Football.London

Mikel Arteta might be trying to play things down, but this is a huge week for Arsenal. The Gunners have three away trips that could, even at this early stage, define their season.

They kick off their Champions League campaign at Atalanta this coming Thursday before travelling to Manchester City on Sunday. Before that though, it's the North London Derby.

Ahead of such a big week, Arteta would probably like to have his strongest team available. Unfortunately, the football gods have different ideas.

Summer signing Mikel Merino is definitely out with a shoulder problem, while Declan Rice is suspended after his harsh red card against Brighton. To add to that there is a huge doubt over Martin Odegaard after he sustained an ankle injury while on international duty with Norway. Riccardo Calafiori's availability is also uncertain after a calf problem picked up with Italy.

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has had some positive injury news ahead of the North London Derby but also a late decision to make ahead of the game.

Spurs welcome Arsenal in the first derby of the Premier League season in N17 and while Mikel Arteta will be missing Declan Rice through suspension and potentially Martin Odegaard as well as Mikel Merino through injury. Postecoglou had good news though on the injury front with Micky van de Ven and Dominic Solanke back in full training with the squad.

While Richarlison remains out, the Tottenham boss does also have a new doubt in Yves Bissouma, who has returned from two goalscoring displays with Mali with a slight groin injury. The midfielder was due to be assessed in training on Saturday if he was able to take part.

"The internationals all came back okay. Biss is the only one that's obviously got an issue. It's not serious but he's getting treatment today we'll see if he can train tomorrow and make a decision there," he said.

"Out of the other guys, Micky van de Ven [is] all good. He's trained fully through the international break and Dom; yeah, back half of this week, he joined the first team training. Today again. We've got training tomorrow. If he gets through okay, I guess he'll be available. Richy, Will Lankshear – they are the only two that are in rehab."

On Bissouma's return, he added: "It’s hard to say at the moment, it’s a tweak in his groin. The initial reports is it’s not serious which means there is a chance for Sunday, which tells me it’s nothing significant. If he doesn’t make Sunday, then I’ll assume he’ll be right for after that. At the same time, he’s just come off a long flight, you never feel great anyway, we’ll see how he trains tomorrow and that will give the best indication."

Here's the Tottenham team we reckon Postecoglou will select on Sunday:

The first north London derby of the season takes place later today at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Spurs and Arsenal both looking to earn three points and bragging rights against their fierce rivals.

After the international break, Spurs and Arsenal are straight back into the thick of it with the two rivals going head to head in a huge clash in the Premier League. Arsenal have won two and drew one of their opening three games of the season, while Spurs have picked up four points, winning one, drawing one, and most recently, losing one.

Declan Rice was sent off in Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion in the Gunners' last outing, and after Martin Odegaard picked up an injury on international duty, Mikel Arteta has been left with few midfield options. As for Spurs, Dominic Solanke has returned from injury, meaning the striker is fit for the clash later today.

So, what could happen in the first north London derby of the season? Let's take a look.

We simulated Tottenham vs Arsenal to get a score prediction

To complete this simulation, we used EA FC 24 and updated the squads with the latest injuries and suspensions, however as we're still using EA FC 24, the kits are from last season, and squad numbers may not be accurate.

We predict that Tottenham could line up in a 4-3-3 formation, with their starting XI as follows: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Sarr, Bentancur, Maddison; Kulusevski, Solanke, Son.

We predict that Arsenal could set up in a 4-3-3 formation, with their line-up as follows: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Jorginho, Partey, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.

Nothing could split the two sides in the first half in north London, but it was a feisty affair, with seven yellow cards given out in the opening 45 minutes. Arsenal were on top at the beginning of the second half, and they took advantage of a period of domination when Gabriel Jesus fired them in front.

Deputising in midfield, Kai Havertz did fantastic to skip past Pape Sarr in midfield before slipping a pass into the box for Jesus to latch on to. The Brazilian sized up Micky Van de Ven before dribbling around the defender, and a smart finish saw him fire home at the near post to make it 1-0.

With nine minutes to go, Spurs' Cristian Romero hacked down Gabriel Martinelli inside the box with a late sliding challenge, resulting in a penalty for the Gunners and a second yellow card for the defender. Bukayo Saka stepped up to take the resulting spot kick, and he sent Guglielmo Vicario the wrong way to double Arsenal's lead late on.

