Pundits disagree on North London derby as Tottenham vs Arsenal 'worry' emerges

Tottenham are set to host Arsenal on Sunday (kick-off: 2pm) in the first north London derby of the season.

Mikel Arteta's team dropped points last time out against Brighton before the international break. The Gunners will also be without key midfielder Declan Rice due to suspension and potentially captain Martin Odegaard through injury.

Spurs meanwhile lost 2-1 at Newcastle United in their previous fixture. Ange Postecoglou's side have won just one of their opening three matches so far this season, having drawn away at Leicester City before beating Everton.

And pundits Paul Merson and Chris Sutton have disagreed when offering their predictions for Sunday's contest. Merson has gone with a 1-1 draw, while Sutton has picked Tottenham to win 3-2.

“I worry for Arsenal in the north London derby. No Declan Rice or Martin Odegaard is a huge concern," Merson told Sportskeeda.

"Like I mentioned earlier, Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne missed a lot of games last season but Manchester City were still able to win the league. Can Arsenal do the same with key players missing? Maybe not.

“I'll have to go with a draw here, but that's more in hope if I'm being honest. Tottenham have been unlucky, they could've been top of the league if they weren't naive at the back. The fact that Arsenal's two most influential players [Odegaard and Rice] are not playing adds to their advantage here.

"Arsenal have to get either two or four points from the next two fixtures against Tottenham and Manchester City. Three points from these games are not good enough and I'll tell you why.

"If Arsenal beat Spurs and lose to City, it's no good because City will then move further ahead. If they don't get a result against Spurs, they're not going to win at City either.

"This is a massive match for Arsenal. If City win this weekend and Arsenal draw, that's a four-point lead for the reigning champions. And then if City beat Arsenal, it becomes a seven-point lead. Now that would be a big problem for Arsenal.”

Sutton does however agree with Merson that the big-name player's missing for Arsenal could have a significant impact on Sunday's result.

"Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has just signed a new contract, so maybe his mind has been on that new deal and how he can spend it on furnishing his house rather than the north London derby," he told BBC Sport.

"Being serious, though, Rice and Odegaard are such big losses that I can't help but feel it will have an impact. Arsenal have got quality players like Jorginho and Thomas Partey to come into their midfield, but they are missing two of their best players.

"The Gunners will get chances in this game and I expect them to score - they won this fixture 3-2 last season and drew 2-2 at the Emirates, and I am expecting more of the same. This time, however, I am going to back Spurs. I know everyone who is reading this will probably go for a draw but I am not going to do that.

"Instead, I am going to stick my long neck out and say 'Angeball' will come out on top. Spurs have dominated games and created chances this season, but they just need someone to stick the ball in the back of the net and I have a feeling that will happen for them here. If I am right, then we may as well hand the title to Manchester City.

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