It’s a very quick turnaround for every team in the Premier League this weekend, but nobody will have a shorter layoff than the two teams competing in the north London derby. Yes, Arsenal at Tottenham Hotspur is the weekend’s headliner fixture and it’s also the match that will kick off first.
Put your best foot forward, lead with strength, insert your own epigram here. Let’s take a look at the fitness situation for both sides in this fixture that has massive top four implications. We’ll start with the hosts.
It still remains to be seen when midfielder Dele Alli will return from the hamstring injury that he suffered in January. Another midfielder, Eric Dier, is also out of commission for this one due to tonsillitis. What a strange season it has been for him as he also missed significant time a couple months ago due to an appendectomy.
What’s next for him? Hopefully, a better bill of health and we certainly wish him the best. Finally, central defender Jan Vertonghen missed last night’s loss at Chelsea due to a hip issue, but he’s expected to be good to go for this one.
Flipping over to the visitors, they will of course be without their three long term injury absentees. The only fresh injury concern for Unai Emery and his side is Laurent Koscielny who picked up a knock towards the end of the rout over AFC Bournemouth.
Arsenal at Tottenham Hotspur FYIs
Kick-off: Saturday March 2nd, Wembley Stadium, 12:30 pm local
Starting XI Predictions: Tottenham Hotspur Arsenal FC
Premier League Series History: Arsenal wins 20, Draws 21, Tottenham Hotspur wins 12
Odds via Odds Checker: Tottenham Hotspur 11/10, Draw 11/4, Chelsea FC 27/10
Google Result Probability: Tottenham win 46%, Draw 27%, Arsenal win 27%
Prediction: Tottenham Hotspur 2, Arsenal 2
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.