One of the great rivalries in all of sports gets renewed on Sunday when Arsenal visits Tottenham Hostpur in the Premier League.
The North London Derby is one of the most anticipated fixtures on the calendar each year and this one should have some extra punch since both clubs are projected for big things this season.
Arsenal came into the season as the second-favorite to win the Premier League, so it’s no surprise to see them favored on the road on Sunday morning.
Let’s dive in.
Arsenal vs. Tottenham prediction
The first thing to note about this contest is that both teams are dealing with injuries/suspensions.
Declan Rice, perhaps Arsenal’s most vital player, is out and so is playmaking dynamo Martin Odegaard. The Gunners have other injuries on their backline, but Rice and Odegaard being on the sidelines drastically changes this outfit.
Tottenham’s depth will also be tested with attacking options Richarlison and Dominic Solanke doubtful to feature.
The other issue for handicappers to consider is that this is the first match after the international break.
Both Arsenal and Spurs have players who spent the last fortnight traveling around the globe in order to fulfill their duties with their respective national teams. You could argue that these stars are used to this issue by now, but it will still take its toll.
Stylistically, this match asks a pretty fun question.
Arsenal is built to control matches and dominate possession, while Spurs prefer a more chaotic approach that sees the ball move quickly and often. It will be a struggle for both teams to try and get the game on their terms and that could create a pretty herky-jerky tempo.
Get the lowdown on the Best USA Sports Betting Sites and Apps
Normally, you want to target draws in matches that project to be low-event, but given the circumstances of this contest I think there’s reason to believe that this game won’t get out of first gear.
The international break is a factor, both clubs are dealing with injuries that would dampen their expectations to win and the stylistic matchup could turn this into a lumbering 90 minutes.
The Bet: Draw (+250, FanDuel)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Michael Leboff handicaps the EPL, NHL, golf and anything else that isn’t the NFL and NBA for the NY Post. He’s up 49.73 units betting EPL with a 7.17% ROI.