Prediction: Arsenal vs Tottenham

Verdict: Tottenham to score 2+ goals

Best Odds: 1/1

Bookmaker: Bet365

Tottenham will be out for vengeance when they face bitter rivals Arsenal in the EFL Cup quarter-final on Wednesday night.

Arsenal

Starting with the hosts, after shipping three against Southampton last week, Unai Emery saw his 22-match unbeaten run come to an end last weekend. While the Gunners will be boosted by their dramatic 4-2 win over Tottenham in the north London derby earlier in the month, their recent defensive record will be a growing concern for the former PSG boss. Failing to keep a clean sheet against both Brentford and Blackpool on route to the quarter-finals, the Reds have now recorded just a single clean sheet in their last six domestic matchups. In fact, both Newcastle and Crystal Palace now hold a better defensive record in the Premier League. Although Arsenal have recorded just one clean sheet at the Emirates since the end of September, they do hold an eye-catching record in north London. Along with winning his debut derby, they are unbeaten in 13 outings on home soil.

Team News

Arsenal full-backs Hector Bellerin (calf) and Sead Kolasinac (thigh) will not be risked, while centre-back duo Rob Holding (knee) and Konstantinos Mavropanos (groin) are still sidelined – although Sokratis Papastathopoulos is back after a ban.

Shkodran Mustafi (hamstring) is being assessed while Emery will not want to rely on fit-again Laurent Koscielny three times in a week – Danny Welbeck (ankle) and Emile Smith Rowe (hip) also miss out.

Tottenham

As for the visitors, bouncing back from their 4-2 loss against Arsenal earlier in the month, Tottenham have now won their last three domestic matches on the bounce and also managed to remarkably book their spot in the knockout stage of this year’s Champions League. Now extending their points advantage over Emery’s side to five points, Mauricio Pochettino should see the EFL Cup as the perfect opportunity to pick up their first piece of silverware during his reign in north London. With a string of notable absentees, Pochettino is likely to hand leading goalscorer Harry Kane his first EFL Cup appearance since 2015. The England skipper has already bagged nine Premier League goals this season and also boasts a very impressive record against the Gunners. Kane has now scored eight goals in his last nine matches against Arsenal.

Team News

Jan Vertonghen and Eric Dier will miss out for Tottenham – both players are out of action until January with respective thigh and appendix issues.

Davinson Sanchez and Juan Foyth (both hamstring) are fit, but Mousa Dembele (ankle), Serge Aurier (groin) and Victor Wanyama (knee) miss out.

Key Factors to Consider

• This match will see Arsenal vs Tottenham become the joint-most played fixture in League Cup history (14 times, level with Arsenal v Liverpool).
• Arsenal have won seven of their previous 13 League Cup meetings with Tottenham (D3 L3), including the most recent two (2010-11 and 2015-16).
• Following Arsenal’s win against Spurs in the league meeting between them at the start of December, they’re looking to beat their rivals twice in the same calendar month for the first time since March 1987.
• Arsenal are looking to reach the League Cup semi-finals in consecutive seasons for the first time since a run of three between 2005-06 and 2007-08.
• Tottenham are looking to reach the League Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2014-15, when they eventually lost the final to Chelsea.

Conclusion

While it is hard to deny that Unai Emery has had an immediate impact at Arsenal, it is hard to overlook some very glaring defensive issues. Once again on show at St. Mary’s on Sunday, the Gunners’ injury riddled back four will likely find it hard to keep Kane and co at bay in midweek. Now scoring two or more goals in five of their last eight matches against their bitter rivals, we’re backing the Lilywhites to enjoy a successful evening in front of goal.

Verdict: Tottenham to score 2+ goals

Best Odds: 1/1

Bookmaker: Bet365