Arsenal Insider

Arsenal take on Tottenham Hotspur right after the international break, and Thomas Frank must be having nightmares.

The Dane has already had a small taste of this fixture. The two sides met in a friendly in Asia during pre-season, and Spurs ended up winning that game.

However, Frank will know that a clash in the Premier League is a completely different ball game, and Arsenal’s issues must be causing him all sorts of problems now as he prepares for the game.

Arsenal’s injury issues must be confusing Thomas Frank

Thomas Frank puts a lot of emphasis on preparation ahead of his side’s games.

He likes to study the opposition, find out which players are a threat, who are the weak points and how his men can exploit them.

That will once again be the case ahead of Tottenham’s trip to the Emirates Stadium, but Frank must be scratching his head because he has no idea which Arsenal players are available.

Gabriel Magalhaes is almost certainly out, but that hasn’t been confirmed yet. Martin Odegaard, Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke, Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus are all doubts.

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Arsenal’s starting lineup will look completely different if all of those players are available at Mikel Arteta’s disposal, but nobody knows how many of them will be declared fit.

To make things worse for Frank, the Gunners have been very careful with the training pictures they have released ahead of the North London Derby.

There are many snaps of Jesus, but none of the other names above can be seen at the Sobha Realty Training Centre. That, however, doesn’t mean they are unavailable, which leaves Frank guessing.

What is your prediction for the North London Derby?

Six Arsenal players will surely start vs Tottenham

Despite all the injuries Arsenal have at the moment, six of their players are almost certain to start in the North London Derby against Tottenham.

David Raya was an unused substitute in Spain’s two fixtures in the international break, so there are no injury concerns around him. He should start in goal.

In defence, William Saliba and Jurrien Timber are both set to start, while Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice are expected to do the same in the middle of the park.

Arsenal take on Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby.

The Gunners have had a fine start to the new campaign and are currently on top of the Premier League table. They are the favourites to go all the way this term.

Spurs, on the other hand, are eight points and four places behind Mikel Arteta’s side, but the league table will have no bearing on the derby result.

Most people think Arsenal will win the game on Sunday, but there is a disagreement about the scoreline.

Gary Neville and Ian Wright predict Arsenal vs Tottenham score

Both Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have injury issues going into the North London Derby.

The Gunners are set to be without Gabriel Magalhaes due to an adductor injury, while the likes of Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard, Viktor Gyokeres, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus are all doubts.

That complicates things for Arteta, but we are sure that the Arsenal manager will still go for the win with the players he has available.

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On the latest episode of the Stick to Football podcast, Ian Wright and Gary Neville, among others, had their say on the game.

Here’s how their conversation went:

Neville: “So you think Arsenal will win 2-0?”

Wright: “I’m going 2-0.”

Neville: “I don’t think they’ll win 2-0. I think it will be a bit more scruffy than that. I think there will be goals, I think it will be a bit messy. I think 2-1 Arsenal or 3-2.”

Jamie Carragher: “I can’t see Spurs scoring two.”

Neville: “I think they could. It’s that type of game.”

Carragher: “Arsenal are so strong defensively. Spurs don’t look like scoring.”

Neville: “We’ll go 2-1 Arsenal then.”

What is your prediction for the North London Derby?

The last six North London Derby results explain why Arsenal are the favourites to beat Tottenham

Arsenal have been the superior side in the history of the North London Derby, and they have been dominant in recent seasons too.

The Gunners are unbeaten in their last six meetings against Spurs, and they have lost just once in their last nine. That, combined with the fact that they will be playing at home, makes them the favourites to win the game on Sunday.

Arteta and his players know exactly what this fixture means, and they will want to go out at the Emirates and get the job done.

Besides the bragging rights, a win in the North London Derby will also help the Gunners maintain a decent gap at the top of the Premier League table.

The November international break has not been a good one for Arsenal.

Yes, Martin Zubimendi scored a great goal for Spain and Bukayo Saka did the same while playing for England, but their performances were overshadowed by injuries.

Riccardo Calafiori was sent back by Italy because of a hip issue, while Jurrien Timber hurt himself as well but avoided any major damage.

The big problem, however, is the injury Gabriel Magalhaes suffered during Brazil’s win against Senegal.

Declan Rice will be very upset with Gabriel Magalhaes’ injury

Gabriel’s adductor injury is a massive blow for Arsenal.

The Brazil international is one of the most important players at the club. He has been incredible all season and is one of the leaders on and off the pitch.

Gabriel’s first job at Arsenal is his defending, but he is the best in the world in set-piece situations at the other end of the pitch.

