Tottenham vs Arsenal Prediction: Havertz to show the other side of the game

The first North London derby of the season takes place on Sunday (14:00, Sky Sports Main Event) as Tottenham Hotspur host Arsenal. Spurs lost to Newcastle United on their last outing and have collected four points from a possible nine.

The Gunners are unbeaten but were held to a draw with Brighton & Hove Albion in their previous appearance, and they are missing some key players for this crunch clash. Read on for my Tottenham vs Arsenal prediction, including match odds and team news.

Tottenham vs Arsenal Odds

Tottenham are 15/8, or a 34.8% chance to win this match. Arsenal are priced at 11/8, giving them an implied probability of 42.1%. The draw can be backed at 13/5 (27.8%).

Both teams to score is available at 4/9 and this market has landed in five of the last seven league meetings between the pair. Over 2.5 goals is marketed at 8/15.

Arsenal's Kai Havertz has two goals to his name already in the Premier League. He is valued at 23/10 to score anytime or 13/2 to net the first goal. Son Heung-min has scored twice for Tottenham and he is 15/8 to score at any stage of the match, or 11/2 to open the scoring.

Football Odds

Team News

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou could welcome back summer signing Dominic Solanke for this clash, with the striker having missed the last two matches in the league. Brazilian Richarlison is still out injured, however.

Yves Bissouma picked up a knock while on international duty with Mali, so he could be a doubt this weekend. Rodrigo Bentancur would likely replace him but he is facing a ban for a racist comment about South Koreans. Spurs will be hoping key defender Micky van de Ven will be fit in time to return for this monstrous fixture.

Arsenal are without two of their most important players here in Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard. Rice was sent off against Brighton last time out, while captain Odegaard picked up an injury with Norway and looks to be out for at least three weeks. Then there is the injured summer signing Mikel Merino, so Mikel Arteta is limited for midfield options here.

So he could be forced to improvise and deploy either Havertz or Leandro Trossard into midfield, which the two have done so before. Havertz seems most likely, which would free up a spot in the front three. Trossard has played through the middle before so he could take the German's spot, and he is one of the Gunner's best goalscorers.

Gabriel Martinelli could return on the left flank but Arteta could opt to give deadline day arrival Raheem Sterling a baptism of fire in this massive contest. Kieran Tierney, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Riccardo Calafiori are the other Arsenal players in the treatment room.

Tottenham or draw & both teams to score @ 6/5

With Arsenal's midfield looking depleted, Spurs have a great chance to land their rivals a huge blow in their race for the Premier League title. However, Spurs haven't won in any of their last four meetings which is slightly concerning.

As was their defeat to Newcastle United. You can argue that both the Magpies' goals came against the run of play, which highlights that Spurs aren't currently clinical enough when momentum is with them. They will surely start with the momentum here as they are at home and Arsenal are missing two of their key players, but this is a fixture in which you need to make the most of it.

So for that reason, I am skeptical of backing Spurs outright. I have gone for the double chance market because even with personnel issues, Arteta's squad can still cause their rivals problems, and they haven't been beaten by Tottenham in over two years. They will be feeling confident heading into this latest clash because of that.

I've boosted the odds with both teams to score because this derby often delivers goals at both ends, and it has landed in three of the last four meetings. Both teams have started this campaign well in front of goal with Spurs netting six and Arsenal scoring five themselves.

BTTS has been a winning selection in two of Spurs' league matches so far and one of Arsenal's. This fixture tends to offer drama in the form of goals, so I am confident we will see goals scored at both ends here.

Kai Havertz to receive a card @ 13/5

With this being such a massive fixture, I think it is worth taking a look at players who can pick up a card on derby day. I have gone with Havertz for the reason that he looks like he could be playing in the midfield, so he will be in the thick of the action.

The attacker is no stranger to a yellow card, either, having collected 11 in the Premier League last season. He is yet to go into the book this campaign, but I think we could see him pick up a yellow at Tottenham.

Havertz never shies away from getting physical in duels, ground or aerial, and on derby day, his aggression levels are likely to be higher. The German international has committed seven fouls so far and only Thomas Partey has been penalised more for the Gunners (eight).

I think it's only a matter of time until he starts picking up cards and I think his luck will run out here.

Offers

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