Manchester City start the weekend in second place in the table and five points behind leaders Arsenal after having played one game more than the Gunners.

The Citizens have won three of their last five games in the Premier League and with their showdown with Arsenal at The Emirates later in the month looming large, they will be keen to get a positive result in north London this weekend.

Recent history doesn’t make good reading for Pep Guardiola’s men though – the Citizens have lost all four of their games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in all competitions without scoring.

Manchester City are also bidding to win three successive league games for the first time this season, while Spurs have lost three of their last five outings in the top flight.

Former Manchester United star feels that Manchester City are starting to show some signs of weakness and he is tipping Spurs to earn a point in Sunday’s clash.

Patrice Evra (Photo: China Images / Imagine China Limited / depositphotos.com)

Writing in his column for Betfair, Evra said: “I still don’t understand Manchester City this season. [Joao] Cancelo leaving? Something is wrong there.

“We don’t know what’s happening with this club, the relationship with the players and the manager, people won’t say it out loud but I think something is breaking because they let Zinchenko go to Arsenal too.

“I know players say they’re not playing and they want more time, but when you play with a big team Like Manchester City and you know you’re playing to win four trophies a season, you know you’re not going to play every game.

“The perfect example is Chicharito at United. [Sir Alex] Ferguson would say to him that he’s not going to play for two games but in the third he would play and win the game for us, and because of that they had a great relationship.

“So, those players saying they want to leave because of game time, I’m sorry, I don’t believe that. There’s something wrong happening with the manager.

“The worst part is City are letting their players leave easily. I understand that when a player isn’t happy they should leave, because you should never hold a player against his will, but we’re talking about quality players here that will go to another team and add real quality, United would never do that.

“Spurs will give them a hard time in this one. City don’t have a great record at that stadium so I can see this one being a draw.”

Meanwhile, former Arsenal star Paul Merson feels that the pressure is truly on Manchester City heading into this game – but he is tipping Guardiola’s side to claim a narrow 2-1 victory nonetheless.

Writing in his own column for Sportskeeda, Merson said: “The pressure’s going to be on Manchester City this week.

Pep Guardiola (Photo: Oleh Dubyna / depositphotos.com)

“They’ll probably be eight points behind Arsenal when they play this game, and they can’t afford anything less than a win here. If they don’t beat Tottenham, I don’t see how they can make up the difference.”

Merson added: “Something has definitely happened with Joao Cancelo. I know he’s come out and denied it, but something’s gone on. He was one of the best players in the Premier League last season, and now he’s on loan at Bayern Munich – I don’t see how that deal happens.

“Man City are playing on a lot of fronts, and an injury could end their season. Cancelo has played in the Champions League and he’s been a big player for City. I’m shocked, and I don’t believe that nothing’s happened.

“Manchester City have a nice fixture list in the Premier League after this game, and this is a big match. Tottenham will sit back and make it hard for them, but City should be able to win this game.”

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The Gunners are currently leading the way at the top of the table but could find their advantage cut down to two points by the time they kick off in north London this weekend.

Second-placed Manchester City have the chance to close the gap down to two points with a victory from their own derby showdown against Manchester United on Saturday lunchtime.

Arsenal have been in solid form lately but they will be keen to bounce back from having dropped points in their goalless draw with Newcastle United earlier in the month.

Spurs are currently 11 points behind their bitter local rivals having also played a game more than the Gunners, and Antonio Conte’s men start the weekend in fifth place in the table, having only won two of their last five games in the top flight.

Former Manchester United defender Evra feels that Arsenal are genuine title contenders this season and he is backing them to claim an important win away to Spurs this weekend.

Writing in his column for Betfair, Evra said: “I remember when Arsenal were going for the top four, they got beat by Newcastle and after that they had a chance to still get there when they played Tottenham. It was an amazing game and they started so well, but they conceded that penalty, which wasn’t a penalty, and after that I saw the Arsenal players giving up.

“I don’t think this is the same side at all now, this is a side that believes they are going to win the title. If I was Arteta, I’d be telling my side to believe that they are champions. You have to believe that you are going to win the league.

Mikel Arteta (Photo: Mark Cosgrove / News Images / depositohotos.com)

“Against Tottenham, their enemies, they have to think like that. They should beat Tottenham, I don’t see why they can’t win. It’s a derby, anything can happen, the wrong decision and injustice, but I just don’t see why they can’t win.

