Sports Blog 23/09/2015: League Cup 3rd Round Preview – Tottenham vs Arsenal, Wednesday 23rd September 2015

In what is sure to be a tense North London derby Tottenham host Arsenal in the 3rd round of the League Cup, all taking place at 7.45pm on Sky Sports 1.

Last year’s beaten finalists have steadily begun to improve in their last 3 games. After an opening loss to Manchester United, and draws against Stoke, Leicester and Everton, consecutive victories over Sunderland, Qarabag (in the Europa League) and, most recently, Crystal Palace appear to have restored some much-needed confidence to Mauricio Pochettino’s side.



They have arguably been rejuvenated by the end of August signing of Son Heung-Min from Bayer Leverkusen. The £22 million acquisition, at 6/1 to score first and with a Player Goal Minutes spread of 14-17, has scored 3 goals in his first 3 games in an explosive run that has, not coincidentally, come alongside Tottenham’s improving form. In contrast, Spurs are still waiting for last season’s Harry Kane to turn up; he still hasn’t scored for Tottenham this season, and failed to return from a positive international break in the way Spurs would have wanted him to. Yet he likely remains Tottenham’s most lethal threat (even if he now faces stiff competition from his newly signed South Korean teammate) and is favourite to score first a 9/2 fixed odds.

If Tottenham are on the up and up, Arsenal have already begun to splutter. A timid loss against Dinamo Zagreb in their Champions League opener (one that could prove costly in a group that includes the Robert Lewandowski-fuelled Bayern Munich) was followed by a defeat against a previously terrible Chelsea in a game notable for the dismissal of both Santi Cazorla and (controversially) Gabriel Paulista.



Frustratingly for Arsene Wenger, if Son Heung-Min has revitalised Tottenham’s frontline, then the Arsenal manager’s decision to put his faith in Olivier Giroud instead of signing a new striker appears to be coming back to haunt him. The Gunners have lacked bite in the final third, scoring a measly 5 goals in their 6 league games. And whilst Giroud may have got 2 of those goals, he has by and large looked lethargic in front of goal. Yet, as Arsenal’s main striker, he sits at 11/2 to score first, with a Player Goal Minutes spread of 18-21.

Wednesday evening’s game could be just as fiery as Arsenal’s match against Chelsea at the weekend, with Spreadex offering a Bookings spread of 50-54. Our Spreadex traders also think the game could be a return to form for the Gunners, if only just, leading to an Arsenal/Tottenham (h) Goal Supremacy spread of 0.05-0.25 alongside a Total Goals spread 2.85-3.05.