Hotspur HQ

Tottenham Hotspur are gearing up to face bitter rivals Arsenal on Sunday in the North London Derby, which will be the biggest match of Thomas Frank's young career to this point. Although Frank has already faced off against Manchester City, PSG, and Chelsea this season as Spurs coach, there's nothing in the Premier League quite like the North London Derby.

Already, Spurs fans are glued to not just injury updates on their key players like Randal Kolo Muani, but also injury updates on Arsenal's hobbled stars. They will likely have to face captain Martin Odegaard and will be ready for left back Riccardo Calafiori, whereas they 100 percent won't have to deal with star center back Gabriel Magalhaes.

The last big uncertainty for Sunday's game to watch is Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres. He has been out for about the last three weeks since suffering a hamstring injury in a Premier League bout against Burnley, and The Sun's Charlie Wyett and Joshua Jones are now reporting that the 27-year-old star is still in doubt for the North London Derby against Spurs.

Tottenham's defenders could attack more

Gyokeres may not be able to play this weekend, which would likely mean Mikel Merino gets the start from midfield as the makeshift No. 9 again. Merino has thrived in this role and is a very dangerous player who has been quietly excellent for both club and country this season, so the former Real Sociedad man starting for Gyokeres isn't a full on reprieve for the Tottenham defense.

But it would be a huge boost, considering Gyokeres is an incredibly strong and fast No. 9 who can stretch teams and pull players out of position for Bukayo Saka to get more shots on. Arsenal have been a much better team since signing Gyokeres this past summer transfer window, so the latest update of his status being a doubt for Sunday's game is a big one for Tottenham to take with them into Friday and the weekend.

Tottenham superstar center back Cristian Romero is the only player to mark Erling Haaland out, and his partner Micky van de Ven has been just as good. Them not having to deal with Gyokeres could free them up more offensively, too, as they have been a key source of both creativity and ball progression - as well as direct goals and assists - for a struggling Tottenham Hotspur offense this season. That aspect can't be overlooked either.

One of the biggest storylines of the 2025/26 Premier League season so far for Tottenham Hotspur has been the disappointing production of attacking midfielder Xavi Simons, who joined Spurs for a near record fee in the summer transfer window with the expectation that he'd be an immediate star - and a future superstar - for Spurs.

While Simons has shown bright spots for Tottenham and is a nailed on starter with attacking midfielder James Maddison still out with a serious knee injury, by and large, the Dutchman has been a disappointment while registering no goals and just one assist through 537 Premier League minutes across eight appearances (six of them starts).

Simons has been almost exclusively deployed as a No. 10 after a brief period in which Thomas Frank flirted with the idea of him as a left winger. Obviously, a move to the left wing was never going to work out for the former Bundesliga star, but, so far, it really must be said that Simons as a 10 hasn't worked out well either.

Tottenham need to move him back

It is time for Tottenham to make a change and switch Simons's position to that of a No. 8. Simons's best work in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig was actually done in space and transition as a progressor, where he could get on the ball more, pick the ball up, run with it, and then spray passes or bombard into the box for shots on target.

As a 10, Simons becomes stagnant and reliant on the system to get him the ball into areas around the goal, rather than being the super athlete that he is and making those opportunities into the final third himself. It's actually a similar problem to the one Lucas Bergvall faces at Tottenham when he plays as a 10 instead of a more box to box, traditional center midfielder.

In Simons's case, a further tweak from the usual No. 8 role would help him. He's not as defensive or as good of a ball winner as Bergvall, though he is passable in that regard, but he is better technically as an attacker. Making him something of an 8.5 like he was at Leipzig where he plays as a center midfielder but does more attacking would be best.

Simons can start as a left sided center midfielder, getting those shooting opportunities and chances to drift inside more on his right foot so he can masquerade as an 8, yet still drop off deeper into wider spaces to receive the ball with the space to carry.

Club football was brought a halt when the FIFA World Cup rolled around in 2022, with Qatar's sweltering summer conditions moving the tournament to the winter.

