“Keep Getting Lucky” – Sky Sports Pundit Makes Score Prediction For Arsenal v Spurs

Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has offered his prediction ahead of this weekend’s North London Derby that sees Arsenal entertain Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Just three points separates third-placed Tottenham from fifth-placed Arsenal after 13 games so the result of this game could have a huge baring on who secures the bragging rights in north London at the end of the season.

Arsenal head in to the game off the back of a long unbeaten run that extended to 18-matches in all competitions with a comfortable 3-0 victory over FC Vorskla in the Europa League on Thursday night so they should be full of confidence.

However, Merson hasn’t been impressed by his former club as he claims Arsenal have been riding their luck at times this season and were fortunate not to lose during recent games with Liverpool, Wolves and Bournemouth.

Tottenham impressed when they beat Chelsea 3-1 at Wembley recently and Merson feels that a draw is the best Arsenal can hope for if Spurs play with the same energy as they did last weekend – although he concedes the Gunners do usually turn up for the NLD’s.

Mesut Ozil was axed by Unai Emery for the 2-1 win at Bournemouth last weekend but Merson claims the Arsenal boss should recall the German playmaker against Tottenham as they missed his passing abilities against the Cherries.

In the end, Merson has predicted the game to end 1-1 at the Emirates tomorrow. Writing in his column for Sky Sports, Merson said:

Arsenal vs Tottenham 

If you go by last weekend and it was a horse race, you couldn’t look past Tottenham. I thought Arsenal weren’t very good, it was a great result but I don’t know how they can keep on getting lucky. Liverpool was lucky at times, Wolves was lucky at times, Bournemouth was lucky at times, but you hope this isn’t the game where it runs out.

They have some spirit about them, although against Wolves they were so open, but they’re not losing games which they probably would have last season. You don’t want to be giving this Tottenham team a headstart, and if they play with their normal energy the best Arsenal can hope for is a draw – although they do turn up for these games.

Tottenham have to play like they did last weekend, or Arsenal have every chance. But if they squeeze them, they haven’t got the ball players to play around it. They should start Mesut Ozil because they need all the passers they can get.

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1

A draw would protect Arsenal’s unbeaten record but it would still leave Tottenham holding a three-point advantage over their rivals in the Premier League table so it’s difficult to say who’d be more pleased with the result if Merson’s prediction proves accurate.