“They have to be careful of Tottenham because Conte and the players are really hurt. It’s going to be a big game but when you look at what’s going on with both sides at the moment you have to give credit to Arsenal.

“They have to win every game if they want to win the title, and they can. I believe Arsenal can win the title, when I see their fans they are all scared and don’t want me to say it, but the way they are playing, there’s isn’t another team that’s playing better football and being dominant right now. They aren’t afraid and they aren’t kids anymore.”

Former Chelsea FC striker Chris Sutton also feels that Arsenal will make a statement in the title race by claiming a victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this weekend.

The 49-year-old is backing Arsenal to claim a dominant 3-0 victory in Sunday’s north London derby clash and continue their impressive form in the top flight this season.

“I am looking forward to this game and it will be interesting enough just to watch the technical areas when Antonio Conte and Mikel Arteta are both out there,” Sutton wrote in his column for BBC Sport.

“I don’t think Conte will appreciate Arteta’s antics if he behaves like he did in Arsenal’s draw with Newcastle, so that will be worth keeping an eye on.

Antonio Conte (Photo: Marco Canoniero / depositphotos.com)

“On the pitch, it might be far less of a contest. Arsenal are a much better team, and for most of the season Tottenham’s performances have just not been good enough.

“Spurs might step things up here, of course, because it means so much to both sets of fans that they won’t be able to just lie down – but I’ve had enough of saying they will turn the corner soon, and I’m sick of Conte’s excuses when they play poorly. They don’t deserve me to predict a positive result for them.

“I think a lot of Tottenham fans are sick and tired of Conte’s brand of football too – they are bland and unexciting, while Arsenal are the complete opposite, even with Gabriel Jesus out injured.

“I can see the Gunners making a big statement on Sunday, on Tottenham’s own patch.”

Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson, however, feels that the game is likely to end all square, and is predicting a 2-2 draw in north London.

“Harry Kane causes Arsenal problems, and Arsenal cause Tottenham problems,” Merson told Sportskeeda. “If Tottenham want to play defensively, Arsenal will run out of ideas quickly like they did against Newcastle.

“If Tottenham play a dangerous game, however, Arsenal could run riot. I don’t see this game as a foregone conclusion – I hope Arsenal wipe the floor with Tottenham, but I don’t think they will.”

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The Red Devils have been showing encouraging signs of progress under new boss Erik ten Hag in recent weeks, with Manchester United having won their last four Premier League games on the trot.

Ten Hag also watched his side secure their spot in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Friday night thanks to their 3-1 home win over Everton.

With the January transfer window now open, the Red Devils have the option to bolster their squad in preparation for the second half of the season as they aim to finish in the top four and challenge in the cup competitions.

Manchester United currently find themselves fourth in the Premier League table after 17 games, but they have scored the fewest goals (27) of any team in the top nine positions.

Former Arsenal and England star Merson feels that the Red Devils should be doing what they can to snap up Kane, 29, from Tottenham this month to reinforce their attacking options.

Kane has already netted 15 goals and made one assist in 18 league games this term – and he has a proven track record which could help Manchester United finish the season strongly, according to Merson.

“In an age where clubs spend money for fun and world-class centre-forwards are a rarity, I would find it crazy if Manchester United did not break the bank for Harry Kane,” Merson wrote in his column for The Daily Star.

Harry Kane (Photo: Vasilis Ververidis / depositphotos.com)

“You can look all around the world, rack your brains and round up every scout within your network and the answer is right there in front of you. There is nobody that comes close to Kane that is currently available.

“If United ever want to catch Manchester City, they’ve got to go and get Kane. Everybody wants a striker and is searching far and wide but the best centre-forward is staring everybody in the face.

“He plays for a team in Tottenham that are going to win absolutely nothing and surely, sooner or later his head is going to be turned by a move again.

“I don’t know what I’m missing here. Even if he costs £150m and it’s a four or five-year contract, you are buying over 100 goals. Who else is going to give you that?

“Everyone talks about Erling Haaland but for me, Kane could deliver similar numbers in that Manchester City team and even add more assists.

“Even if he couldn’t match Haaland, he wouldn’t be far off. They create so many chances. If he signed for United and they got into the top four this season, I would expect them to start winning things.

“Call me silly but Kane would even give United a chance of winning the Champions League in my opinion. He is a machine. Tottenham are only where they are because of Harry Kane, it really is that simple. He is the difference.”

