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The Emirates is set to play host to an all-important North London Derby, with the stakes high for Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur to make a statement.

Arsenal have largely dominated the North London Derbies with Tottenham Hotspur in the Mikel Arteta reign, as is the case with London Derbies in general. This Gunners side have forged a reputation of being a hard-to-beat team in the last three years at the very least, and their manager is the main reason for this fortification.

The context of the upcoming North London Derby for Arsenal is huge, with Arteta’s side currently sitting top of the Premier League table despite the late concession of a draw against Sunderland away from home. The dropped points at the Stadium of Light did leave a sour taste for their fans, given the context of that weekend when arch title rivals Manchester City and Liverpool had to play the next day, with the former now four points adrift.

Arsenal have a tough run of games coming up, and from one angle, this could be a defining moment in their season. First up, they meet Tottenham at the Emirates, followed by Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League, then a short trip to West London to take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Six points in either of those league games would cement their status are absolute favourites for the title, as a drop off could allow Manchester City to further close the gap or even go past the Gunners in the standings.

While Arsenal sit on top of the Premier League table, Tottenham come into this edition of the North London Derby as the best away team in the division. Thomas Frank’s side have utterly struggled at home, but on the road, they have the best points-per-game ratio and have conceded the fewest goals so far.

Tottenham have had some mixed results of late, with a loss to Chelsea followed by a dramatic draw with Manchester United. They need a statement victory to at least make everyone else around them understand how serious about challenging for something this season.

Spurs have lost five of their last six North London Derbies, home and away, and Frank has a big task on his hands to arrest this particular slump. Their last victory in this fixture came at the end of the 2021/22 season at their stadium, and their bad run of form in enemy territory is something their fans want to see change. In the context of their season, a win at the Emirates will propel Tottenham to new heights and even within range of Arsenal in the standings.

Team News & Tactics

Arsenal

The international break did create a big problem for Arsenal as key defender Gabriel Magalhaes suffered a thigh injury that is now expected to keep him out for one or two months. The fact that Carlo Ancelotti played the centre-back in a friendly has angered the Gunners fanbase, and Mikel Arteta must find a solution to replace a player probably deemed the most important performer at the moment.

The defensive depth at Arteta’s disposal will be key to addressing the absence of Gabriel. The key action here would be to make minimal changes, as the Arsenal boss has leaned towards that philosophy in the past, meaning instead of replacing the Brazilian with another left-footed defender, he might bring in Cristhian Mosquera alongside William Saliba at the back.

There were concerns about Riccardo Calafiori’s fitness, having missed the Italy games, but the 23-year-old is deemed to be fit for the North London Derby. There have been rumours of some of their injured attacking players making a comeback into the squad, something Arteta insisted could be a possibility, but remained coy on who those players are.

Assuming Viktor Gyokeres is not expected to be available, Mikel Merino is likely to lead the line for Arsenal against Tottenham. The one defensive change aside, Arsenal are expected to maintain a similar setting from their draw at Sunderland, with Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Leandro Trossard all featuring behind Merino in the attacking setup.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Mosquera, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Eze, Trossard; Merino

Tottenham Hotspur

In the build-up to the North London Derby, Tottenham had up to thirteen players either out of contention or in significant doubt for this clash. However, Thomas Frank has received a massive boost by confirming that eight of their injured stars have resumed training, including Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Bergvall, and Pape Matar Sarr.

This injury update does allow Frank to name a strong lineup at the Emirates, which could include skipper Cristian Romero, who was a doubt leading up to the game. The Argentine international played the whole ninety in a friendly against Angola and is now primed to start alongside Micky van de Ven at the back, while Pedro Porro and Djed Spence could be preferred in the full-back roles.

Frank may also make a late decision on his starting striker, as Richarlison is the current favourite to lead the line. Randal Kolo Muani is also available despite a fractured jaw, as the manager confirmed the Frenchman has trained well this week while wearing a protective mask.

Joao Palinha and Pape Matar Sarr will be the preferred central midfielders, while Xavi Simons will continue to assume the attacking midfield berth. Kudus on the right and Wilson Odobert likely to be preferred on the left, Richarlison is widely expected to lead the line for Tottenham against Arsenal.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Palhinha, Sarr; Kudus, Simons, Odobert; Richarlison

Key Stats

Arsenal are undefeated in their last eight matches in the Premier League.

