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Gunners on hot-streak at home
This is all very Arsenal so far.
An early crisis in the very first part of the season suggests the whole thing is ready to collapse but the pressure on Arsene Wenger slowly subsides and before you know it they're doing okay again.
True, they're sixth of the elite teams who should be in the top six but sitting only four points off second place isn't bad. And if they beat Spurs on Saturday, they'll be just a point back from their local neighbours.
While those who go to watch the Gunners away still have plenty to moan about, regulars at the Emirates are seeing only win after win.
Taking into account last season, they've won 10 straight Premier League games at home. Their victims? Swansea, Brighton, West Brom, Bournemouth and Leicester in the current campaign and Everton, Sunderland, Man Utd, Leicester again and West Ham in the previous season.
They were big odds-on favourites for nine of those it has to be said.
Spurs hope to confirm power shift
Current league position, the fact that they finally finished above Arsenal last season and the general air of positivity around Spurs suggests they're now the top dogs in North London.
Tottenham being unbeaten in six games against the Gunners adds to that feeling although this still remains a very tough fixture for Spurs when played at Arsenal.
They've won just two of their last 32 league visits to Highbury/the Emirates, the last of those coming in 2010.
This has to rank as another good chance given how well Mauricio Pochettino has Spurs playing away from home but will they be at full sharpness?
Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Harry Winks all withdrew from the England squad with injuries while Hugo Lloris and Toby Alderweireld also sat out the international break.
Even if all are passed fit, are they really 100%? Spurs will need them to be in a big fixture like this.
Arsenal favourites
Arsenal head the betting at 2.58, with Spurs 2.98 to pull seven points clear of their great rivals.
Both have claims but I think the Draw is just as viable and yet it's the biggest price at 3.60. That's the bet.
Recent history supports a Saturday stalemate as the last three Premier League encounters at the Emirates have all ended 1-1. That outcome is 8.20 and definitely worth a small play too.
Pochettino has never lost a north London derby (W2, D4) and twice in the last three years he's seen his side lead this fixture with less than 20 minutes to go.
But Wenger's record, including his recent one, has to be respected when the teams lock horns at the Emirates.
Goals expected
With all the attacking talent on view and the two sides' respective reputation for goals, it's predictable that Over 2.5 goals is clear favourite at 1.69.
But add in an FA Cup meeting in 2014 and Unders, currently 2.38, would have landed in the last five Arsenal v Spurs fixtures at the Emirates.
Great Dane can net again
With Spurs, it's usually a question of deciding how short a price you're willing to back Harry Kane at. Or, alternatively, take him for two or more, something he's done seven times already this season.
Alexandre Lacazette scored twice for France in midweek but the bet I like here is Christian Eriksen.
I've spotted something in his scoring patterns that shows he finds the net for Spurs when returning from international breaks.
That makes sense because he's usually coming back in high spirits having scored for his country.
In September, he scored in a 4-0 win over Poland and then registered for Spurs in a 3-0 victory at Everton. And after two more goals for the Danes in the space of four days in October he returned to club duty and got the winner against Bournemouth.
Imagine then the high he'll be on this time after firing a brilliant hat-trick against the Republic of Ireland in midweek to inspire Denmark to the World Cup finals in Russia.
I'll take him to ride the wave and bang in another at Arsenal. He's attractively priced at 4.60.
Ref watch
Mike Dean heads to the Emirates for this one.
The Wirral official has shown 29 yellows and a red in his nine matches this season.
He didn't book a single Arsenal player in the Gunners' opening-day win against Leicester and showed no cards at all in his last Spurs game - their 3-2 League Cup loss to West Ham.
As for card make-ups in this fixture, reading back from last season they show: 4, 3, 5 (1 red), 1, 4, 8, 9.
Opta Stat
Tottenham have dropped 37 points from leading positions in Premier League games against Arsenal, more than any other side has against another in the competition's history.
Recommended Bets
1pt Draw at 3.60
0.5pts 1-1 draw at 8.20
1pt Christian Eriksen To Score at 4.60
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