Arsenal legend Paul Merson (Photo: Sky Sports)

With Manchester United having been in good form under Ten Hag in recent weeks, the Dutchman says that his side are simply taking each game as it comes rather than looking at the bigger picture and the silverware on offer to the Red Devils this season.

Speaking at his post-match news conference on Friday night, Ten Hag said: “Manchester United is always aiming for trophies. We are going for that, but you can’t force this, we have to wait for it.

“We have to focus on the next game and not think about trophies. It’s far ahead, we have to work on the team, we have to work on the progress and development, and that is the only focus point at this moment.

“I think we have that [ability to win trophies]. We can fight, we can fight back if it’s necessary, and that is important. We can act composed and stay composed, so we have resilience. I think we have a lot of good skills in the team to win games so we can also win prizes.”

Next up for Manchester United is their EFL Cup quarter-final clash against Charlton at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.

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The Merseyside outfit head into Sunday’s game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the back of two successive defeats in the Premier League, with their 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest having been compounded by a 2-1 home defeat by Leeds United last weekend.

Jurgen Klopp’s side started the weekend down in ninth place in the table, with the Reds having only won four of their 12 games in the top flight so far this term.

Tottenham, meanwhile, bounced back from back-to-back defeats in the Premier League with a 3-2 victory away to Bournemouth in the top flight last time out.

Antonio Conte’s side began the weekend in third place as they look to keep up with Manchester City and Arsenal at the top of the table.

Former Manchester United star Evra feels that it’s difficult to “trust” Liverpool FC to produce a solid performance this season and feels that Spurs will edge to victory with a 2-1 win.

Writing in his column for Metro, Evra said: “We are back to a point where we are saying if Liverpool lose, their season is over and if they win their season is back on track. Their defence is weak.

“It’s going to be a good game. Tottenham got a late goal last time out and I think there’s been a lot of criticism about them, but people need to calm down and remember where they were.

“I’m going for Spurs and Conte in this one, because you can’t trust Liverpool this season, which is so weird because normally you can trust Klopp’s side. Everyone is in shock, what is going on with that team.”

Jurgen Klopp (Photo: New Balance)

Recent history certainly favours Liverpool FC heading into this game, with Spurs having only won once in their last 21 meetings with Liverpool FC in all competitions.

Liverpool FC have also won five of their last nine away games against Spurs – but the Reds have now dropped 20 points in 12 league games this season, which is just two shy of their total from last term.

Spurs are set to be without the likes of Son Heung-min, Cristian Romero and Richarlison for Sunday’s game, with Liverpool FC also set to miss James Milner due to injury.

Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson disagrees with Evra’s prediction, and feels that Liverpool FC are poised to claim a 2-1 win over Spurs in north London this weekend.

“This is a huge game,” Merson wrote in his column for Sportskeeda. “I expect Man City to win their Premier League game this weekend, and that would mean that Liverpool would be 16 points behind City before they start their game.

“If all the other big teams win their matches, they’d be 10 points behind fifth place this week. They’ve got to try and get into the top four.

“Liverpool have defeated Napoli, Ajax, and Manchester City, but have lost to Leeds and Nottingham Forest. Had they won both those games, they would’ve been in sixth place.

“It’s extraordinary, and Jurgen Klopp must be pulling his hair out. Every week that goes by, the gap between Liverpool and the top four gets bigger. They can’t afford to lose this game.”

Merson added: “With Son, Kulusevski, and Richarlison injured, Harry Kane will be isolated up front. I’ve watched Tottenham a lot this season, and I don’t think Kane can do it on his own.

“Liverpool like their Premier League away games against Tottenham, and they will back themselves to win this game.”

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The north Londoners are top of the Premier League table after 10 games, having opened up a four-point lead over second-placed Manchester City as they bid to secure their first top-four finish since 2016.

Arsenal’s 1-0 win at Leeds United at the weekend confirmed their best start to a top-flight campaign for more than a century, and Mikel Arteta has been widely praised for getting the best out of his young team at The Emirates.

Manchester City were beaten 1-0 by Liverpool FC at Anfield on Sunday but Pep Guardiola’s men are still the bookmakers’ favourites to win a third straight Premier League title this season.

Former Liverpool FC and England striker Owen has been impressed by what he’s seen from Arsenal so far this season and is expecting to see them finish in the top four – but he is tipping City to retain their title.

