SHOCKING: Paul Merson Predicts The Outcome As Arsenal Face Tottenham In The North London Derby

While the Gunners are eleven points above their opponents in the Premier League table, Merson feels the North London derby is a difficult game to predict due to Spurs’s inconsistency:

“Everyone has been outstanding for Arsenal, and that’s why they are where they are. Tottenham, on the other hand, are nine or ten in one game and five in the next. Harry Kane causes Arsenal problems, and Arsenal cause Tottenham problems. If Tottenham want to play defensively, Arsenal will run out of ideas quickly like they did against Newcastle.”

“If Tottenham play a dangerous game, however, Arsenal could run riot. I don’t see this game as a foregone conclusion – I hope Arsenal wipe the floor with Tottenham, but I don’t think they will.”

Merson has gone with a 2-2 draw, which seems like a reasonable prediction, considering derbies are usually tightly contested affairs.

If Tottenham do sit back and try to score on the counter-attack as Merson says, it could be a dangerous game for the Gunners, but you would still back Mikel Arteta’s side to dominate the match.

A lot will depend on whether the away side can get an early breakthrough. If Arsenal get a goal in the first ten to fifteen minutes, Spurs will be forced to play higher up the pitch and, as Merson points out, it could allow the Gunners to take advantage. We shall see how things turn out on Sunday evening.