‘Derby day’
GUNNERS AIM TO AVERT RECORD WINLESS STREAK AGAINST SPURS
ARSENAL will be attempting to avoid an unwanted record in tomorrow’s north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur as they try to end a five-match winless sequence against their old foes. Never in their history have Arsenal gone six successive games against Spurs without a win and the last time they went five in a row was between 1993 and 1996. When the sides met at Tottenham’s stadium in December goals from Son Heung-min and Harry Kane gave Spurs a 2-0 win which put them on top of the Premier League table and left Arsenal 15th.
KANE FIT?
Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho said yesterday that he expects Harry Kane to be fit for tomorrow’s clash after he picked up a knock in Tottenham’s 2-0 Europa League win over Dinamo Zagreb. The England captain continued his sensational season with both goals in the final 10 minutes against the Croatian side and was later seen on the touchline with ice on his knee. Asked whether he will be fit for tomorrow, Mourinho said: “I hope so, I believe so. It is a big match, only big problems stop him to be there. Let’s see the reaction tomorrow but I am sure he will be fine.”
While Arsenal’s situation has improved somewhat since then and they are now 10th, Tottenham’s challenge for the title soon disintegrated and they will start tomorrow’s derby in seventh spot, albeit on the back of three successive league wins.
With both sides in the last 16 of the Europa League their more likely routes to European qualification, particularly in Arsenal’s case, could be by winning that competition.
But that will not take any of the edge off tomorrow’s clash at the Emirates Stadium where Tottenham will be chasing a first win in the league at Arsenal since a 3-2 victory in 2010.
They have 45 points from 27 games, five less than fourthplaced Chelsea who have played a game more.
CHELSEA REVIVAL
Chelsea have the chance to strengthen their grip on fourth place in today’s early kickoff when they travel to Leeds United still unbeaten in the 11 games since Thomas Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard in the Stamford Bridge hot seat. Under Tuchel, Chelsea have become as hard to beat as they once were under Mourinho, and in their last four games against Atletico Madrid, Manchester United, Liverpool and Everton have not conceded a goal. They have leaked only two goals since Tuchel took charge with the German using his squad to the full. He has shown a willingness to chop and change his starting lineups and will probably do so again today. Chelsea would have expected their main London challengers to be either Tottenham or Arsenal this season but it is actually a resurgent West Ham United who could be their biggest top-four rival from within the capital.