However, there will be no mid-season stoppage for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where 24 teams will compete for continental supremacy. The tournament kicks off just before Christmas on 21 December, with the final scheduled just under a month later in Rabat, Morocco.

Mid-season AFCONs are hardly a novelty, and the talent Africa boasts means Premier League teams are bound to suffer this time round. Over 40 African players competing in the English top-flight are poised to be involved, with as many as 17 clubs affected.

Tottenham are one of them, but some would argue that Thomas Frank has gotten off lightly, especially with Mohammed Kudus' Ghana failing to qualify. Sunderland could have as many as seven key players at the tournament, while the struggling Wolves may be without five for a couple of weeks, at least.

Spurs are just losing two.

Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal)

The energetic midfielder was one of Tottenham's early-season stars after an impressive summer. He shone in a No. 10 role that was predicated on pressing, duels and winning second balls. However, Xavi Simons' integration has reduced Sarr's necessity, with the Senegalese international struggling for starts between the October and November breaks.

Still, Sarr is an important figure in Frank's engine room, primarily because of his work off the ball. He's also a useful box-crasher and an underrated user of the ball in deeper zones.

The former Metz starlet will be a part of Aliou Cissé's AFCON squad, despite picking up an injury in their recent defeat to Brazil. Sarr's made at least one start during the previous six international breaks, and will play an important role in helping Senegal prosper in a post-Sadio Mané landscape.

For Spurs, Sarr's absence increases the likelihood of the dreaded Rodrigo Bentancur x João Palhinha partnership. Senegal's stellar squad means they may well enjoy a deep run in Morocco, meaning Sarr could miss as many as seven games for the Lilywhites.

Yves Bissouma (Mali)

Yves Bissouma was quickly thrust to the periphery by Frank, just a few weeks removed from his exceptional performance in the Europa League final. The Mali international had some disciplinary issues at the start of the new manager's reign, and Spurs attempted to sell the midfielder in the summer.

They failed, though. Since then, Bissouma has picked up two injuries and hasn't played a single competitive minute for his club. The ankle ligament issue he sustained in October has thrust his AFCON status into doubt, but, in Frank's eyes, his absence is hardly fatal.

The club will hope to move Bissouma on in January.

Tottenham's fixtures during AFCON

Tottenham Hotspur are currently fifth in the Premier League with a lot of room for improvement. Thomas Frank has helped Spurs make strides in the 2025/26 season, but when looking at the overall balance of the squad, there is still a serious dearth of talent, particularly in the attacking side of things, even after adding Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus in the summer transfer window.

What might Tottenham's 2026 dream lineup look like?

Simons and Kudus are obviously building blocks, but are they in the right positions? And who else is needed to help Tottenham build a more comprehensive squad that can control games and score goals? Let's build a dream lineup for Spurs with the new year- and next transfer window - just a couple of months away

Goalkeeper: Guglielmo Vicario

Although James Trafford is a potential option to replace Guglielmo Vicario due to a disgruntled start at Manchester City after the Citizens also signed Italian superstar keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, Spurs already have a great Italian shot stopper of their own.

Vicario has been, statistically speaking, just as good as Donnarumma this season with the second most post shot expected goals prevented behind only Dean Henderson. There is literally no need to replace Vicario at this point in time.

Left back: Destiny Udogie

Because of Destiny Udogie's injury history, Tottenham are going to have to sign a new left back to cover the Italian international, but from a talent stand point, there is no need to even think about finding a replacement for the versatile and highly underrated left back.

Tottenham are so so much better with Udogie in the starting XI than they are when that imposter Djed Spence starts at left back. Udogie adds a ton to the Spurs attack with his technical quality and underappreciated range of passing.

Center backs: Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven

Luka Vuskovic is the next big thing at the center back position, and third choice central defender Kevin Danso would easily start for the majority of teams in the Premier League. But make no mistake, this Spurs team runs through the world class pairing of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven.

Romero and Van de Ven are quite honestly the No. 1 and 2 best players on Tottenham Hotspur, and they are so good both technically and athletically that they are better passers than half the midfielders and better scoring threats than half the forwards.