“Arsenal have surprised a lot of people, and I don’t think it’s a fluke,” Owen said in an interview with Aceodds.com. “When you watch their performances, they’ve actually played really well.

“The good thing for them is that they’ve got a young team. So you would think that energy and improvement will continue to come for them. So I don’t think Arsenal are a flash in the pan at all. I think they’ll sustain it. I think they’ll have a good season.

Liverpool FC legend Michael Owen (Photo: BT Sport)

“But I think Manchester City are different class to anyone at the moment. I think they’ve had a great start to the season. Obviously, they lost to Liverpool the other day, but they look so good in so many games. So I still think Manchester City will win the league, but I think Arsenal are here to stay.”

Pressed on how he sees the top four shaping up this season, Owen replied: “Well, it is tough to call the top four. Manchester City for sure. I think Chelsea are probably going to be in the top four. Arsenal as well. It’s very hard to leave one out, isn’t it?

“I’m actually torn between Liverpool and Tottenham at the moment. I’m going to say Liverpool, but how can you leave Tottenham out of the top four when they are playing particularly well as well?

“Manchester United, they’ve got a good chance. But there’s going to be a massive team that everybody would expect to be in the top four that are going to miss out this year.

“I do think Liverpool are still right up there among the elite. I think that even though Arsenal had a good start to the season and Liverpool are maybe ten points or so behind them, I still think that Manchester City and Liverpool are the top two teams in Europe for that matter.

England legend Michael Owen (Photo: BT Sport)

“So it’s so hard to say. I’ll probably say Tottenham will miss out. I don’t actually believe that’s true, but I don’t know who else.”

Owen was speaking before Tottenham were beaten 2-0 by Manchester United at Old Trafford on Wednesday night – a result which left Spurs four points behind Arsenal having played one game more than the Gunners.

Meanwhile, Arsenal are currently gearing up for their Europa League clash against PSV Eindhoven at The Emirates on Thursday evening, with the Gunners bidding to secure their place in the knockout phase.

The north Londoners have won all three of their European games so far this season and face a PSV side who are also undefeated in this season’s competition.

At his pre-match news conference on Wednesday, Gunners boss Arteta revealed that the atmosphere in the Arsenal dressing room is as good as it has been for some time – but he also said that his side still have plenty of room for improvement.

Asked if the mood in the dressing room is different this season, Arteta replied: “Yeah, winning obviously helps a lot, but I have no complaints.

Mikel Arteta (Photo: Marco Iacobucci / depositphotos.com)

“I think this is an exceptional group that is in a really good moment, we are enjoying the moment, we want to get better in a lot of things that we are doing, but I think that we are on the right path.”

Arteta also talked up the importance of Arsenal winning their Europa League group – with the Gunners currently top of Group A after three games.

He added: “[It is] really important [to try and win the group]. In Europe, when you have the chance to take advantage you have to do it. It’s always very unpredictable what can happen in the next game. You have to go away and we know the level of the other teams as well.

“What I can say watching them [PSV] and what they are doing domestically, internationally, [it will be] a really tough match.”

After Thursday’s clash, the Gunners will then turn their attentions towards their next Premier League game – a trip to face Southampton on Sunday.

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The Red Devils are looking to return to winning ways in the English top flight after after they were held to a frustrating goalless draw at home to Newcastle United on Sunday.

Erik ten Hag’s side currently find themselves in fifth place in the table and four points behind fourth-placed Tottenham – although the Red Devils have played one game less than the north Londoners.

A win for Ten Hag’s men on Wednesday night would move them to within one point of Spurs with a game in hand – but former Arsenal star Merson is expecting to see the game end all square, despite claiming it is a “must-win” encounter for the home side.

“This is a hard game to call,” Merson wrote in his column for Sportskeeda. “Manchester United had a couple of good chances last week, and I don’t think Newcastle picked the right pass at times.

“If United don’t win this game, they take a draw and a defeat on their trip away to Chelsea. They’re facing two of the top four in their next two Premier League games, and it’s a massive week for them.

Erik ten Hag (Photo: Oleksandr Prykhodko / depositphotos.com)

“Liverpool could go bang-bang-bang for their nine points, and United could find themselves behind Liverpool by the end of the week. Manchester United have the hardest set of games out of everybody this week.

“This is a must-win game for Manchester United, and I don’t think that is the case for Tottenham. Antonio Conte will want to make sure his team doesn’t lose this match, and he’ll be the happier of the two managers with a draw. Tottenham will make sure they don’t lose this match.”

