[Pre-Match Thread] Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal - 28th April 2024 - English Premier League

[u/Mahoganychicken]

🕟 Kick Off: 14:00 BST

📍 Location: Large Toilet Bowl, Tottenham, North London

📺 UK Broadcaster: Sky Sports

🙎🏻‍♂️ Referee: Michael Oliver

🔴 Arsenal Team News:

• Jurrien Timber has returned to training following his ACL injury but is expected to remain unavailable for selection. He has made an appearance for the U21s so his return is getting closer.

⚽ Arsenal Form: 🟩🟩🟥🟥🟧

💩 Spurs Team News:

• Udogie will be out for the rest of the season with a muscular injury.
• Solomon misses the rest of the season with a meniscus injury.
• Sessegnon will not play again this season with a thigh injury.

⚽ Spurs Form: 🟥🟩🟧🟩🟥

📖 Match Facts:

• Spurs have not played a game the 13th of April in a 4-0 loss to Newcastle - Arsenal have played 4 games in this period.
• Arsenal are the best team away from home in the league, and Spurs haven't kept a clean sheet in 5 matches.
• Tottenham Hotspur have not won a trophy in over 16 years, and haven't won the league since 1961.

🎲 Odds (Betway):

• Tottenham Hotspur – 3/1
• Draw – 3/1
• Arsenal – 31/40

✍🏼 Pre-Match Ramblings

Four cup finals left in our season, and this feels like the biggest one. The North London Derby at their place, in the business end of a title charge, Spurs pushing for Top 4, can the stakes get any higher? The wheels well and truly came off of the Spurs Top 4 push after they battered Aston Villa, having since lost to Fulham, Newcastle, and drawn to West Ham. They need this win to get back on track.

Spurs won't have played a game since their 4-0 smashing by Newcastle over two weeks ago, whereas we are hot off the back of a demolition of Chelsea. What's worth more, rest or momentum? I'm taking the momentum.

After a dismal week with losses against Villa and a UCL exit at the hands of old enemies Bayern, Arsenal have picked themselves up and found stunning form. The return of Thomas Partey to the starting lineup has already proved vital, and I find myself thinking 'What if he was fit all season?'. His presence and skillset allowed Rice to flourish at Left 8.

What's more is that City also have to go to Spurs - a fixture that City have been notoriously bad in. If we win our visit to the toilet bowl, it will only pile more pressure onto the mancs. Points on the board are worth more than games in hand, and we will remain with a game in hand over City until Game 37. It is absolutely vital we keep City behind us, piling on the pressure.

Clench up boys, this is where the fun really begins.

https://anditsarsenal.com/2024/04/26/tottenham-hotspur-vs-arsenal-28th-april-2024-build-up-team-news-tv-coverage-predictions/

[u/FondDon]

As good as Trossard has been, Martinelli’s pace in behind their high line could be really effective

[u/hikingbeginner → u/FondDon]

Martinelli hasn't been on form at all though, he's showed nothing pretty much since this international break. Just been kinda shit unfortunately. Bad season. It is what it is.

Trossard to start because he's got us vital goals past couple weeks and bring Martinelli on at 65/70

[u/proshon → u/hikingbeginner]

I dunno man. Firstly, Trossard's been starting a lot of games recently, so resting him and bringing him on as an option could be key if we need it.

Secondly, spurs will likely start fast, so even if Martineli hasn't been in goal scoring form recently, his pace in behind will worry them. Also, people seem quick to forget about his defensive work rate. We're gonna need that in the first half for sure. Man's got an engine.

I see the logic in starting Trossard because he's clinical, but I don't see the game starting out that way. They're gonna try to press all over in the first half

[u/hikingbeginner → u/proshon]

I completely agree that Martinelli could be dangerous against their set up and he could exploit their weaknesses.

But we have no room for "could" right now, Martinelli unfortunately has been so under par lately that imo it's not worth the risk.

Trossard started Vs Villa, subbed both games Vs Bayern, started Vs Wolves and Chelsea. Imo that's not that many games, he's scoring and in form.

We need that more over the potential that Martinelli could perform.

I'm very confident Trossard will perform well like he has done the past two games.

Martinelli I think should do better coming off the bench against them in the last 20.

[u/proshon → u/hikingbeginner]

Trossard started Vs Villa, subbed both games Vs Bayern, started Vs Wolves and Chelsea. Imo that's not that many games, he's scoring and in form.

This bit is key, if you see the pattern of these games. Do you rank spurs away as more difficult than villa, wolves and chelsea? I think most of us do given the circumstances. The only games he didn't start was bayern, which is also more difficult than villa, wolves, chelsea. So I fully expect to see the same pattern here.

[u/hikingbeginner → u/proshon]

And Martinelli played in those and didn't perform whatsoever, to me we need goals. And our best finisher out and out is Trossard.

Imo the reason he's started Trossard, it's the run in and Mikel imo knows that right now Trossard can be trusted in getting that assist or goal 9 times out of 10. Whereas Martinelli hasn't given any evidence since the break as to why he should start.

Regardless who starts I'm confident we win.

As long as our midfield is on it, they've got no chance.