Right back: Pedro Porro

Pedro Porro is, just like his left back partner Destiny Udogie, criminally underrated and a tireless workhorse who progresses the ball, wins most of his one on ones on both ends, and can score the occasional goal while providing plenty of deliveries into the box. There is not a single right back Spurs would rather have than the Spanish international.

Center midfielders: Adam Wharton, Xavi Simons, and Lucas Bergvall

So while Spurs maintain the same course with their personnel defensively, Tottenham do get one more player to beef up their midfield in Adam Wharton, who is the best young deep lying playmaker in English football and so coveted that even Europe's elite like Real Madrid are after him as a dream target.

Every top Premier League side wants to get their hands on Wharton as an anchoring player, and you could only imagine the upgrade he'd provide in terms of overall ball progression and stability, as well as playmaking, if he were to replace the mediocre (at best) Rodrigo Bentancur.

Xavi Simons has been utilized as a No. 10 by Tottenham to this point, but his dynamism would be better suited as a No. 8 so that he can be more of a carrier rather than a stagnant playmaker dependent on getting fed the ball.

Finally, Lucas Bergvall is the dream. Tottenham were able to sign him over Barcelona, and that's not something they should take lightly. He was arguably their best player in the back end of the 2024/25 season before his injury, and Spurs absolutely have to harness his athletic threat. He and Simons as dual No. 8's with Wharton playmaking behind them would be an insane young trio of midfield stars.

Left winger: Antoine Semenyo

There is no bigger need for Tottenham Hotspur to address as immediately as possible as the left wing, which has been a huge void since Son Heung-min started to decline with injuries last season, eventually riding off into the sunset with the Europa League trophy as a newly minted MLS player.

Antoine Semenyo was already on the Tottenham transfer radar after a great 2024/25 season, but he's broken out even more in 2025/26 for Bournemouth as a legitimate Premier League Player of the Season candidate. He's been even better on the left this season, and Spurs would be wise to sign him.

Striker: Harry Kane

The ultimate dream transfer target, Harry Kane has been the best player in world football this season, scoring goals for fun for Bayern Munich while playmaking literally better than any midfielder on this planet. A true Tottenham legend, Kane is only getting better with age, so, at 32, he still has enough left in the tank to be of use to Spurs for the next several years.

Tottenham do have two legitimate striker options in Dominic Solanke and Randal Kolo Muani, but RKm doesn't have a long term future at the club as a loanee from PSG. And neither have been healthy enough or even impressive enough. Kane would be an upgrade times 100.

Right winger: Mohammed Kudus

Finally, the only Tottenham forward who sticks around in the dream lineup is right winger Mohammed Kudus, who has been exactly the game changer Spurs envisioned when they signed him from local rivals West Ham. Kudus is one of the world's premier one on one threats on the wing, and with two better forwards up front to help him out, he'd explode in goals and assists.

If there's one overarching criticism of Tottenham Hotspur over the years, then it is the fact that Spurs have never been a particularly ambitious club. They rarely, if ever, compete with the other big clubs in European football for signings, they never spend that extra bit of money to push the club forward, and they have always been content with being not even second but fourth best to the rest.

Spurs have been trying to show fans this year that they are turning a new leaf with their fancy stadium, and while they did some nice players this summer in Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus, it was all only after finishing a ghastly 17th in the Premier League.

Then, Tottenham finally fired Daniel Levy, and if Spurs want to prove that they have changed as a club and that it was all Levy holding the team in the doldrums at the bottom of the Big Six in terms of ambition, then this January transfer window is a prime opportunity to do just that.

Tottenham are fifth in the Premier League, sitting outside the cusp of the Champions League places, though they are in position to crack those spots despite, analytically, being poor with an expected ranking of 16th in the division.

Tottenham need to make a move now

There are still a few remaining needs left in this squad, but no need is more glaring than the left wing position. Without Son Heung-min, the left wing spot is even worse than expected, and while the young duo of Wilson Odobert and, occasionally, Mathys Tel can be sufficient against the lesser teams, neither young player is ready yet to be "the guy" on the left wing for Tottenham.

