Sunday 24th September, 2pm
Arsenal @ 7/10
Spurs @ 7/2
Draw @ 10/3
view odds
Not exactly your typical honeymoon destination – a weekend away in the urban, North London district of Holloway. But then, this is no ordinary honeymoon.
The love-in between Ange Postecoglou and Tottenham Hotspur is currently scaling and sustaining unprecedented, Atlas-high peaks of harmony and passion.
Neither party has uttered anything remotely controversial: nobody has said that they thought the Barbie film was rubbish; nobody has voiced an opinion on Brexit; and nobody in the relationship has declared that, actually, they quite liked a lot of Russell Brand’s stuff.
Yes, it’s all going swimmingly in the post-Kane marital suite right now.
It barely even matters that – as they make the short trip along the Seven Sisters Road, past Finsbury Park, and down into Holloway this weekend – they will discover that the area’s biggest tourist attraction, its famous women’s prison, has been closed since 2016.
A 2pm late-lunch date on Sunday at Holloway’s second most famous landmark – Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium – should be enough to keep the pair suitably occupied.
But as Postecoglou and Tottenham begin to head towards the ‘John Lennon and Yoko Ono Bed-in for Peace’ phase of their honeymoon, when the general public start to find all this fathomless, overt affection a little bit tiresome; it is worth remembering that it wasn’t that long ago when another manager was creating sparks with Spurs.
Nuno Espírito Santos became Tottenham manager in 2021, and he too hit the ground thrusting. Three consecutive opening wins – including one against Manchester City – resulted in him receiving the ‘Manager of the Month’ award for August that season.
But things went sour very quickly, as they can in passionate relationships, and just two months after guiding Tottenham to its best ever start to a Premier League campaign, he had been asked to pack up his collection of beard combs and move out.
The marriage lasted just 124 days, which may be a good number for the union between two Hollywood movie stars, but is a poor return for one of the nation’s biggest football clubs.
The Postecoglou romance feels different, however; and the hot, ambitious, crowd-pleasing displays have already gone on for a longer period than they did under Nuno. As well as staying-power, the former Celtic boss also possesses more charm and charisma, and has won praise for the empathetic way he dealt with struggling Brazilian striker Richarlison.
Now comes the biggest test to date. The North London Derby. Where, unusually, both teams will meet boasting identical records: both are on 13 points, both are in the Champions League places, both have beaten Manchester United, and both are feeling pretty darned swell about life in general.
Arsenal are yet to come into full attacking bloom in the Premier League thus far; having to rely on patience and sturdiness in order to carve-out their four victories. And, despite an improved display in midweek, question marks continue to pursue Kai Havertz over his ability to provide the number of goals required to be a top four forward.
But they are clearly in decent shape, perhaps now ready to escalate their title assault, and would relish the opportunity to put a few damaging holes into the hull of their neighbour’s gaudy love boat.
How long will the honeymoon last? Will Holloway be the last stop on what has been a truly memorable trip?
With his own honeymoon period very much over, Erik Ten Hag is suddenly faced with the traumatic prospect of marriage counselling sessions with Manchester United. While the relationship is still in relatively early stages, and can’t yet be described as completely ‘on the rocks’, both parties will be hoping that a Saturday night out in Burnley – where else? – will re-kindle some lust and desire in their faltering coupling.
For all your bets on the Premier League, visit our dedicated football betting page.
