Arsenal star Emile Smith Rowe expects Mikel Arteta will remind his side of last May’s north London derby before facing Tottenham Hotspur. The Gunners lost a key game 3-0 at Spurs.
A brace from Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min’s goal dealt Arsenal a damaging defeat in the race for Champions League qualification. They had travelled to Tottenham able to secure a place in the UEFA competition with a win. But Spurs would ultimately snatch fourth place.
Tottenham edged Arsenal for a top-four finish by just two points after the Gunners also lost 2-0 at Newcastle United. But the manner of Spurs’ win in the north London derby proved to be the catalyst to the Gunners’ collapse. A red card for Rob Holding did not help, either.
Referee Paul Tierney gave Holding a second yellow card in the 33rd minute after a collision with Son. But Arsenal were already at sixes and sevens after Antonio Conte sent his squad out to attack from the off. Tierney also felt Cedric Soares pushed Son for an early penalty.
Arsenal were the dominant side in the last north London derby, though, after taking a 3-1 win over Tottenham. Thomas Partey, Gabriel Jesus and Granit Xhaka scored to secure the three points in October. Kane had initially drawn Spurs level at 1-1 from the penalty spot.
Smith Rowe makes Arteta prediction ahead of Tottenham vs Arsenal
Tottenham have only won five of their 10 Premier League games since losing at Arsenal in the north London derby. The Gunners, on the other hand, have won seven of their nine to lead the top-flight table. Spurs sit in fifth place and have an 11-point deficit to their rivals.
Arsenal also lead reigning Premier League champions Manchester City by five points ahead of visiting Tottenham this Sunday. Smith Rowe further believes the Gunners squad cannot wait to face Spurs given the way in which Arteta’s side are playing, even after Jesus’ injury.
While Smith Rowe feels last May’s north London derby will energise Arsenal to produce a performance at Tottenham this weekend. And the Hale Ender suspects Arteta will remind his squad of the 3-0 defeat before they travel to Spurs to light another fire underneath them.
“This game couldn’t have come at a better time for us,” Smith Rowe said, as quoted by The Sun. “We’re feeling really good at the moment and all the boys are itching to get out there.
“Maybe the manager will talk about last season’s game in the build-up to Sunday. But most of us already know how painful that defeat was and we’ll use that energy to help us.”
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