Arsenal travel across North London to face neighbours, Tottenham, in one of five must see Barclays Premier League fixtures this weekend.
The clash at White Hart Lane sets the tone for another exciting weekend of top notch football action that will see Chelsea, Manchester United and Leicester City trade tackle against mid-table sides.
Can the Gunners’ firepower find their rhythm against Spurs? Or will Chelsea eventually lose under Guus Hiddink? Here’s a rundown of the top five games you can stake your money on this weekend.
- Tottenham vs. Arsenal
Kick-off: Saturday, 1:45pm
Venue: White Hart Lane
Head-to-head: Spurs 3, Draw 3, Arsenal 4
Match facts
The Gunners have lost three successive games in all competitions. They haven’t lost four matches in a row since October 2002.
Arsenal have won just two of their last eight Premier league away games (D3, L3).
Harry Kane has scored three goals in two league appearances against Arsenal and he has 13 goals in 17 London derbies in the top flight.
Previous games played:
Tottenham
West Ham 1-0 Tottenham
Tottenham 2-1 Swansea City
Tottenham 3-0 Fiorentina
Tottenham 0-1 Crystal Palace
Fiorentina 1-1 Tottenham
Arsenal
Arsenal 1-2 Swansea City
Manchester Utd 3-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 0-2 Barcelona
Arsenal 0-0 Hull City
Arsenal 2-1 Leicester City
Team News:
Jan Vertonghen and Clinton Njie , both of Tottenham, remain side lined, per Dan Kilpatrick of ESPN.
Arsenal will be without Petr Cech and Laurent Koscielny after both were injured against Swansea, according to Sky Sports.
Both are vital first-team players, so the Gunners will be considerably below full strength.
- Chelsea vs. Stoke City
Kick-off: Saturday, 4pm
Chelsea have been on a 12-game winning streak under Guus Hiddink, would Stoke City spoil the show this weekend?
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Head-to-head: Chelsea 6, Draw 2, Stoke 2
Match facts
Chelsea are still unbeaten in the league under interim boss, Guus Hiddink, with their only defeat coming against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League last month.
Just like the Blues, Stoke are unbeaten in their last three – beating Aston Villa, Newcastle and Bournemouth.
Chelsea have scored 11 goals in their last six with in-form Spanish striker, Diego Costa, netting four of those goals.
Team news and probable line ups
Hiddink will still be without Radamel Falcao and Kurt Zouma through injury, but John Terry could take his place on the bench on Saturday – although he may not be risked after recovering from a hamstring issue.
Pedro will also be missing against Stoke as he continues to recover from a similar problem while goalscorer against Norwich, Kenedy, could be sidelined with a minor groin injury. Eden Hazard, however, should be fit to start despite limping towards the end of the win at Carrow Road.
Meanwhile, Stoke manager, Mark Hughes, will have a depleted defence after Phil Bardsley suffered a calf injury in the win over Newcastle in midweek to join absentees Ryan Shawcross (back), Glen Johnson and Marc Wilson (both knee ligaments) on the sidelines.
Geoff Cameron could also miss out after aggravating his ankle against the Magpies following his return from injury recently.
- Manchester City vs. Aston Villa
Kick-off: Saturday, 4pm
Venue: Etihad Stadium
Head-to-head: City 7, Draw 1, Villa 1
Match Facts
Sergio Aguero has scored four goals in his last three Barclays Premier League matches against Aston Villa.
Manchester City have won seven and lost just one of the last nine BPL encounters with Villa.
City have not lost three league home matches in a row since March 2007 and have not gone three home fixtures without a win since November 2010.
Aston Villa have taken just three points from a possible 39 in their last 13 Premier League away games.
The Villans have scored just five goals in the last 10 Premier League road trips.
Defeat in this match would be a 14th consecutive winless game away from home for Villa in the Premier League, one short of their record in the competition set in December 2003 (15).
Aston Villa have scored with just 10 per cent of their shots this season, the lowest percentage in the top flight.
- Watford vs. Leicester City
Kick-off: Saturday, 7:30pm
Venue: Vicarage Road
Head-to-head: Watford 0, Draw 1, Leicester 2
Match facts
Leicester City’s victory at Vicarage Road in 2013/14 ended a run of six matches without a win away at Watford (D1 L5).
There have been 26 goals netted in the last six matches between Watford and Leicester at Vicarage Road.
Leicester have won 10 and lost just two of their last 17 Barclays Premier League away matches.
They could be behind Tottenham by the time this one kicks off, so the Foxes will be looking for all three points in what looks a tough game.
Watford have struggled in recent weeks, having picked up just one league win in their last five, and have fallen out of the top half as a result. But they are a tough side to break down and are only three points from getting back into the top ten, which is testament to how solid they’ve been this season.
Quique Sanchez Flores’s side come into this one off the back of the 1-0 defeat at Manchester United on Wednesday night. They were unlucky to lose that match late on but home comforts will increase their chances of success this time around.
Both sides could start with unchanged line ups for this one. For Watford, Joel Ekstrand and Jurado are still missing, whilst for Leicester N’GoloKante will miss out again with a hamstring injury and Matty James is still working his way to full fitness.
- West Brom vs. Manchester United
Kick-off: Sunday, 5pm
Venue: Hawthorns
Head-to-head: West Brom 2, Draw 2, United 6
Match facts
West Bromwich Albion have lost just two of the last six Barclays Premier League matches against Manchester United (W2 D2 L2).
Man Utd named their fourth youngest starting XI in BPL history in their last match against Watford (23 years, 222 days old on average).
Salomon Rondon has scored in three of his last five league outings, having failed to score in his previous nine.
