'Arsenal will show champions pedigree to beat Spurs without Rice, Merino and Calafiori'

Robin Bairner

• 9 Sept 2024 18:45 BST
• 3 min read

Arsenal will go into Sunday’s North London derby with Tottenham with Declan Rice leading an injury-hit team, with Gunners legend Martin Keown explaining how Mikel Arteta’s side must cope with the issues they face.

Rice is suspended after his controversial sending-off against Brighton prior to the international break, a match Arsenal drew 1-1, posing a problem in midfield.

Arteta, meanwhile, will have to do without new signing Mikel Merino in the midfield, while centre-back Riccardo Calafiori looks unlikely to feature after sustaining an injury in Italy’s 3-1 Nations League victory over France.

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“I just look at what happened at the weekend and I think it was an unfair situation for Arsenal to have to deal with but you put it to one side, don’t you?” Keown told TalkSport.

“You use it as oxygen for the game with Spurs and in that game you always go into the cauldron of anticipation with the fans and the start of a new season.

“Spurs have already lost a game against Newcastle but I like what Spurs are doing. I like the way they play and the unity and togetherness in the stadium, so it’s a difficult situation.

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“We have to respect Spurs and it’s difficult because you want to go there with your best players but they’re not there.

“It’s not been a lucky start for Arsenal but what they need to do is go into that cauldron and pick up some points.”

Will Arsenal beat Spurs?

Keown is still tipping Arsenal to take something from the fixture to maintain their undefeated start to the season.

“I think that Arsenal are still good enough – when you look at their defensive record and the number of clean sheets in recent times,” he said.

“If you look at their away record you start to think they have the pedigree of champions.

“I’m going to go with Arsenal but you have to earn everything you get at Spurs now.”

Arsenal have lost three of their last four against Tottenham away from home, so another victory would be seen as a very impressive result, particularly in the circumstances.