A man down, Spurs failed to create any late chances to try and muster up a comeback, with Arsenal claiming a huge win on the road against their biggest rivals.

A former north London derby star chose Tottenham over Arsenal, despite talks with Arsene Wenger.

Midfielder Didier Zokora made the move to Spurs from Saint-Etienne for £8.2million in the summer of 2006 following an impressive performance for Ivory Coast at that year's World Cup in Germany. At the time, Zokora was also on the radar of the Gunners, who had just edged out their local rivals for a spot in the Champions League.

Just two years prior, Arsenal had been crowned Premier League champions and were on the brink of moving to the Emirates Stadium. However, despite engaging in discussions with Wenger, Zokora was resolute that he wanted to play under Martin Jol.

"When I signed for Spurs, Arsenal also wanted me," he once revealed to the Telegraph. "I spoke with Arsene after the World Cup but I preferred to come to Spurs because it gave me a good option for my life. I am very happy."

Arguably, his decision paid off as Zokora is one of the few players who can boast of winning a major trophy with Spurs in recent times, the 2008 League Cup. Meanwhile, Arsenal were in the early stages of a nine-year trophy drought which didn't end until the 2014 FA Cup final victory over Hull City.

Zokora's form at Tottenham led to links with Real Madrid, but he was content to stay put, having signed a new long-term contract in 2008. He said: "Everybody knows Real Madrid wanted me but I signed a new contract for this club and, if they want me, I stay.

"The club needs me, my life is here. Real are one of the best clubs in the world so that is good for me, no? That means I am not a bad player!"

Despite that stance, it wasn't long before Zokora's time at Spurs came to a close after he found himself out of the starting line-up. He moved to Sevilla in the summer of 2009 and remained in Spain for two seasons before stints in Turkey, India and Indonesia as his playing career wound down.

Now 43, Zokora has returned to his homeland and was most recently the assistant manager at AFAD Djekanou.

Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal are set to do battle once again when the first North London Derby of the season takes place this weekend.

Spurs will be looking for a measure of revenge over the Gunners after losing the last time these two teams met. A disastrous first half in April for Ange Postecoglou's side saw them go in at the break 3-0 down.

Cristian Romero and Son Heung-min's penalty tried to rescue an unlikely point but Arsenal took the bragging rights. Mikel Arteta's team will go in as favourites but Tottenham will leapfrog them if they can pick up the three points.

Ahead of the huge game, football.london has taken a closer look at how you can follow all of the action.

When is kick-off?

Spurs vs Arsenal shall kick off at 2pm on Sunday, September 15. This kick off time will have been chosen on police advice.

How can I watch in the UK?

Fans of the two North London clubs will be able to watch all of the action on either Sky Sports Main Event or Sky Sports Premier League. The match will be available to stream via either Now TV, where you can buy a day, monthly and annual passes, or if you are an existing Sky Sports customer on the Sky Go or Sky Sports apps.

What if I am not in the UK?

Fortunately, the Premier League has signed numerous TV rights deals so that everyone across the world can watch the action. For example, in the United States NBC Sports and fuboTV will broadcast the action while in Nigeria, SuperSport Premier League and Canal+ Sport 4 Afrique are showing the game.

How else can I follow the action?

Real Madrid have put Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur on red alert ahead of this weekend's North London Derby. The Spanish giants were heavily linked with a few players from either side during the summer transfer window but, after breaking the bank to sign Kylian Mbappe, moves failed to materialise.

After agreeing a deal to sign Endrick in December 2022, Real Madrid finally welcomed the teenage sensation to the Santiago Bernabeu just days after his 18th birthday. Then, Los Blancos announced the signing of Mbappe on a free transfer but with the Frenchman set for a whopping £85m signing-on bonus according to reports.

Carlo Ancelotti only welcomed two new faces to the club in the summer – both of which were strikers. Now, the Italian appears determined to further bolster his defence despite already boasting a wealth of options at the back.

According to Spanish publication Defensa Central, Real Madrid have sent their chief scout, Juni Calafat, to North London this weekend to take a closer look at William Saliba and Cristian Romero. The duo will, of course, lock horns when Tottenham host Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.

The report states that the Spanish giants believe Saliba and Romero have 'enormous potential' and that they would be perfect for the club's project. The defenders, who valued at a combined €145m (£122.5m) by Transfermarkt, both see their respective contracts expire in June 2027.

