The North London derby comes with stakes on both ends of the premier league table with the hope of the title being earned by Arsenal who visit Tottenham Hotspur stadium.
As Arsenal seek to resume their title supercharge following the recent setbacks, Tottenham are struggling to survive and start anew under a new manager. The opposing goals can only contribute to one of the most intense rivalries in English football.
Match Situation: Both End Pressure.
Arsenal come into North London leading the premier league, yet cracks are already appearing. Mikel Arteta side has also scored only two goals out of the seven league matches that they have played in the recent past with the last being a two-goal lead lost in a devastating 2-2 draw at Wolves. As Manchester City crowds behind and matches elapse, each point lost makes the pressure that much greater.
The case of Tottenham is more drama-filled. Spurs are on the brink of relegation and they are yet to win a match in the leagues in 2026. Sacking Thomas Frank has brought a new dawn under Igor Tudor who goes through the baptism of fire in his first Premier League game.
New Manager, New Ideas: What Tudor Offers Spurs.
Tudor is a reputed short-term impact coach - tough, demanding and tactically aggressive. His favourite 3-4-2-1 formation is based on the aggressive man-to-man pressing, ambitious wing-backs and wide centre-backs venturing into midfield.
Theoretically, such players as Micky van de Ven, Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke may flourish in this arrangement.
As a matter of fact, injuries and suspensions are even going to destroy the plans of Tudor before they can even start.
The Tactical advantage of Arsenal vs Back Three.
Arsenal have continually penalized those teams that use back three. The Gunners have already in this season encountered 3 centre-back systems 23 times with 18 wins and five draws, and have scored 43 goals, and lost none.
Spurs tried a back three against Arsenal during this campaign earlier and were 3-0 at the half, eventually losing 4-1. That is a strategic misfit that is yet to be erased more so with Tottenham having lost its main line of defense.
The positional rotations, alacrity around wide combinations, and dominance in midfield areas, are crafted by Arteta to take advantage of structural uncertainty, which Spurs are near-certain to display with a new manager.
Team News: Injury Crisis vs Timely Boosts
Tottenham Hotspur
The medical room at Tottenham is in excess.
Out / Questionable: Cristian Romero (suspended), James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Wilson Odobert, Destiny Udogie, Rodrigo Bentancur, Mohammed Kudus, Kevin Danso, Lucas Bergvall, Ben Davies.
Returning: Richarlison is also training again, but is not likely to be a starter.
It is especially harmful that Romero was not present — Spurs have lost six consecutive home games in the league without their captain.
Arsenal
Arsenal are much better placed.
- Out: Mikel Merino (long-term)
- Fitness Checks: Martin Ødegaard, Kai Havertz.
- To be available: Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard.
The potential introduction of Ødegaard contributes to the control and innovativeness, whereas the performance of Saka in this match is outstanding.
Through Head-to-Head: Derby Domination in Arsenal.
- The Gunners are so much the fashion of late history:
- The last seven league games between Arsenal and Spurs are without a loss.
- This is six out of seven in the previous meetings.
- Three successive victories on the road at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
- Arsenal are on a four-match winning streak against Spurs in terms of derby games in the league, the first since the late 1980s.
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Key individual trends:
Bukayo Saka: 6 goals contributions in his 8 recent league games against Spurs.
Mikel Arteta: Highest win rate in London derby in the history of the Premier League (min. 20 games)
Predicted Lineups
Tottenham Hotspur (3-4-3)
Vicario; Dragusin, Van de Ven, Gray; Spence, Palhinha, Gallagher, Sarr; Simons, Solanke, Kolo Muani
Arsenal (4-3-3)
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapié; Ødegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyökeres, Trossard
Key Battles to Watch
The left side of Spurs vs Saka: the most stable outlet of Arsenal in fighting against an unfamiliar system.
Midfield press of Rice and Zubimendi vs Tottenham: The tempo of this midfield probably depends on control.
Solanke vs Saliba, Gabriel: Spurs have the best chance in transfers and physical confrontations.
Verdict: Experience vs Chaos
Tottenham will carry intensity, emotion, and desperation - particularly with a new manager - but there is no structure, injuries and confidence is all wanting.
Arsenal, despite all their frustrations in the recent past, are much better in tactical, physical, and mental ways. As the title race becomes a neck and neck call, this derby is the best chance to reclaim dominance.
Verdict: Tottenham 1- 2 Arsenal.
There will be a bad mood and there will be violence, but North London should be red like Arsenal and its dominance in the derby over the last several years should prove successful once again.
