-1, they didn’t look like they were going to score again and that would have been worrying.
“But that comes with experience and another year and another year. Look how long it took Man City to win the Champions League.
“It’s the same with the Premier League, the manager would have come away and gone, you know what, we should have just not lost against Newcastle.
“There’s not a lot in it at the moment with Spurs. They’ve not been as bad as what people probably think only because of the points they’ve got. The performances haven’t been that bad.”
Tottenham v Arsenal team news
Spurs will hope to have Micky van de Ven back after he missed the Newcastle loss before pulling out of Netherlands duty.
Likewise, Dominic Solanke could return after he missed Tottenham’s last two games, while Richarlison is not expected to be fit and Yves Bissouma is a doubt.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have a number of personnel concerns of their own.
Martin Odegaard is a serious doubt with an ankle injury, while Mikel Merino, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney are also sidelined.
Riccardo Calafiori suffered a knock on Italy duty, while Gabriel Jesus has been dealing with a groin problem of late and Declan Rice is suspended.