EPL 2016/17: 5 reasons why Tottenham Hotspur will defeat Arsenal in the North London derby

#2. Spurs have a miserly defence that can withstand a relatively patchy Arsenal

The Lilywhites backline is almost impenetrable and Jan Vertonghen has been the mainstay

The Lilywhites have conceded just 22 goals across the 33 league fixtures played this season, turning into the meanest and one of the most impressive defensively organised units in the Premier League.

Opposition teams have scored a paltry 8 goals at the White Hart Lane over 17 fixtures that Spurs have played at home in 2016/17. Of these 17 games, 11 have ended with a clean sheet for the hosts, i.e. 65% of the time.

The Gunners will have a tough nut to crack when they encounter the disciplined Spurs backline; also considering the visitors’ possession-based style of play, they are likely to be vulnerable to breezy counterattacks courtesy of a very able Lilywhites side.

Additionally, despite a recovery in form, the Gunners have lost 4 of their last 5 away games with the saving grace coming most recently against Middlesbrough. The more shocking aspect is that the visitors have conceded 13 goals during this five-game run and scored only 5 which included a no-show against Crystal Palace.

That should be reasonable cause for concern for Arsene Wenger against the league’s best defence at this stage of the season.