BBC Sport pundit Mark Lawrenson has savaged lunchtime Premier League clashes as “pretty rubbish” in his prediction for Tottenham’s showdown against Arsenal tomorrow (Saturday).
The Liverpool legend is not expecting a feast of football from the Wembley clash that could prove pivotal in the final reckoning for top-four places this season.
Tottenham go into the match just four points ahead of Arsenal and Lawrenson believes the rivals will share the spoils tomorrow.
“It is going to be a great battle for fourth spot between Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea and I don’t think it will be settled until the very end of the season,” Lawrenson told the BBC Sport website.
“The Gunners come in to this game on the back of a couple of convincing home wins over Southampton and Bournemouth but they are always pretty strong at Emirates Stadium anyway.
“On the road, it is a different story and, taking that and and Spurs’ form into consideration, I think a draw is the most likely outcome – especially because this is a lunchtime game and they are usually pretty rubbish.”
OPINION
One thing that has been “pretty rubbish” is Spurs’ recent results; defeats to Burnley and Chelsea ending the slim hopes they had of winning this season’s title and also leaving them open to losing a cherished top-four finish. At the same time, Arsenal have taken six points out of a possible six, and their emphatic midweek triumph against Bournemouth will have lifted their spirits following a difficult few months. The most memorable performance and result of the Unai Emery era was the 4-2 home win in the reverse fixture against Tottenham in the autumn, but Spurs subsequently knocked their rivals out of the League Cup in a match also played at Emirates Stadium. Mauricio Pochettino’s side are so stable they rarely go on horrible runs, and any blips are usually short-lived. Confidence will be low following their Stamford Bridge setback, but expect them to bounce back with a much-improved display on home turf.