It’s a big day in the city, with Tottenham and Arsenal meeting in the North London Derby at such an important point in the season.
The Gunners currently have a four-point lead over Antonio Conte’s men and have the chance to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since 2016/17 if they win all three points.
A Tottenham victory, on the other hand, would significantly increase the pressure on Arsenal heading into their final two games of the season. Arsenal did win the first meeting between the two earlier in the season, 3-1 at the Emirates, a game in which Tottenham never got going and suffered a humiliating defeat.
Tottenham have made a significant improvement since the Portuguese took over as manager, with their recent run of success placing them right in the fight for a return to Europe’s top flight. Son Heung-form min’s over that time period has been critical to the club’s ascent up the table, with nine goals in his past seven league games.
Harry Kane, on the other hand, has only scored one goal in the same number of games, a pretty shocking dry spell in front of goal given his extraordinarily high standards. The England captain has still contributed for the team with five assists, but he has looked rather jaded and far from the player that looked at the peak of his powers a couple of months earlier.
Arsenal fans probably know what’s coming in the North London Derby on Thursday night, though, especially with Kane’s recent lack of goals and his incredible record in the derby. As things stand ahead of this evening’s contest, the 28-year-old is the all-time top goalscorer in the fixture with 11 goals.
“It’s a massive fixture. Obviously North London Derby, playing against your rivals, it’s a big game and I think this one’s even more important [because] of where we both are in the league,” he said when speaking to Spurs TV to preview the encounter. “A real tough game, it’ll be a tough challenge for us for sure, but [I’m] looking forward to it.”
Since scoring at Brighton & Hove Albion in March to make it seven goals in six league games, the striker’s solitary goal for Spurs since then came in this month’s 3-1 triumph over Leicester City.
Kane did, in fact, go four games without registering a single shot on target before his stooping header against the Foxes, though it is worth noting that he had very little supply coming his way against Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford, with the team not at the races and failing to test the opposition in the final third.
Kane hasn’t been at his best for Tottenham in the last month or so, and he’ll be expected to step up in the final three games of the season and help Spurs qualify for the Champions League. Because of his recent success, all eyes will be on Son on Thursday, which might play directly into the hands of his buddy.
Tottenham needs Kane to add to his score and deliver a hammerblow to their tough rivals in the top-four chase, which he has done multiple times in the past with 11 goals against Arsenal.
Conte has his perfect weapon in the striker to get the better of Arsenal and now is the time for his main man to get back on track and help fire Tottenham to the top table of European football once again at the Gunners’ expense.
Visit our homepage : praizsports.com