Meanwhile, former Chelsea FC striker Chris Sutton feels that Manchester United “rode their luck” against Newcastle United at the weekend and is tipping Spurs to claim the three points on Wednesday night.

The former forward feels that Spurs will be well set-up to hit the Red Devils on the counter-attack and inflict a fourth Premier League defeat of the season on Manchester United.

“Manchester United rode their luck against Newcastle, but I think it will be a different story against Spurs,” Sutton wrote in his own column for BBC Sport. “If Harry Kane gets any chances, then he is in the kind of form to take them.

“At the other end, United were slightly toothless against the Magpies. They missed Christian Eriksen, who was out with illness and is still a doubt for this game, and they will need his craft to cause his former club any problems.

Ex-Chelsea FC striker Chris Sutton (Photo: BT Sport)

“Even if Eriksen plays, however, I’m going for an Antonio Conte counter-attacking win for Tottenham, with Kane kicking things off by winning another penalty and slotting this one away too.”

Elsewhere, Manchester United summer signing Lisandro Martinez has earned praise from Luke Shaw following the Argentina international’s arrival at Old Trafford from Ajax.

The 24-year-old defender has started all nine of Manchester United’s games in the Premier League so far this season and has seamlessly slotted into the Red Devils’ back four since his arrival at the club.

“Unbelievable,” replied Shaw, when asked about Martinez’s start at Old Trafford. “You can see that everyone loves him, the fans love him. His left foot is unbelievable.

“I think it always helps when you go with a left-footer on the side he naturally likes to come out and he’s fitted in really well.

“Of course, he can keep getting better and better and, so far, he’s been unbelievable this season. He needs to keep that up, his aggression, his passion.”

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Spurs head into the home game knowing that a victory would move them level on points with second-placed Manchester City, who travel to Liverpool FC on Sunday.

Tottenham bounced back from their recent north London derby defeat by Arsenal with a 1-0 win away to Brighton last weekend, followed by a 3-2 home victory over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Everton, meanwhile, are aiming to bounce back from their 2-1 loss to Manchester United last weekend and return to winning ways in the top flight. The Toffees start the weekend in 12th place in the table, having won just two of their opening nine games.

Former Arsenal star Merson feels that Spurs are now starting to “click” under manager Antonio Conte and feels that they are on course to claim a comfortable win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday evening.

Writing in his column for Sportskeeda, Merson said: “Tottenham are starting to click under Antonio Conte. They did well to stay where they are without Son Heung-Min. Now that he’s started to play regularly, I think they’ll do well.

“They haven’t played too well so far and they’re third in the Premier League – there’s nothing too wrong with that.

Antonio Conte (Photo: Marco Canoniero / depositphotos.com)

“Teams like Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur need to keep their focus on the top four. Two big teams are going to miss out this season, and you don’t want to be one of them. They need to keep on ticking away and reassess after the World Cup. Tottenham have stepped up this month and should be able to win this Premier League game.”

Meanwhile, former Chelsea FC star Chris Sutton is also predicting a win for Spurs in front of their home fans. Sutton is tipping Tottenham to claim a 3-1 home victory and put the pressure back on Manchester City and Arsenal at the top of the table.

“Everton were a bit underwhelming against Manchester United at the weekend, especially after taking an early lead,” Sutton wrote in his own column for BBC Sport.

“The Toffees defence has improved a lot since the last time they came to Spurs – they lost 5-0 in March – but United showed you can still get at them.

“I think Everton boss Frank Lampard will be quite pragmatic here, but stopping Spurs won’t be easy. Harry Kane is up and running and Son Heung-min is still in my fantasy team and is going to come good soon.

“So, Tottenham will find a way though. How comfortable this is for them just depends on when they score their first goal.”

Tottenham have been in great form at home heading into this game. They have now won seven successive Premier League home games, marking their best run since a 14-match streak in 2016 and 2017.

Everton’s 1-0 at Spurs on the opening day of last season was their only victory away to the north London club since 2008.

MORE: Latest Tottenham Hotspur news and views

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The north London side came painfully close to securing a fourth-placed finish last term, only for them to unravel in the closing stages of the season and end up two points behind their bitter local rivals Tottenham, who secured a spot in the Champions League at the Gunners’ expense.