Arsenal are unbeaten in six top-flight North London Derby clashes, winning five of those ties.

Tottenham have the best away record in the Premier League this season after accumulating 13 points out of a possible 15.

Tottenham have managed to win just once in their last 19 visits to the Emirates, with the sole victory achieved back in 2010.

Tottenham are the only side still unbeaten away from home in the Premier League this season (W4 D1). Spurs have the joint-most points (13), the joint-most goals (12) and the fewest goals conceded (3) of any side on the road this term.

Player to Watch

Eberechi Eze

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Eze was the talking point back in the summer when reports claimed he was extremely close to joining Spurs, but Arsenal swooped in late to capture the attacker. Hence, there will be a level of focus on the England international, who is coming into this clash on the back of a top-notch goal for the national side against Serbia.

On to Arsenal, who continue to miss the presence of skipper Martin Odegaard, and Eze has since deputised for the Norwegian playmaker. What has been lacking is a cutting-edge performance from the former Crystal Palace star, and this edition of the North London Derby would be the perfect platform for him to rise to the occasion.

Prediction

Arsenal 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur

On paper, this might represent an even context, given the raft of injuries at Arsenal and the many returning stars for Tottenham. However, the visitors have a dreadful record and certainly carry many defensive lapses in their team as well as attacking issues to an extent that the Gunners can exploit.

Despite not having the formidable Gabriel at the back, Arsenal’s defensive depth can hold fort against any side, let alone Tottenham. Not only are the Gunners expected to collect three points in this edition of the North London Derby, but they are also likely to keep a clean sheet in the process.

Tottenham may have to wait until the summer to land top striker target Samu Aghehowa, as a mid-season move seems complicated.

According to Team Talk, Samu Aghehowa is unlikely to leave FC Porto in January, with Tottenham interested in the striker. His €80 million asking price, as well as other costs, make a deal difficult for Spurs in mid-season, as they may have to wait until the summer to land their top striker target.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank seeks a different type of centre-forward, one that is mobile and can press from the front. The primary idea is to bring chaos in the box, something akin to what Diego Costa did in the past and what Ivan Toney did for the Dane at Brentford.

Toney was being heavily linked with a switch back to the Premier League, but Al-Ahli director Rui Pedro Braz has since ruled out such an idea ahead of January. The former Brentford star could be an option heading into the summer window, but he’s not the only one and certainly not the top target for Spurs in that position.

Currently, Spurs have three strikers in Richarlison, Dominic Solanke and Randal Kolo Muani, with the latter only joining on a loan deal. Frank is eager to test out his existing instructions in the way he wants his centre-forward to play, but so far the results have been below par. Richarlison was linked with a move away, but with the club set to assess his situation, the likelihood of the Brazilian staying put are high.

Samu Aghehowa is the primary target for Tottenham in the centre-forward position, with previous suggestions pointing at a potential €80 million fee for the FC Porto striker. Andre Villas-Boas, the president of the Portuguese club has set those demands, and does not expect the Spanish international to leave mid-season.

A January move for Samu Aghehowa complicated

Aghehowa remains happy at Porto at the moment, although that does not necessarily deter players from leaving the Portuguese league for the Premier League. However, the asking price for the €80 million-rated Olympic gold medalist and the additional costs, such as the agent’s demands, make any mid-season move to Tottenham unlikely.

Spurs are expected to keep constant tabs on his development at Porto, as the club are now widely expected to chase the €80 million-rated Olympic gold medalist next summer. On paper, Aghehowa is the perfect candidate to execute Frank’s ideas in the centre-forward role, although Tottenham are widely expected to face competition from rivals for the Spanish international.

Liverpool are now ahead of Tottenham Hotspur in the race to sign Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth.

As per TEAMtalk, both clubs are interested in signing the 25-year-old Ghanaian international, and he will cost around £65 million. It will be interesting to see if Liverpool can wrap up the move in the coming months.

Bournemouth will not want to lose an important player like him in the middle of the season, and it is fair to assume that any move might have to wait until the summer transfer window.

It remains to be seen whether Tottenham follow up on their interest with an official proposal to get the deal done. They need to act quickly in order to beat the competition from the rival clubs.

