Premier League: Spurs and United Jostle for Position While Impenetrable Arsenal Look To Extend Lead

by Joseph King | by Joseph King

image Premier League: Spurs and United Jostle for Position While Impenetrable Arsenal Look To Extend Lead
The top two matches for Saturday’s slate of games in the Premier League. Tottenham and Manchester United face off in a rematch of last season’s Europa League final. Later, leaders Arsenal will try to continue their remarkable run against surprise package Sunderland. There’s a lot of action in store, let’s get right to it!

Spurs seek response while Red Devils look to build on momentum

Manchester United fans will be sick of the face of Tottenham, with the two sides set to kick off the weekend's Premier League fixtures on Saturday. It was Spurs that denied them Champions League football in Bilbao at the end of last season, extending their unbeaten run over the 20-time English champions to an incredible seven games.

Tottenham were able to return to winning ways in their midweek UCL fixture with Micky van de Ven scoring what may very well go down as the goal of the tournament. Domestically, however, Spurs have been sinking. They were eliminated from the EFL Cup by Newcastle and slumped to a massively disappointing 1-0 home loss to Chelsea. The team was panned for the performance, with some questionable reactions from both Djed Spence and van de Ven after the final whistle in reaction to manager Thomas Frank also making the headlines.

Manchester United, on the other hand, have taken 10 points from the last 12 available and carry a four-game unbeaten run into this match. Both teams remain deadlocked with identical records in the Premier League at 5-2-3 and the winner would move up to second place before the rest of the matchday 11 games are played.

Ruben Amorim is a few weeks away from his one-year anniversary at the club. It’s safe to say it hasn’t been the smoothest ride for the Portuguese manager, although there are signs that the tide may be beginning to turn. He hasn’t had the best of luck against his opposite number though, with Manchester United losing on both occasions to the Thomas Frank-led Brentford last season. 

Manchester United vs Tottenham last 10

  • Manchester United wins: 3
  • Draws: 2
  • Tottenham wins: 5
  • Man United goals: 15
  • Tottenham goals: 17

Will the Gunners continue firing on all cylinders at the Stadium of Light?

Mikel Merino and Gabriel celebrate

Arsenal fans will be absolutely buzzing thanks to how their team has been performing this season. They’re breaking all kinds of records, especially on the defensive end. Arsenal have kept eight consecutive clean sheets for the first time since 1903, while their eight straight ‘wins to nil’ is a new club record. Their 3-0 away win over Slavia Prague in the Champions League on Tuesday also marked the first time that Arsenal have won 10 straight games under manager Mikel Arteta.

If Arsenal can keep up this pace, they could even crack the record for fewest goals conceded in a Premier League season (currently held by 2004-05 Chelsea at 15 goals).

This is in the face of a growing list of injuries to key attacking players. The investment in padding out the squad is paying dividends now, and thanks to the excellent play of makeshift striker Mikel Merino leading the line, Arsenal have been able to maintain their winning run.

They’ll face a stern test up north with Sunderland representing one of the 2025-26 season’s biggest surprises so far. Led by captain Granit Xhaka, who will face off against his former team, Sunderland have been upsetting the odds so far in a campaign that many had pegged for relegation.

It should be a fascinating battle between two of the best defenses in the league. Sunderland have made the Stadium of Light a fortress so far, but Arsenal look almost unstoppable at the minute. See what our experts think in our Sunderland vs Arsenal prediction!

Arsenal Premier League statistics

StatisticArsenalPremier League rank
Goals scored per game1.82nd
Goals conceded per game0.31st
Clean sheets71st
Big chances created285th
Touches in opponent box3431st
Shots on target per game4.57th
Shots on targed faced per game1.91st