Tottenham vs Arsenal tips: Gunners away day woes to continue?

Ahead of this afternoon’s North London derby the Premier League picture for both Tottenham and Arsenal has changed dramatically over the past week.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men have suffered back-to-back league defeats to end any feint chance of a title bid and, all of a sudden, are left looking nervously over their shoulders. Local rivals Arsenal, meanwhile, are back up to fourth and know that today’s clash could be pivotal in securing a Champions League finish in more ways than one.

Victory for the Gunners, after all, would not only give them a chance to open a gap over both Chelsea and Manchester United but bring Spurs right back into a battle they appeared to have avoided. Unai Emery’s side would move within a point of their hosts with all three this weekend, while Pochettino’s men would move seven clear of their visitors with a win of their own.

On paper it would certainly seem as though it’s Arsenal that approach the game in stronger form and spirits but the fact that this game will be played at Wembley rather than the Emirates may well be decisive.

Tottenham’s defeats to both Burnley and Chelsea came away from home after all, winning 11 of their last 13 in all competitions at their home away from home by comparison. Meanwhile, though a trip across London isn’t quite the same as a flight to Belarus, Arsenal’s defeat to BATE Borisov on their last away day shone more light on an issue that has reared its head once more.

The Gunners have won just two of their last nine matches on the road, in the FA Cup at Blackpool and against the Premier League’s basement dwellers Huddersfield. In fact, the highest ranked side that Arsenal have beaten on their travels in England’s top-flight is Bournemouth (12th).

Moreover, they have picked up just one point from their last four league matches against Tottenham, with fit again Harry Kane on the scoresheet in all four. With that in mind, our tip for today’s game is a home win, combined with Kane finding the net in yet another London derby, at 2.75 with bet65.