The Gunners claimed a thrilling 3-1 victory over Tottenham in Saturday’s north London derby clash at The Emirates to keep their place at the top of the table and move four points ahead of their neighbours.

Arsenal have not finished in the Premier League’s top four since Arsene Wenger was still in charge at the club – in the 2015-16 campaign when they ended up second behind champions Leicester City.

However, former Chelsea FC defender Huth feels that the Gunners are making clear progress under Mikel Arteta and he feels that the north Londoners will have enough to claim a top-four spot and with it a return to the Champions League.

And Huth is also tipping Tottenham to make it into the top four under Antonio Conte for the second season running.

“I think Arsenal need to finish in the top four,” Huth is quoted as saying by Metro. “With the money they’ve invested in the team and the time they’ve given Mikel Arteta, you’d have to say it would be a bit of a failure if they didn’t make it this season.

“It’s really now or never, for me. It’s Arteta’s third year, he’s brought in Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko who have massively improved the team.

“In the past, they’ve fallen short with a few games to go, but this year I think they’ll sneak in. They’ve got that real grit, the kind of grit I’ve not seen at that club for a while now.

“It’s great to see. Arteta’s always on the touchline, fighting every ball and it really translates to the team.

Mikel Arteta (Photo: Marco Iacobucci / depositphotos.com)

“When it’s been tough, they’ve dug each other out, and of course it’s going to get tougher and they’re going to have down days; no one is expecting them to play the perfect season. But so far in the aftermath of those downs, they’ve performed to a really good standard.

“You can only go off what we’ve seen so far, and for me I think Arsenal will sneak into that top four with Tottenham, Liverpool and obviously Manchester City.”

The former Germany international was initially tipping Chelsea FC to be one of the main contenders for a top-four finish – but the Blues’ decision to sack Thomas Tuchel and bring in Graham Potter has forced him to reconsider his view, and he now expects the south west Londoners to miss out on a Champions League spot.

“My opinion on this year’s top four has all changed with the sacking of Thomas Tuchel,” he said of Chelsea, who were 2-1 winners at Crystal Palace on Saturday. “I was expecting Chelsea to be right up there, especially after the recruitment they did in the summer. But now I just don’t see them doing it.”

Meanwhile, Arsenal are set to be without midfielder Emile Smith Rowe until December after he underwent surgery to repair a tendon in his groin.

Smith Rowe – who has only made four substitute appearances in the Premier League this term – had been struggling with the issue for a number of months and Gunners boss Arteta has revealed why the club opted for the midfielder to undergo the procedure last week.

Emile Smith Rowe (Photo: Adidas)

“We put all the alternatives on the table and the thing is we have tried some others during the last few months and they haven’t really worked to the point the player wasn’t comfortable and consistently at his best to perform,” said Arteta.

“We decided to take that route and that it was the best decision. We had to make a decision because we could not continue the uncertainty as to whether we have him, or have him with certain conditions.

“We needed to draw a line so we made that decision and he was the first one demanding that he wanted to make the decision and we supported that, and we have to prepare him to get back stronger than he was.”

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Odegaard, 23, was handed the captain’s armband in the summer after Mikel Arteta named him as the club’s new permanent skipper following Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s departure.

The Norway international has been in solid form for the Gunners so far this season, scoring three goals in seven games in the Premier League and helping Arsenal to claim a 3-1 win over Tottenham in Saturday’s north London derby at The Emirates.

Fabregas was also handed the captain’s armband at The Emirates at a similar age – the Spaniard was appointed as skipper aged 21 by Arsene Wenger back in November 2008 – and the ex-Chelsea FC midfielder says he has been impressed by what he has seen of Odegaard lately.

“I really like his style, I like his intelligence, the way he moves and always finds pockets of space where you can make the difference in football these days,” Fabregas said on BT Sport, quoted by Metro, before Arsenal’s win over Spurs on Saturday. “He is very tricky and he has a good eye for the final ball.

“He also has a lot of responsibility, he was 15 when he made his debut for Norway, he is the captain of Norway, now a very young captain for Arsenal and he is responding very well. I am very happy for him, he reminds me a little of me when I took the armband at 21.”

Martin Odegaard (Photo: Marco Iacobucci / depositphotos.com)

Arsenal remain top of the Premier League table, after having taken 21 points from a possible 24 in their opening eight games of the new season.

