English Premier
2011-10-02 - Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football : English Premier League
Sunday 2 October 2011 - Kickoff 4pm
This game is live on TV
Tottenham Hotspur
Harry Redknapp rested 10 of the 11 players that are set to take the field on Sunday, but must have been wondering about his decision when Shamrock Rovers took a 0-1 lead at White Hart Lane on Thursday. The Europa League is clearly an unwanted distraction for Redknapp, with all the focus being placed on the Premier League.
A top 4 berth is the aim for the side this season if Tottenham really want to keep their best players happy at the club. Champions League football is the only way to appease the likes of Rafael Van der Vaart, Gareth Bale and Luka Modric and they have started well towards those aims. Spurs are 6th in the Premier League with 9 points, but they do have a game in hand over the majority of the League. They are 1-0-1 at home this season, scoring 5 goals and conceding 5.
Spurs are unbeaten in their last 6 games in all competitions- they have won 3 Premier League games on the bounce after losing their opening 2 games against the Manchester clubs, both heavy defeats. Much of the early poor form was down to the unsettled nature of the squad, with Modric looking like he was desperate to leave, but the close of the transfer window has seen an upturn in form. Tottenham have won back to back games at White Hart Lane in all competitions.
Harry Redknapp will restore his entire first XI for this game, with only Kyle Walker expecting to keep his place from Thursday. William Gallas, Michael Dawson and Tom Huddlestone are out. Emmanuel Adebayor will start against his former club.
Arsenal
I have heard in some quarters that Arsenal are in good form of late, but wins over Shrewsbury, Bolton and Olympiakos, all at home, does not yet inspire me with this squad. Defensively they are struggling, and Arsene Wenger will know this is another huge test for the squad to face.
Arsenal improved to 13th in the Premier League table courtesy of their win over Bolton last week, but they have only gained 7 points from their first 18 available and there are still plenty of questions to be asked of the 2nd worst defence in the League that has conceded 14 goals in 6 games. Arsenal are 0-1-2 away from home this season, scoring 5 goals and conceding 12.
A lot of the goals conceded came at Old Trafford where they conceded 8, but it is also telling, and worrying, that they conceded 4 in their last away game in the League at Blackburn Rovers. Arsenal do come into this game on a 3 game winning run, but they were all at home against the clubs highlighted in the first paragraph, hardly teams at the level of Tottenham. Arsenal have won just 1 of their last 10 away games in the Premier League, conceding 29 goals in those games and keeping just 1 clean sheet.
Theo Walcott should be available for selection, but Laurent Koscielny and Johan Djourou have been ruled out. Gervinho and Yossi Benayoun will need to pass fitness tests.
Head to Head
Tottenham have lost just 1 of their last 6 games in the Premier League against Arsenal, and they picked up 4 points from their 2 meetings with the Gunners last season.
Arsenal have won just 1 of their last 6 away games in the League at Tottenham.
On the other hand, Spurs have won just 1 of 11 home League games against their North London rivals.
Prediction
I think this should give you a good idea as to how far Arsenal have fallen in the estimation of the layers- Tottenham were priced at 2.70 to beat Liverpool here a couple of weeks ago and were considered the underdogs, yet they are shortening favourites in this one.
The Gunners have looked their menacing selves when going forward in recent games, but defensively they have been awful. While I described Manchester United's defending as shambolic recently against Basel, Arsenal themselves have been offering up countless chances and are a little fortunate to have a winning run going.
The one thing you know you will get with Tottenham is fast paced attacks, and I cannot see how Arsenal are going to keep them out, yet I can see Arsenal causing their own problems.
The layers do too and 'Over 2.5 Goals' and 'Both Teams to Score' markets have been shortened considerably.
I do like Tottenham in this spot though, as odds against favourites in a game at White Hart Lane- they will create chances and they have players that are capable of exposing defensive flaws that Arsenal are showing.
This should be the 'popcorn match' of the weekend and I will back Spurs to come out on top of a high scoring game.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Tottenham 3-2 Arsenal
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Tottenham Hotspur @ 2.20