One of the biggest beneficiaries of the former Lille man’s ability is Declan Rice, as Gabriel maximises his deliveries from corners and free-kicks.

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Now, news has emerged from the BBC that the Arsenal number six could be out until January, which means he is guaranteed to miss the games against Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich and Chelsea.

Rice, in particular, will be gutted because his set-pieces into the box are less likely to be attacked in the same way by anyone else in the squad.

Piero Hincapie could be Arsenal’s new weapon in set-pieces

Rice and Gabriel had a great understanding during set-pieces. You always saw the two players having a quick chat before a corner or a free-kick, and it has paid off many times.

The England international will have to form a new relationship with someone else in the coming games, and we think Piero Hincapie could be the one.

The Ecuadorian defender hasn’t played much this season because of an injury, but he is fit and ready to go now.

Hincapie, who has been described as a warrior by Xabi Alonso, has the physicality to attack corners and set-pieces like Gabriel did.

If he can form a good understanding with Rice, we think he could have a massive impact inside the opposition box.

Viktor Gyokeres will be eager to emulate everything Thierry Henry did at Arsenal, including his North London Derby record.

Arsenal’s record goalscorer wasn’t simply a master at putting the ball in the net, but was also the King of North London Derbies.

Henry prides himself on never losing against Tottenham during his time as an Arsenal player, something that Gyokeres would love to replicate, along with the goals scored on derby day.

Though there’s been a call for comparisons between Gyokeres and other strikers to be stopped, it’s impossible not to think of Henry when seeing the Swede sport the number 14, but will that sight be seen on match day 12?

Viktor Gyokeres could copy Thierry Henry in his first North London Derby

Injuries are plaguing the Arsenal squad right now to Mikel Arteta’s dismay.

Though at first, the Gunners were optimistic that Gyokeres would be fit to face Spurs, it has since been revealed that there are doubts.

While the understanding that Gyokeres could miss the North London Derby is concerning, it’s a path that Henry also had to walk.

During the 1999/2000 season, Henry missed his first-ever clash against Tottenham due to injury, something that only made his actual debut against the Lilywhites all the more special.

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“My first north London derby. It was a special one. I didn’t play the first game at the Lane because I was injured,” Henry told Sky Sports.

So, while Gyokeres will be disappointed to potentially miss his first clash of north London, he’ll be encouraged that he’s simply following in Henry’s footsteps.

Thierry Henry’s record against Tottenham in the North London Derby

Henry’s record against Tottenham is something every player would dream of retiring with, as the Frenchman never felt the heartache of losing a derby.

In fact, Henry really went above and beyond when it came to the fixture, recording seven goal contributions in the 11 games that he faced against Spurs.

With a win rate of 63% in the North London Derby, the Arsenal legend dominated the fixture during his playing days, making many forget that he actually missed his first one.

Gyokeres’ initial reaction will be frustration if he is to miss the clash, but upon reviewing Henry’s career against Spurs, the Swede can take some control back.

Now that the international break has concluded for Jurrien Timber, the Arsenal star’s mind will turn to the North London Derby.

Timber made his mark against Tottenham last season, putting in a remarkable shift at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Having spent two years at Arsenal, the defender has learned the importance of the North London Derby, but not only because of the time he’s spent in N5.

Over the international break, Timber hasn’t been able to escape talk of the upcoming clash, with Spurs players Micky van de Ven and Xavi Simons on duty with the fullback.

Micky van de Ven sends a message to Jurrien Timber ahead of the North London Derby

Timber impressed as the Netherlands beat Lithuania, and after the contest, his mind turned to domestic action.

When reacting to his country qualifying for the World Cup on social media, Van De Ven referenced the North London Derby in the comments section.

“See you on Sunday,” Van De Ven wrote under Timber’s Instagram post, which generated reaction from Arsenal fans, who sent a warning to the Spurs defender.

The unity that the duo felt over the November international break has rapidly become a thing of the past, with all eyes on Sunday’s blockbuster.

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Van De Ven will be secretly dreading facing Arsenal

There has been a lot of talk about Van De Ven in the build-up to the North London Derby, as discussions have been had about whether Tottenham’s defence is better than Arsenal’s, which is laughable.

Though the Spurs centre-back will be confident about how his season has gone so far, when it comes to facing Arsenal, doubts will naturally set in.

That’s because Van De Ven has never won against Arsenal, losing two of the three games he’s faced against the Gunners.

Added to that, the Dutchman has watched Arsenal score against Spurs six times in three appearances, making his record rather unfavourable.

Timber, on the other hand, has never lost to Spurs, conceding only one goal against the Lilywhites.