However, Arsenal boss Arteta insisted after Saturday’s victory over Spurs that the Gunners are not getting carried away by their solid start to the campaign, with a game against FC Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League on Thursday set to be followed by a crunch clash against Liverpool FC next weekend in the Premier League at The Emirates.

“It’s great always looking at it [the table] and seeing the club where it is, in this position,” Arteta said at his post-match news conference on Saturday.

“It’s great, it gives you a great feeling obviously. But we are focused. It is a really hungry and humble team, believe me. We know where we are. There is nothing that we have done yet, and there are still a lot of things to improve, and that’s the direction that we are taking.”

Meanwhile, Fabregas also reserved special praise for Arsenal defender William Saliba following his impressive showing against Spurs on Saturday as he continued his fine start at The Emirates after three seasons away on loan in France.

The 21-year-old France international played the full 90 minutes of the derby clash and has started all eight of Arsenal’s Premier League games this term, scoring two goals and making one assist.

“It was a fantastic complete performance [by Arsenal],” Fabregas said after Saturday’s game. “I would like to just mention a special name but nobody really spoke about because he was so good.

“I think he made it look so easy that’s, William Saliba. This boy was in France for the last three years on loan.”

Fabregas added: “Potentially he could be Arsenal’s centre back for the next 15 or 20 years.”

Saliba’s performance also drew praise from former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, who was alongside Fabregas for BT Sport‘s coverage of Saturday’s game.

Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, pictured in training in 2011 (Photo: The Sport Review)

The ex-England international admitted that he had been impressed by Saliba’s composure throughout the game and feels he has a bright future ahead of him.

Asked what impressed him most about Saliba, Ferdinand replied: “His composure. He’s very strong and mobile but he was the most composed centre-back on the pitch today, especially on Arsenal’s side.

“How many times did he come out with the ball when he was under pressure? He was calm and showed composure beyond his years.

“He had to be very patient (waiting three years for his debut with Arsenal) and showed character to go away and prove himself and he’s already become a little bit of a fan favourite.”

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Not much separates the two teams heading into the derby showdown, with table-toppers Arsenal a single point ahead of their neighbours and both sides having a similar goal difference.

A victory for Arsenal would keep them top of the table for another week and help to keep up their early-season momentum ahead of another testing clash against Liverpool FC at The Emirates next weekend.

Spurs are the only other unbeaten team left in the Premier League this season along with defending champions Manchester City as Antonio Conte bids to steer the Lilywhites to a genuine title challenge this term.

However, former Arsenal midfielder Merson feels confident that Mikel Arteta’s men will have too much for the visitors on Saturday lunchtime and he is tipping the Gunners to claim a 2-1 win.

“This is a game that never lets you down,” Merson wrote in his column for Sportskeeda. “There are certain other games in the Premier League calendar where we build them up and they disappoint, but that is never the case with this fixture.

“The way they’re playing at the moment, I don’t see Tottenham being able to beat Arsenal. They did defeat Leicester by a 6-2 margin the other day, but the scoreline flattered them in my opinion.

“Son Heung-Min hasn’t done well when he’s started games so far this season, and Antonio Conte might use him as an impact player to turn to from the bench.”

Meanwhile, Gunners captain Martin Odegaard has declared himself fit and ready for Saturday’s game after he sustained a minor calf injury before Arsenal’s 3-0 win at Brentford.

Martin Odegaard (Photo: Marco Iacobucci / depositphotos.com)

The Norway international missed the victory at the Brentford Community Stadium but featured for his country in their Nations League games against Slovenia and Serbia during the international break.

“I got a kick on my calf in the week before the Brentford game, and was struggling a bit with it beforehand, and I had to leave some of the training sessions,” Odegaard wrote in his programme notes before Saturday’s game. “Then the last session before the game, I had to go out again because it was too sore.

“So I stayed here for a few days after the game to do some rehab and all the scans, and everything was fine so I joined up with the national team and I was able to play twice for Norway. I feel fine now.”

The 23-year-old – who has scored three goals in six Premier League games so far this term – also talked up the importance of Saturday’s derby showdown.

“I’ve played in a few of these derby games now, they are always so special, and I know how much it means to everyone around the club and the supporters,” Odegaard added.

“The whole week is special. You feel it around the club, around the building and everyone is preparing for it, knowing something special is coming.

“And right now, with both teams up at the top, there’s even more on the game. I’m expecting a great fight, and one that we need to win in front of our own supporters.”

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