If Spurs want to make sure they qualify for the Champions League again next season, then they are going to have to sign a top left winger in the January transfer window. That is simply non negotiable at this point, because Spurs are leaving goals and assists on the table by not having an established player in that position.

Now, Spurs could also benefit from a new striker, but between Dominic Solanke and Randal Kolo Muani, there's enough that Spurs don't have to spend 50 million euros or more on a proven option. But it is absolutely worth it for them to spend that kind of money on an Antoine Semenyo or an Ademola Lookman who can come right in and threaten for double digit goals and double digit assists as a progressor, one on one playmaker, assist provider, and goal threat.

Tottenham need that kind of well rounded help, because a top left winger can take pressure off the strikers to score while also taking pressure off a signing who is working out big, Mohammed Kuuds, on the right wing. Kudus would benefit greatly from the space a top left winger would add to the Tottenham attack.

Spurs signing a top left winger could mean the difference between securing a finish in the top four and one completely missing the European places. Even small teams like Wolves have exposed how little attacking talent Spurs still have, especially relative to the best teams in the Premier League. The left wing position has been a black hole since the decline and departure of Son, and it must be adequately addressed this winter by upper management.

Tottenham Hotspur supporters have to be nervous heading into the North London Derby against Arsenal simply based on the form of these two clubs, but there is a quiet, not fully delusional, confidence expressed by a subsection of the fanbase who know that somewhere, deep down, Spurs play their best football when they are doubted on the road against one of the best teams in the Premier League.

And to this early point in the 2025/26 season, Arsenal have been almost unequivocally the best team in the league, and even Spurs fans have to begrudgingly admit the quality of their opposition. Arsenal are a more complete team after the additions of striker Viktor Gyokeres and defensive midfielder Martin Zubimendi in the summer, along with a defense that is as good as it has been hyped up to be.

Tottenham are going to need a few players to step up as heroes on Sunday afternoon when they have largely spent the 2025/26 campaign as invisibles, and perhaps the most disappointing player in terms of not taking a step forward is young right winger Brennan Johnson.

Brennan Johnson is pulling fans back in

Thomas Frank was a big fan of Johnson's while at Brentford, but not even the new Danish manager has been able to bring something out of the Welshman, who has been so poor this season for Spurs that even Wales benched him over the November international break.

And yet, just when he was counted out, Johnson has pulled everyone back in, scoring this absolute beauty in the 7-1 Welsh romping of North Macedonia on Tuesday night. In addition to this banger of a goal, Johnson registered an assist earlier in the match, finishing with two key passes and four dribbles completed in a much better all around performance from the young winger.

There are enough Spurs fans out there to fall for this performance before the North London Derby and wonder if Johnson is on the verge of being a factor again. He did lead the team in goals last season in the Premier League, and, of course, he stepped up on the biggest stage with the winner over Manchester United in the Europa League Final, so then, naturally, Spurs fans would wonder why he couldn't repeat the trick against Arsenal on another big stage.

The thing is, it's North Macedonia. And it's Brennan Johnson. He's been so inconsistent for so long that it's hard to trust him, and while Spurs fans would love nothing more than to see him let it rip after cutting inside so he can score more goals like this one, it's hard to trust a volatile player who misses so much in the all around game.

There is no easing back into the swing of things for Thomas Frank's Tottenham after the November international break, with the first North London Derby of 2025/26 on the horizon.

Technically, this won't be Frank's first experience of the NLD, but it will certainly be his most authentic. In preseason, a stunning Pape Matar Sarr strike from halfway handed us a 1-0 victory over our fiercest rivals in an unprecedented derby played overseas.

Sunday's contest will be staged at the Emirates, with Spurs searching for their first Premier League win at the not-so-happy hunting ground since 2011. Mikel Arteta's Arsenal are really good and top of the table, but their extended winning run was halted by Sunderland before the break, and they could be without a host of key names for Spurs' visit.

Crucially for the visitors, Arsenal are without dominant set-piece threat Gabriel this weekend.