Van De Ven previewed the derby on social media, but it’s undoubtedly Timber who is most excited about the match.

Mikel Arteta won’t be best pleased at the Premier League’s latest announcement ahead of Arsenal’s next fixture.

The countdown is now on to the first North London derby of the season as Arsenal host Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners will be desperate to return to winning ways, having dropped points late on in their last match before the international break away at Sunderland.

However, Arsenal fans and Mikel Arteta will be slightly less confident after seeing the referee who has just been appointed for the match.

Michael Oliver will be in charge of the North London derby

The Premier League have confirmed that Michael Oliver will be in charge of the North London derby on the weekend.

This will be the first time Oliver has taken charge of an Arsenal match since 25 January, when he controversially sent off Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Last season, the Gunners defeated Wolves 1-0 as Riccardo Calafiori netted the only goal of the game in the 74th minute.

However, Arsenal’s chances of winning were almost ruined after the referee wrongly sent off the young defender just before half-time.

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Lewis-Skelly’s red card was overturned by the FA, who later admitted that the defender was wrongly dismissed.

The North London club won’t have forgotten the incident and will have been somewhat frustrated when Oliver was announced as the official for Sunday’s clash.

Tottenham at the Emirates is always a tricky fixture to manage for any referee, and Oliver will need to be at his best this weekend.

Arteta’s team will know what they need to do on Sunday, as Manchester City will have faced Newcastle the day before, away at St James’ Park.

Michael Oliver’s record in charge of Arsenal matches

Oliver has been put in charge of 62 Arsenal matches in total, the second-most of any club behind Liverpool.

During those matches, the Gunners have a 50 per cent win rate, but have lost 13 of them under the English official.

Meanwhile, Oliver has shown eight red cards in Arsenal matches, issued 109 yellows and awarded five spot kicks.

Arsenal’s first game after the November international break is against Tottenham Hotspur.

The North London Derby is a historic fixture in the English football calendar, and there have been many great battles over the years.

Arsenal have been the dominant side in games against Tottenham since the two sides met for the very first time all the way back in November 1896.

Now, in the upcoming meeting at the Emirates, the Gunners could achieve a very rare feat.

Arsenal have an added incentive to beat Tottenham

Arsenal haven’t just historically been the better side against Tottenham; they have dominated Spurs in recent meetings as well.

The Gunners are unbeaten against their fierce rivals in their last six games, and they have lost just once in the last nine North London Derbies.

Mikel Arteta has managed to win each of his last three games against Tottenham, and his side are the favourites to get the three points when they meet again.

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If Arsenal go on to win that game, it will be four North London Derby wins in a row. That hasn’t happened since March 1988 – over 37 years ago.

George Graham was the manager at the time, and his side went on to make it six consecutive wins against Spurs.

Arsene Wenger had a great record against Tottenham, but even he didn’t manage to win four games in a row against them during his 22-year stay at the club.

If Arteta gets the win next Sunday, it would be the first time that a club has won four consecutive North London Derbies since the Premier League began.

How many times have Arsenal beaten Tottenham in history?

Arsenal and Tottenham have been playing against each other for nearly 130 years.

There have been some incredible games between the two sides, and the upcoming fixture could be a great one to watch as well.

Over the years, Arsenal and Tottenham have played 211 games against each other, and the Gunners have won 89 of those fixtures. Spurs have come out on top on 67 occasions.

Arsenal fans can proudly say that North London is Red – not just for now but for the foreseeable future as well.

Thierry Henry was a player who certainly relished a North London derby, and the Arsenal legend has just aimed a cheeky dig at his old rivals.

There is now just one week remaining until the first North London derby, and it could be a crucial one in the race for the Premier League title.

The Gunners find themselves four points clear at the top of the table and will be desperate to maintain that gap over Manchester City.

Ahead of next week’s clash against Tottenham, Henry has promised to be at the North London derby and has also issued a hilarious dig at the Lilywhites.

Thierry Henry aims a cheeky dig at Tottenham Hotspur

Thierry Henry has admitted the feeling was ‘weird’ when attending the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the first time.

The French striker was at Spurs’ stadium to watch Conor Benn fight Chris Eubank Jr, and of course, the Arsenal legend was asked about his thoughts on the new place.

Henry did agree that it was ‘very nice’, but he also said that he enjoyed going to the old White Hart Lane, where he used to ‘win a lot’.

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When asked about what it was like being at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Henry told DAZN: “Weird. I’ve never actually been to the new stadium. I used to go a lot to the old one and win a lot, but yeah, it’s nice, very nice!”

