The first north London derby of the season between Arsenal and Tottenham will take place on Sunday at the Emirates Stadium
Everything you need to know ahead of Arsenal vs Tottenham
Arsenal enter the derby as the league leaders but know a victory is essential to maintain their gap over second-place Manchester City. Dropping points at home would allow their rivals to significantly close the gap, adding immense pressure ahead of the festive period.
Gunners centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes has officially been ruled out for "weeks" after sustaining a thigh injury with the Brazil national team. His absence is a huge blow, removing a crucial leader and set-piece threat from a defence that previously enjoyed a strong run of clean sheets.
Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has confirmed that five key players, including Mohammed Kudus and Pape Matar Sarr, have returned to full training and are available for selection. This significantly alleviates their injury crisis and gives them much-needed depth and fresh attacking options.
The north London derby marks the start of a critical seven-day stretch for Arsenal, which includes a massive Champions League clash against Bayern Munich. Success or failure in the derby could set the tone for a challenging week, which is crucial for their season ambitions.
Mikel Arteta's Arsenal will look to dominate possession and control the game's rhythm through their highly technical midfield. However, Tottenham, under Frank, are expected to deploy a more pragmatic, direct and counter-attacking strategy designed to frustrate their hosts.
This will be Frank's first official North London derby as Tottenham manager, bringing a new tactical dimension to the rivalry. Frank's teams are known for their physical intensity and dangerous set-piece routines, which could unsettle an Arsenal side who looked unusually shaky last time out against Sunderland's direct approach.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, who has missed recent matches due to a knee injury, is reportedly back in full training and will face a late fitness test. His potential return would provide a massive creative and psychological lift to the Gunners' midfield.
This derby marks the first time in over a decade that neither the influential Harry Kane nor Son Heung-min will be involved in the fixture. Spurs will hope it signifies a fresh start against their bitter rivals, with the Gunners having dominated in recent years with just one loss in the last nine meetings.
READ THE FULL STORY ON GABRIEL'S INJURY: Mikel Arteta confirms Arsenal's worst fears with Gabriel injury update
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