TOTTENHAM will hope to avoid an unwanted Premier League record against bitter rivals Arsenals this weekend.
Spurs will host the Gunners this Sunday but will not want to face another home defeat to Mikel Arteta’s side.
Arsenal are heading to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium hoping for their third consecutive victory on their rivals’ turf, in a bid to keep up with league leaders Manchester City and Liverpool.
Spurs’ recent 2-1 defeat to Newcastle has added extra pressure to this weekend’s match, as they currently sit tenth in the table after three games.
For Ange Postecoglou’s team to return to winning ways, they must overcome an own-goal challenge.
Tottenham have scored an own goal in each of their last three Premier League encounters with Arsenal.
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So spurs will be eager to avoid breaking that unwanted record as no team has ever conceded four own goals in consecutive matches against the same opponent.
In their April match, Pierre Emile-Hojbjerg inadvertently headed a corner into his own net, giving Arsenal the lead in their 3-2 win.
This incident came after Cristian Romero scored an own goal in the 2-2 draw at the Emirates last September.
Prior to that, former Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris fumbled Bukayo Saka’s cross, turning it into his own net.
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All three own goals have actually stemmed from Saka’s dynamic play on Arsenal’s right wing.
Postecoglou will therefore want to make sure his biggest rivals do not get an early advantage and avoid similar mistakes.
Arsenal are looking to bounce back in Sunday’s match after a 1-1 draw at home against Brighton last month.
Arteta is concerned about the fitness of captain Martin Odegaard, who limped off during Norway’s 2-1 victory over Austria on Monday night.
The 25-year-old has returned to London for tests after what seems to be an ankle sprain.
The Spaniard will also be without new signing Riccardo Calafiori due to injury, and Declan Rice will miss the short trip due to suspension.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
