You Bet | Gunners seem short of weapons

Another week, another big-six clash in the English Premier League , even if Arsenal and Tottenham find themselves outside the actual top six.

Tottenham are seventh and Arsenal a point behind in eighth spot, which emphasises how close this match is to call. Both attacks have scored 18 goals, although Arsenal's defence is better on paper (11 goals conceded against Tottenham's 16). Nor is there much between the two sides on form, with Tottenham having nine points from their past six games, while Arsenal have seven.

One angle for punters is over 2.5 goals, which has now come up in eight of the 11 showdowns between big-six clubs this season. Of the past 17 meetings between the north London rivals, 13 have had over 2.5 goals, while Tottenham have had seven out of 11 over 2.5 goals this season, so several factors point to another goal-fest.

Arsenal, strangely, have failed to score in three of their 11 league games, which suggests they are the more likely team to drag down the scoring. The problem for Arsene Wenger is that his side can no longer outscore teams on a regular basis, which is clear from a record of just four wins in 11 league games.

West Ham are the only team of any note beaten by Arsenal in the Premier League this season and it seems a long time since clean sheets in their opening three games encouraged the early view that Steve Bould, Wenger's assistant, had instilled better defensive organisation.

Arsenal have managed only one clean sheet since, in a drab 1-0 at home to bottom club QPR, and their alarming defensive frailty was exposed again last weekend when Fulham fought back from 2-0 down to force a 3-3 at the Emirates Stadium.