Manchester United legend Roy Keane makes Tottenham v Arsenal prediction ahead of north London derby
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Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane expects Arsenal to drop points to arch-rivals Tottenham in Sunday’s crucial north London derby.
Arsenal, who thumped Chelsea 5-0 last time out, will move four points clear at the top of the Premier League with a victory at Tottenham on Sunday afternoon.
Defending champions Manchester City will then have a chance to respond to Arsenal’s result when they face Nottingham Forest later in the day.
Arsenal are bidding to win the Premier League for the first time since 2004 but face competition from a Man City side bidding for a record fourth successive title.
It now appears to be a two-horse race for the title after Liverpool, attempting to lift the Premier League trophy in Jurgen Klopp’s final season at Anfield, won just one of their last five games.
Tottenham also have much to play for in the north London derby as they still have aspirations of beating Aston Villa to the final top-four spot and will be desperate to dent their rivals’ title bid.
Old Trafford legend Keane expects that to happen, insisting he ‘does not see’ Arsenal winning at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
‘I think Spurs will get a result. I think it will be 1-1 or 2-1 to Spurs,’ he said on The Overlap.
‘I don’t see Arsenal winning there. I think it could be a mad game and Spurs could turn up. I’m going 2-1 Spurs.’
While Mikel Arteta’s side thrashed London rivals Chelsea 5-0 in their last outing, Tottenham’s last result was a humbling 4-0 defeat to Newcastle two weeks ago.
Gunners legend Paul Merson is ‘very bullish’ about his former club’s chances and believes they will prove too strong for Spurs.
‘Tottenham have been superb at home this season but if you look at their last ten results – they’ve faced nine bottom half teams,’ he told Sportskeeda.
‘Manchester City were the only top-half team they faced in that period and they lost that game, so I can’t see them getting anything out of this one.
‘Arsenal are just a better football team, so I’m very bullish on this one. I’ll be shocked if the Gunners don’t win this one as Spurs can’t beat Arsenal at their own game.
‘When Arsenal lost to Aston Villa, they changed their team around by moving Kai Havertz into a midfield role to accommodate Gabriel Jesus, a move which ultimately backfired.
‘In recent weeks, they’ve gone back to Havertz up front with Thomas Partey, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard in midfield – that is the team they must retain for the rest of the season! I’m going for 3-1 to Arsenal.’
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