Both Liverpool and Tottenham have the finances to get the deal across the line. The player will want to compete at the highest level, and Liverpool might be a more attractive destination for him. They have been fighting for the league title and the UEFA Champions League. Tottenham are not quite at that level yet.

Semenyo deserves a big move

The 25-year-old is in fine form right now. He has shown his quality against the top teams in the Premier League, and there is no doubt that he has the attributes to succeed at the highest level. He could add a new dimension to the Liverpool and Tottenham attack. Both clubs need more cutting-edge in the final third. They need someone who can take on defenders and create opportunities out of nothing. The African is capable of scoring goals consistently as well.

Semenyo could be a complete player for them in the attack. It remains to be seen which of the two clubs can get the deal done. The asking price might seem expensive, but the player has the potential to justify the investment. He is at the peak of his career, and this is the right time for him to take on a new challenge. It will be interesting to see where he ends up eventually.

Tottenham are not eager to make a mistake with Jamie Donley’s future and are prepared to stay patient with the attacker’s development.

According to Team Talk, Tottenham are not eager to rush into making a future decision on Jamie Donley despite a slow start to life at Stoke City. Spurs are not keen on repeating their mistake with Troy Parrott, and are willing to stay patient with Donley’s future to help him develop well.

Troy Parrott made big headlines with the Republic of Ireland during the current international break after helping his nation reach the World Cup play-offs. They looked down and out heading into games against Portugal and Hungary, as Parrott scored five goals in these games to help the Irish finish second in their group.

As soon as Parrott made headlines, all eyes shifted towards Tottenham and on their decision to offload the Irish international. The AZ Alkmaar star has probably made Spurs think about their decision to let him go, which has made the club realise certain things about some of their existing talents.

One of those could be Jamie Donley, who is currently on loan at Stoke City, as Spurs are willing to help him develop into a proper player before deciding his long-term future. Ahead of the January window, they are not prepared to make a rushed call on the attacking midfielder’s immediate future and are willing to wait to see how things develop in the background.

Donley was expected to be handed first-team opportunities back in the summer, but a decision from Tottenham saw him join Stoke City on loan. He has not had the best of starts with the Potters, but over the last few weeks, he has been featuring with a fair bit of regularity.

Tottenham to stay patient with Donley

Going back to the summer window, Tottenham chose to loan out Donley despite having a shortage in the attacking midfield department following James Maddison’s ACL injury sustained in pre-season. They did leave it late to sign Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig, and ahead of the January window, they could potentially even add another player of that profile.

Yet, they chose to send Donley on loan to help him develop his talents elsewhere rather than fight for a place in this otherwise well-stacked Spurs side. For now, the north Londoners have decided against making a similar mistake they made with Parrott, and allow Donley the time to keep developing before choosing what to do about his future at a later date.

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move for 24-year-old Belgian midfielder Nicolas Raskin in recent weeks.

Nicolas Raskin has done quite well for Rangers, and Tottenham are interested in him. According to a report by Football Insider, manager Danny Rohl is not keen on letting the player leave the club any time soon. He is prepared to block a January exit for the Belgian midfielder. The development will come as a major blow for Tottenham.

The hard-working midfielder could have been the ideal acquisition for the North London club. They need more physicality and defensive cover on the side. The Rangers midfielder has done quite well in Scotland, and he has impressed with the Belgian national team as well. He could have been the ideal partner for Joao Palhinha.

It will be interesting to see if they decide to move on to other targets. It is no secret that Tottenham need more quality and depth in the middle of the park. Raskin could have been the ideal acquisition for them. They must look at other options to improve the team now.

Spurs have lost their way after an impressive start to the season, and they will look to bounce back strongly. They should look to sign quality players during the winter transfer window so that they can get their season back on track. A club of their stature is expected to secure Champions League qualification, and they will hope to fight for trophies as well. The Belgian would have helped them improve.

Raskin could be tempted

Meanwhile, the opportunity to join Tottenham would have been exciting for the Rangers star as well. It would have been a major step up in his career. He will look to prove himself at the highest level, and joining the Premier League could be an exciting opportunity. It remains to be seen whether he decides to force an exit from the Scottish club in future.