Signing Saliba and Romero could prove difficult, though. In January 2024, Ange Postecoglou was full of praise for the Argentina and his partner at the back, Micky van de Ven.

"Micky and Romero, to come in literally with a week’s training and perform like that here, I can’t speak highly enough of them," the Spurs head coach told the club's official website. The duo have since become a staple in the Tottenham starting lineup, and look irreplaceable at the back.

Then, in April 2024, Mikel Arteta heaped tremendous praise on the Frenchman and his partner in crime, Gabriel Magalhães. The Arsenal boss said: "You can see a balance and they complement each other.

"They are so happy to play with each other. It just flows. They have been really, really good," added Arteta. "Saliba is a massive player for us and you see the impact he has on the team. We need everyone but he is really important."

When it comes to the North London Derby this weekend, Ange Postecoglou is certainly in better shape than Mikel Arteta when it comes to his squad.

Arsenal have a number of injury concerns to deal with heading into the match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. While Arteta refused to rule Martin Odegaard out of action, the Norwegian will almost certainly be missing. The Norway team doctor ruled him out for three weeks, but Arteta is willing to give him time to see if he can make the kick-off.

Riccardo Calafiori is another who picked up an injury while on international duty and he could also miss the match. Declan Rice meanwhile will be missing due to suspension, having been sent off against Brighton & Hove Albion last time out.

Mikel Merino, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney are all also out, while Gabriel Jesus is just coming back from an injury, but is expected to play.

There were question marks over four Tottenham players in the build-up to the big North London Derby. Micky van de Ven, Dominic Solanke and Richarlison all missed the defeat to Newcastle, while Yves Bissouma picked up an injury while on international duty with Mali this week.

Two of the four - Van de Ven and Solanke - should return for the visit of fierce north London rivals Arsenal, while Postecoglou will make a late call on Bissouma. And that means the Spurs boss is potentially just one player away from unleashing his strongest Tottenham side.

The back-line picks itself if everyone is fit, with Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Van de Ven and Destiny Udogie starting in front of Guglielmo Vicario. Radu Dragusin, Ben Davies and Djed Spence are able deputies across the back-line, while Archie Gray can also fill in at right-back.

Ahead of them, it depends if Postecoglou wants to be wholly attacking, or have a bit more defensive graft in front of the back line. If he wants to go attacking, he can play Bissouma in that holding role, with Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison ahead of him.

A more defensive line-up would see Bissouma joined by Pape Matar Sarr or Rodrigo Bentancur, and one of Maddison or Kulusevski, with Gray and Lucas Bergvall on the bench.

Up top, the strongest three at the moment would likely be Brennan Johnson, Son Heung-min and Solanke through the middle. Wilson Odobert has impressed so far this season, while Timo Werner is also available, as will Richarlison be once he recovers from injury.

That means, if Bissouma is missing, Postecoglou is just one player away from unleashing his strongest lineup this weekend against Arsenal. And even with Sarr and Bentancur available, it is a strong position to be in.

Raheem Sterling was the story of transfer deadline day late last month after leaving Chelsea on loan and could now debut for Arsenal against Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby.

Sterling, 29, moved too late to face Brighton and Hove Albion before the September international break but is available to manager Mikel Arteta at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It would be the player's 25th career appearance versus Spurs, only playing more often - 26 times - against Manchester United.

The winger has also played the Gunners plenty before. Sterling scored eight goals across 24 games previously, the same as versus Tottenham.

Arsenal role

In training, Sterling has been cutting in from the left and right wings, displaying the versatility Arteta will want from the loanee. While in the Chelsea team, he primarily played from the left but was also fielded centrally and off the right.

Sterling is set to compete for a place in the team with Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard. He could also provide cover for Bukayo Saka in the side.

Chelsea exit

Sterling surprisingly left Chelsea this summer despite playing plenty through pre-season. But after the signings of Joao Felix and Pedro Neto, head coach Enzo Maresca froze Sterling out of the first-team squad.

Across two years at Stamford Bridge, Sterling made 81 appearances and scored 19 times after arriving for £47.5million. football.london understands the Blues have not received a loan fee from Arsenal and the Gunners feel they have done a great deal regarding the percentage of the player's wages they are covering.

England career

Sterling has been out of the England squad since the 2022 World Cup concluded. That was his fifth major tournament for the Three Lions, receiving his 82nd international cap and scoring his 20th goal in Qatar. He could have played for Jamaica but played for the England under-16s, under-17s, under-19s and under-21s before making his senior debut days before turning 18.

