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Mikel Arteta believes Tottenham are doing things the “right way” this season, but insists it is too early to tell if they are title contenders or not.
Arsenal head to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Super sunday knowing defeat will cause them to fall 11 points behind their hosts. While the Gunners have lost half of their 10 Premier League games so far this season, José Mourinho’s Spurs top the table.
The omens are also in favor of the Spurs. Tottenham are undefeated in their last six Premier League home games against Arsenal (four wins and two draws) since a 1-0 loss in March 2014. It is their longest undefeated home run streak against the Gunners since a streak. of nine between January 1960 and January 1968.
Arteta is fully aware of the task facing his stuttering side, but he is not getting carried away by the Spurs’ early season form.
Sunday December 6 4:15 pm
Start 4:30 pm
“I think it’s too early in the season to see who are title contenders or not,” Arteta said. “But what you can say is that what I said before is that they (Spurs) are in the position they are in because they are doing things the right way.
“What we have to look at is where we will be after 38 games in the league. Now, what is going to happen after Sunday, we want to be close and finish three points closer to them.”
There has also been a big difference in attacking prowess on both sides of the North London division this year.
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Arteta says it is vital that captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang rediscover his best form if the club is to be successful this season.
Arsenal have scored just 10 goals, only the current last three have had worse luck, and captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has not scored since open play in the league since opening day victory in Fulham.
On the contrary, the Spurs have been flowing freely with Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son in brilliant form. Son has nine goals, while England captain Kane has intervened with seven goals and nine assists.
Asked if his defense had to be prepared to face one of the most powerful attacking forces in European football, the Spaniard replied: “Yes, absolutely.
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Arteta believes Sunday’s derby in North London, live on Sky Sports, is the ideal game to regain confidence in his Premier League campaign.
“They are in a great moment, they are full of confidence and you can see how much faith they have in what they do.
“When they have moments of difficulty, they stick to the plan and believe that they will get the result at some point and right now it is happening to them.
“They have done very well and that is why they are where they are.”
Arsenal welcomed 2,000 supporters to their Europa League win over Rapid Vienna on Thursday and Arteta later said that playing in front of their own fans for the first time in nine months gave their players a boost.
But on Sunday they will be on the receiving end when Tottenham supporters return in time for the derby, although Arteta refuses to see it as a negative for his team.
“A derby without fans is not the same,” he said. “We have been waiting a long time for this moment and I am not going to complain.
“Honestly, I prefer to play in a stadium with atmosphere, with some fans and at this moment it will be for them with their fans and next week it will be us.
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Tottenham has prioritized winning titles over style of play with José Mourinho, says former Spurs midfielder Tom Huddlestone.
“We better get real with that. We’ll bring more fans back when it’s safe and as a pro it makes sense when you have to handle that extra pressure … when you have fans pushing you, giving you extra energy.
“This is our profession and the beauty of it is that we can share it with them.”
We need the points this time – different NLD for Mourinho
Mourinho says the feeling in Tottenham heading into this derby compared to the July match is very different.
When Toby Alderweireld’s header in the 81st minute sealed a 2-1 win over Arsenal over the summer, both clubs languished in the middle of the table.
This time around, Spurs are Premier League leaders and unbeaten in the division from opening day.
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Tottenham has the necessary strength in depth to win the Premier League, says Jamie Redknapp.
“It is a little different because we want the points and we are not just like, we want to beat Arsenal because beating Arsenal is the only good thing we can give to our fans,” Mourinho said.
“It happened last season when we played Arsenal in the last part of the season. It was about beating Arsenal to give something good, to have a good feeling.
“At the moment, we also look at the table and we are in a good position, fighting for positions at the top of the table.
“But we never forget the fact that there are historical rivalries and what it means for the fans.”
“Even for people who were not born in Tottenham, and many of us are in this situation, when you come to the club you understand the culture, you learn the culture and you share the values with the fans.”
Post Shot Preview: Redknapp Assess Tottenham and Arsenal; Plus the return of the fans, the Chelsea striker dilemma and more!
This week in the Pitch to Post Preview Podcast, Jamie Redknapp Unions Peter blacksmith Y Adam Hit look to the north london derby and assess Tottenham Y From Arsenal contrasting form.
Sky Sports News reporter Steal Dorsett also has the latest from Leicester and the future of Jonny Evans, as we discuss whether Olivier Giroud should be Chelsea’s first choice forward and Man Utd’s complicated trip to West Ham.
Also, we hear from a Charlton fan on the experience of watching live football again. Adam also makes his bold pitch for what he thinks will happen in this weekend’s Premier League action, and it’s good news for teams in the relegation zone …
Listen to the launch of Sky Sports to publish the podcast on: Spotify | Apple | Castbox
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