The North London derby is all the time one of the anticipated fixtures of the Premier League season, largely as a result of it has develop into a check-in on two groups desirous to disrupt the present cadence of affairs on the high of the desk — Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. It means the most recent version of the rivalry has a becoming place as a high-stakes end-of-season encounter between two groups with lofty ambitions.

Sunday’s matchup at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is a must-win for each. Arsenal are attempting to maintain tempo in a three-way title race in an effort to win the Premier League for the primary time in 20 years, whereas Spurs eye their first Champions League berth in two years. Each targets are bold, but additionally highlight the variations between the rivals, one which’s arguably extra reflective of the place every staff is than the 2-2 draw they performed to in September.

Take Arsenal, who’ve loved a near-perfect 2024 and stay within the title race. It comes on the again of a high-scoring season by which they lead the Premier League with 82 objectives and rank second for anticipated objectives at 68.56, however have maybe discovered most success as a defensively sturdy staff. The Gunners have conceded simply 26 objectives this season, the least of the league, ato the purpose that they saved Manchester Metropolis goalless in league play this season because of their capability to soak up the opposition’s offensive strain. It is turning into more and more clear that Arsenal play with precision on each ends of the pitch when they’re at their finest, and the nice days have very a lot outnumbered the dangerous ones.

As for Spurs, the new begin that included a draw in opposition to their North London rivals gave approach for a season stuffed with inconsistency. It’s apparent what they need to do stylistically beneath Ange Postecoglou, who’s about to complete his first season within the job. They like a high-intensity, attack- first establish and rank second within the league for possession with 61.7%, third for passing accuracy at 87.3% and fourth for touches with 25,000-plus, forward of Arsenal in every of these classes. It’s miles from a nasty technique, however the execution has allow them to down at totally different occasions this season. Latest outcomes have ranged from a 4-0 win over Aston Villa to a 4-0 loss to Newcastle United, the latter of which factors at Spurs’ have to step issues up in assault and a less-than-ideal sloppiness within the again. They haven’t saved a clear sheet of their final 5, conceding 10 objectives in that point.

Why Arsenal are huge favorites

Regardless of the layers of intrigue this fixture can deliver, the info means that the end result is a foregone conclusion. Arsenal are available in because the oddsmakers’ favorites and the advantage of health. Mikel Arteta ought to have a full squad to select from on Sunday, whereas Postecoglou is probably going getting ready for lineup tetris. Future Udogie’s robust first season for Tottenham is over after present process surgical procedure for a hamstring harm final week, whereas vital gamers like Richarlison and Pedro Porro might miss out with their very own points.

These should not the one variations between Arsenal and Tottenham, although. The chances could also be stacked in opposition to Spurs at dwelling and the snakes is perhaps excessive, however Sunday’s match doesn’t should be a defining second for them as a lot because it does for the Gunners. Each are taking part in catch-up of their respective races to the end line, however for Tottenahm, this sport is merely a progress report in yr one in every of a rebuild. There have been glimpses of a superb basis, however a check in opposition to a top-tier facet will provide some extra solutions on the place the staff must go from right here.

Arsenal is perhaps proper to return into this sport with a number of confidence, partly as a result of their interval of rebuilding is over — and might be thought of a hit by a number of metrics. Chief amongst them is that Arteta has led them to 2 of their finest seasons in current reminiscence, maintaining them within the title race for 2 consecutive seasons. The Gunners are inching nearer to the purpose of the post-rebuild period when statement-making outcomes are a necessity, which implies the strain could be very a lot on them to ship on Sunday.

The onus, then, can be on them to keep away from a repeat of their 2-0 loss to Aston Villa just a few weeks again that broken their hopes of successful the title. Arsenal have been unusually not medical that day, producing 14 photographs and limiting Villa to none on track earlier than conceding twice within the second half. Their defensive inconsistencies have been on show that day and although they’ve adopted that up with two video games by which they outscored their opposition seven to zero and conceded simply 4 photographs on purpose, it is perhaps price questioning whether or not or not Spurs can pull off a repeat. Scoring has been a weak point of kinds in current weeks — they have been held scoreless twice of their final 5, rating within the league’s backside 5 in that stretch with simply six objectives scored and 22 photographs on purpose, underperforming their anticipated objectives tally of 8.69 within the course of. Son Heung-min and Brennan Johnson are in all probability nonetheless as probably as ever to attain, although, so it is laborious to completely rely them out.

So long as Spurs keep a aggressive edge all through, they’ll survive this sport and construct in the direction of the long run. Whereas one undertaking in North London continues via the early phases, although, one other is beneath strain to ship the ultimate outcomes of their experiment. Sunday isn’t solely about bragging rights in opposition to a rival, although these are undoubtedly vital. For Arsenal, it should even be an train in turning trophy chases into precise silverware — one thing they should do sooner quite than later if Arteta’s tenure might be thought of a convincing success.

How To Watch

• When: Sunday, April 28, 2024 at 9 a.m. ET
• The place: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
• Comply with: CBS Sports activities App
• On-line streaming: fuboTV (Strive free of charge. Regional restrictions could apply.)