BBC football pundit Mark Lawrenson has predicted that Tottenham Hotspur will beat Arsenal on Sunday.
He told BBC Sport Online: “I’ve covered a lot of Tottenham-Arsenal derbies and, traditionally, you would expect Arsenal to go to White Hart Lane as favourites, knock it around, and come away with the win.
“This time around, though, I think Tottenham will have too much for them.
“By all accounts, Arsenal were fortunate against Olympiakos on Wednesday. They were all over the place. The Greeks created plenty of chances and plenty of opportunities at Emirates Stadium and if the Gunners allow Tottenham’s midfield and frontline that amount of time and space on Sunday, they will get punished.
“Tottenham come into the game, I think, with a midfield – especially – that is better than Arsenal’s. Scott Parker, Luka Modric, Gareth Bale – they look a real handful. Add to that Rafael van der Vaart, Emmanuel Adebayor, possibly Jermain Defoe or Aaron Lennon, and I just think Tottenham are going to be too strong.
“It will also be interesting to see which of the players Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger signed in the summer play against Tottenham, because a north London derby could be a real culture shock to some of them.
“For me, it’s a home win.
“Prediction: 2-0.”
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