The Gunners’ all-time leading goal scorer certainly has some great memories in N17, including when Arsenal won the title at White Hart Lane in 2004.

Thierry Henry’s record in the North London derby

Henry’s record in North London derbies isn’t quite as special as many would think, as he netted five times in 11 matches.

There are five players from either side ahead of him, including Harry Kane, Emmanuel Adebayor, Robert Pires, Son Heung-min and Ian Wright.

Pires has one of the best goals per game ratios in the fixture, having netted nine times in 12 matches for the Gunners against Spurs.

All eyes will be on Eberechi Eze when Arsenal take on Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

The England international was involved in one of the most talked-about transfers in the summer window as both North London clubs wanted him.

Spurs were actually on the verge of signing Eze, but Arsenal hijacked their deal in the 11th hour and fulfilled his dream of wearing the famous red and white.

The former Crystal Palace star will want to have an impact in his first North London Derby, but his role in the side could suddenly change.

Mikel Arteta could change Eberechi Eze’s position for Arsenal vs Tottenham

Eberechi Eze is capable of playing in multiple positions in attack.

The Englishman’s first few appearances for Arsenal came on the left wing, but he has since played as a number 10 because of Martin Odegaard’s injury.

Eze has done a decent job as the Gunners’ attacking midfielder, but there have been games in which he hasn’t been able to create much.

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With Odegaard pushing to return for the North London Derby against Tottenham, it won’t surprise us one bit if he comes straight back into the starting lineup.

To accommodate the skipper, Mikel Arteta will have to move Eze, and we think he will be pushed back to the left wing again.

The 27-year-old is no stranger to playing out wide. He has done it many times in his career for club and country over the years.

Arsenal fans even loved what they saw from Eze on the left wing when he came on and scored a screamer for England against Serbia on Thursday.

Eberechi Eze’s recent record against Tottenham is excellent

The North London Derby is the biggest game of the season for Arsenal and Tottenham fans. Only a win is an acceptable result in this fixture.

Arsenal have a great record against Spurs. They are unbeaten in their last six games and have lost just one of their last nine – that came in May 2022.

Even Eze has a fantastic recent record against Tottenham.

In his last three games against them, he has scored three goals and provided an assist at an average of a direct goal contribution every 61.5 minutes.

Arsenal have been dealt a couple of big injury blows ahead of their North London Derby clash against Tottenham Hotspur.

The Gunners were already without the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli in their last game before the international break.

Now, Riccardo Calafiori has been sent back from international duty due to a hip injury. The issue is not deemed to be very serious, but it has kept him out of Italy’s two games. It’s unclear if he will be available for the Spurs clash.

The more serious issue is the injury to Gabriel Magalhaes. The Brazilian suffered an adductor problem against Senegal on Friday and is now a major doubt for the derby.

Mikel Arteta will have to change things now if the two defenders above are ruled out. We think using one player in a different position would be an effective solution – Jurrien Timber.

Mikel Arteta should change Jurrien Timber’s position for Arsenal vs Tottenham

If Gabriel Magalhaes and Riccardo Calafiori are both unavailable for the clash against Tottenham, Arsenal’s left side will become weaker.

The Gunners have obvious options to replace both players.

Piero Hincapie can play in the heart of the defence, while Myles Lewis-Skelly can slot in at left-back. Both players are more than capable of doing a good job there.

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However, we think Timber should be moved to left-back instead.

That’s because Tottenham’s biggest attacking threat is Mohammed Kudus, who is expected to start on the right wing in the North London Derby next weekend.

Lewis-Skelly is very good, but the teenager hasn’t played much in the Premier League this season. Starting him against the in-form Ghanaian could backfire.

Timber, on the other hand, is in the form of his life, and he won’t have any problems dealing with Kudus or any other winger in the world.

The Dutchman has played at left-back on plenty of occasions in the past and has done well. Ben White, who is now fit again, can slot in at right-back instead of Timber.

Mikel Arteta has had success playing a right-back at left-back

In an ideal world, we’re sure that Arteta wouldn’t want to play his players out of position, but that doesn’t mean it can’t work.

Back in the 2022/23 season, Arsenal faced Liverpool in the Premier League at home, and Oleksandr Zinchenko, who was the first-choice left-back then, was ruled out due to an injury.

Instead of picking Kieran Tierney, Arteta went with Takehiro Tomiyasu to play against Mohamed Salah, and the Japan international completely nullified the Liverpool superstar.

Kudus is nowhere near Salah’s level, while Timber is significantly better than Tomiyasu.

So, if the Dutchman plays as a left-back against Tottenham, we are convinced that he will deal with the Spurs winger without any trouble.