Arsenal without Gabriel for North London Derby

The Brazilian international was decisive in both derbies last season, scoring the winner in N17 before forcing Dominic Solanke's own goal in the reverse fixture, which cancelled out Son Heung-min's opener.

Since he arrived in north London from Lille in the summer of 2020, no Premier League defender has scored more goals in the competition than Gabriel (18), with Arsenal's rather annoying dead-ball supremacy owing much to his constant threat.

Fortunately for the Lilywhites, Gabriel sustained a thigh injury on international duty when facing Sarr's Senegal and won't be in action this weekend. In fact, there are fears that the Arsenal defender could be out of action for as long as two months; a setback that could compromise their title tilt.

In his absence, Arteta will likely turn to either Cristhian Mosquera or Piero Hincapié. Neither player boasts the experience, set-piece threat, nor the ability to command Arsenal's defence as Gabriel can, but both have impressed since joining the club in the summer.

Gabriel's not the only major Arsenal absentee this weekend, with Arteta's pre-international break optimism regarding the potential returns of multiple attackers seemingly misplaced. Viktor Gyökeres remains a serious doubt, while Kai Havertz has suffered a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury. Noni Madueke isn't expected back until early December either.

These absences don't suddenly mean Spurs should be expected to get something down Seven Sisters Road on Sunday, with the Lilywhites so often wilting in that part of the world when expectations exceed anything but a comprehensive defeat.

Still, Gabriel's injury setback is undoubtedly significant, limiting their distinct set-piece threat and potentially taking away a key avenue of chance creation entirely.

Tottenham Hotspur were actually more active than usual in the past summer transfer window, but even their most recent moves have proven insufficient at truly cementing Spurs as a top four side in England again. And that's largely because Thomas Frank inherited a putrid team that finished a historically bad 17th in the Premier League last season, and the charismatic Ange Postecoglou was able to mitigate just how terrible he and the team were by rallying the troops for a pretty easy march to the Europa League title.

Now, Tottenham are stuck behind the eight ball, and they will hope that Sunday's North London Derby at the Emirates Stadium doesn't end up being another day of reckoning for a team that, statistically speaking, is pretty fortunate to be in the top five and not in the bottom five of the Premier League.

As Tottenham prepare to do battle with their most bitter of rivals on the pitch, Spurs also have to think about another grueling transfer battle with Arsenal off the pitch. Frank already missed out on two key transfer targets to Arsenal directly, as the Gunners played the transfer game on steal mode and stole both his veteran Brentford defensive midfielder Christian Norgaard, as well as top Premier League playmaker Eberechi Eze from right under the noses of Spurs.

Tottenham could have another Eberechi Eze situation

The Eze blow, in hindsight, was one Tottenham should have seen coming, because even though the Spurs faithful wanted the London native, Eze had actually grown up an Arsenal fan and had unfinished business with the Gunners after they rejected him at the academy level.

Well, Tottenham's next dream transfer target, breakout superstar winger Antoine Semenyo, also grew up an Arsenal fan. And although Spurs are still holding out hope that they can be the ones to bag the Bournemouth left winger to fill the shoes of Son Heung-min that they never replaced in the summer transfer window, all Semenyo has done. give is Tottenham fans reason to doubt him ever coming.

Earlier this year, Semenyo gave an interview with Bleacher Report Football and basically admitted that he is an Arsenal fan. When asked about his favorite stadium, Semenyo responded that it is the Emirates Stadium, heavily implying that he is an Arsenal fan but does not want to admit it as a current Bournemouth player (and with rival clubs interested in his signature as a transfer, too).

Semenyo said, “My favorite stadium? The Emirates stadium, not because Arsenal is a strong team, but for other reasons that I don't want to talk about."

After missing out on Eze to Arsenal for that same reason, Tottenham have to think long and hard about Semenyo as a fit for them and how much they want to invest in going after him. Because if Semenyo has no intention of betraying his boyhood Arsenal fandom for Spurs, then spending all that time on him could cost Spurs a player like, say, Ademola Lookman, who would actually want to join them.