Man City success

The only club Sterling has won any trophies at is Manchester City. Across seven seasons, he won four Premier League titles, five League Cups and an FA Cup.

Sterling also started against Chelsea in the 2021 Champions League final, receiving a runners-up medal. He made 339 appearances across all competitions, scoring 131 goals for City.

Early career

Born in Jamaica's capital, Kingston, Sterling moved to Neasden in London as a five-year-old with his mother, Nadine Clarke. He played football for Alpha & Omega in Kingsbury before joining the Queens Park Rangers academy at 10.

Liverpool move

Despite being scouted by Arsenal, Chelsea, Fulham and Man City, Sterling signed for Liverpool at 15 before playing a game for QPR. He made his senior debut two years later before breaking into the first team the following season.

Sterling made 129 appearances, scoring 23 times, before forcing a £49million move to City in the summer of 2015. In his penultimate season, Sterling supported the Reds' strikeforce of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge as they came second to City.

Net worth

Arsenal have been forced to break close to a four-decade-long tradition against Tottenham Hotspur after a Premier League decision.

Sunday will see the Gunners face Spurs in the first North London Derby of the season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Mikel Arteta's side go into the game with seven points from their first three Premier League fixtures before the international break and will be looking to bounce back from the 1-1 draw with Brighton.

The fixture will see Arsenal wear their away kit in the North London Derby, breaking nearly a four-decade-long tradition in the process. Arsenal confirmed earlier this week that they would be wearing their away kit, which will be the first time in 38 years that has happened in a match against Tottenham.

The last time that the Gunners did not wear their traditional home kit for the historic fixture was in March 1986, according to Arsenal Shirt Collection, during the 1985/86 season, which saw Arsenal fall to a 1-0 defeat at White Hart Lane.

It was confirmed that the decision was taken for Arsenal to wear their away kit after conversations with the Premier League and PGMOL. The Gunners stated on their club website that the club's home kit "features too much white".

Arsenal stated the option of wearing red shorts and socks with their home shirt was discussed, but the decision has been taken for the Gunners to wear their predominantly black away kit.

Arteta will be forced to make at least one change to his starting line-up for the North London Derby. Declan Rice will serve a one-game suspension following the two yellow cards he received during the draw with Brighton.

There is also uncertainty over the fitness of Martin Odegaard, who suffered an ankle injury during the international break with Norway. Mikel Merino, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney are all sidelined with injuries, but Gabriel Jesus is expected to return to the matchday squad.

Martin Odegaard's injury could present an opportunity for Arsenal to use an alternative option in midfield.

Odegaard is a doubt for the Gunners' clash against Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby on Sunday with an ankle injury.

The Arsenal captain suffered the injury while on international duty with Norway, with the country's team doctor stating that Odegaard could be sidelined for around three weeks.

Should that be the case, Odegaard will miss Arsenal's Premier League fixture against Spurs, as well as several more matches in the coming weeks.

Mikel Arteta was hopeful during his press conference on Friday, though, where he refused to rule Odegaard out for the North London Derby. However, if Odegaard is unavailable then the Arsenal boss may have to get creative with his team selection.

The press conference also saw the update that Gabriel Jesus is set to be available for the fixture after recovering from a groin injury.

"Gabi was out there [training]," Arteta told reporters on Friday. "He's got another session tomorrow and if everything goes well he'll be ready to be selected in the squad which is great news for us."

Jesus's availability could present Arsenal with an opportunity to manage with Odegaard on the sidelines. If Jesus were to start as the central striker, that could see Kai Havertz utilised in the midfield role usually taken up by Odegaard.

Havertz was selected in midfield several times by Arteta last season following his move from Chelsea. Gradually, though, Havertz has been selected as Arsenal's main striker including the first three Premier League fixtures of the season.

Starting Havertz in midfield and Jesus in the No.9 role is just one option available to Arteta if Odegaard is sidelined. It's also worth remembering that Declan Rice will miss the North London Derby through suspension, so Arteta will have to make at least two changes in midfield from the team that drew with Brighton before the international break.

Arteta also has Thomas Partey, Jorginho and Ethan Nwaneri who could all start in midfield for Arsenal. However, summer signing Mikel Merino remains sidelined through injury and will not be available.