Tottenham Hotspur have developed many world-class players over the years, including Harry Kane, Ledley King, and Dele Alli. However, Spurs do not always get it right when it comes to keeping their best players, and a striker who they have let go just made a starring performance in a World Cup qualifier.

Troy Parrott just answered back to critics as he scored a hat-trick for the Republic of Ireland against Hungary to ensure a World Cup playoff spot for the Boys in Green.

Parrott came through the youth ranks at Tottenham after joining from the Dublin-based side, Belvedere. However, he made just four first-team appearances for Spurs.

Whilst at the North London side, Parrott spent time on loan at Millwall. Kane was also loaned out to the Lions before getting his chance at Spurs. The same was not to be the case for Parrott as loan deals to Ipswich Town, Milton Keynes Dons, and Preston North End followed.

Were Tottenham Hotspur wrong to get rid of Troy Parrott?

Parrott eventually found his level in the Eredivisie. He starred for Excelsior Rotterdam before joining AZ Alkmaar permanently. This season, Parrott has scored six goals with one assist in seven Eredivisie games for AZ.

His record with Ireland is also phenomenal. Parrott has found the back of the net 10 times, with three assists in 33 matches. If he can guide Heimir Hallgrímsson's side through the playoffs to the tournament, which will be held in North America next summer, then he will forever be a legend in Irish soccer.

Whilst performing in World Cup qualifiers and the Dutch league is one thing, Parrott can only prove that Spurs were wrong to let him go by performing at the highest level. If the striker continues to perform for AZ, then a team in Europe's top five leagues will no doubt take a chance on him.

Last summer, Parrott was linked with the Premier League side Leeds United. Leeds may want to take a chance on Parrott in January to help them in their bid to survive in English soccer's top flight. The Elland Road side is currently 16th in the Premier League, but just one point above the relegation zone.

Parrott is only 23, and whilst the Eredivisie is a good league for developing players, he should be itching to get back to English soccer again. The Irish forward is certainly one to look out for.

Although Tottenham Hotspur are a massive club in their own right, they are honestly used to being portrayed as underdogs against Arsenal in the North London Derby. Over the past couple of decades, they haven't been as successful as the Gunners in the Premier League, and while they began to shift that paradigm in the 2010s with the duo of Son Heung-min and Harry Kane, those two are gone and Arsenal are back on the rise in recent years under Mikel Arteta.

This season, Tottenham and Arsenal are in different places. Although Spurs are much better than the side that finished 17th in the Premier League to Arsenal's second last season, they are pretty fortunate to be in fifth, given how many issues they've had as a squad this season. Meanwhile, Arsenal are even stronger than before after a busy summer of transfers, and with Liverpool struggling, the Gunners are the best team in England at this very moment in time.

Even considering all of that, it's still pretty wild to see how much more Arsenal are favored at the Emirates Stadium this Sunday against Tottenham. Derbies are always tight, especially between these two, but even the unbiased analytics paint a grim picture for Thomas Frank in his first ever taste of the unique battle that is the North London Derby.

Tottenham are in major trouble

Opta have the most respected predictive analytics in the game, and they don't seem to be giving Spurs much of a chance this weekend. Per Opta, Arsenal have a 69 percent chance of outright winning this game, whereas Spurs only have a 13.7 percent chance of coming up with the full three points on the road, even in spite of the fact that they have wildly been much better on the road than at home this season. There is a mere 17.3 percent chance of a draw, so Opta's numbers overwhelmingly give Arsenal the advantage to outright beat Tottenham this Sunday.

It's such a big advantage when you compare it to the other Premier League fixtures this coming weekend, too. Spurs are bigger underdogs against Arsenal than Leeds against Aston Villa, Burnley against Chelsea, and West Ham against Bournemouth.

If it weren't for Nottingham Forest playing Liverpool, Spurs would actually be the biggest statistical underdogs of the weekend, and apparently Liverpool only have a two percent better chance of beating Forest than Arsenal do of taking down Tottenham. So as if Spurs didn't already have enough motivation to win, they now have something to place smack dab in the middle of their bulletin board.