Totten North London clubham are a big club, and they have a quality squad. The have a top-quality manager like Thomas Frank as well. They have recently won a European trophy, and most players will be attracted to the idea of joining them. It remains to be seen whether Raskin can secure a big move in the near future.

Tottenham Hotspur dispatched scouts to monitor 23-year-old AS Monaco attacking prospect Maghnes Akliouche for France’s World Cup qualifier against Ukraine this week.

According to a report by TEAMtalk, Maghnes Akliouche is the subject of interest from Tottenham Hotspur. The Lilywhites are keen on reinforcing their offensive unit by signing a versatile attacker in the winter transfer window. So, the 23-year-old AS Monaco playmaker has emerged as a target for the North London outfit.

The 2024/25 UEFA Europa League winners have continued to track the Frenchman this season, and they recently sent scouts to monitor him during France’s World Cup qualifier against Ukraine. Akliouche produced an impressive cameo off the bench, and a winter bid may be on the cards.

Maghnes Akliouche and his career so far

Maghnes Akliouche has established himself as one of the best young prospects in Ligue 1 since breaking into the first-team squad at AS Monaco. A native of Tremblay-en-France native, the 23-year-old spent his formative years in his homeland and graduated from the youth division at AS Monaco. The youngster has not looked back since enjoying his breakthrough in the 2023/24 campaign.

Akliouche has made over 100 appearances thus far for AS Monaco while chipping in with 19 goals and 20 assists. Meanwhile, the French playmaker’s progress has not gone unnoticed, helping him break into his national side while capturing the attention of European bigwigs. Premier League outfits, in particular, are keen on signing him, with Tottenham Hotspur among the prospective suitors vying for his signature heading into the winter transfer window.

London calling?

Maghnes Akliouche has been on Tottenham Hotspur’s radar for a long time. The North London club wanted to sign the AS Monaco prospect in the summer transfer window, but the deal did not materialise. The continued interest makes sense, as the Lilywhites are eager to bolster their offensive unit by signing a versatile attacker.

Akliouche has thus emerged as a viable target for Tottenham, with the North London club already running the rule over him this season. The 2024/25 UEFA Europa League winners again sent scouts to monitor the 23-year-old Frenchman when France faced Ukraine for a World Cup qualifier this week.

However, Akliouche is yet to become Tottenham’s top target, with the North London club waiting to decide who they will prioritise signing in the winter transfer window. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for the French international.

Rangers will reportedly demand “big money” to part ways with 24-year-old Belgian international Nicolas Raskin amid his links with Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur.

According to a report by Football Insider, Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur are interested in Nicolas Raskin. The two Premier League clubs are eager to bolster their first-team squads by signing a versatile midfielder in the winter transfer window. So, the 24-year-old Rangers mainstay has emerged as a target for the top-flight outfits.

However, a winter move will not be straightforward, as Rangers are not interested in parting ways with the Liege native in the winter transfer window. However, the Scottish Premiership giants are open to selling Rasking for a “big offer” in the coming weeks.

Nicolas Raskin and his time in Scotland so far

Nicolas Raskin has been one of the most impressive midfielders in the Scottish Premiership since joining Rangers from Standard Liege in January 2023. The 24-year-old spent his formative years in Belgium, but he has become a household name over the last two and a half years, having been a mainstay in the middle of the park for Rangers.

The Belgian international has made over 100 appearances thus far for Rangers while chipping in with eight goals and 18 assists. Meanwhile, Raskin’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several well-known clubs. Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur are among the prospective suitors vying for his signature heading into the winter transfer window.

Premier League move on the horizon?

Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in Nicolas Raskin makes sense. The Lilywhites are scouring the market for a versatile midfielder, as Yves Bissouma has no future at the North London club. Several candidates have thus emerged on Tottenham’s wishlist, with Raskin also a viable target.

As for Leeds United, the West Yorkshire outfit failed with a move for Raskin in the summer transfer window, as the Liege native rejected them. The continued interest is understandable, as Daniel Farke wants more options in the middle of the park to manage the challenge of remaining in the Premier League.

However, a winter move for Raskin will not be straightforward, as Rangers will be reluctant to part ways with the 24-year-old Belgian international. However, a deal may be possible for a “big bid” amid his links with Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur.

Tottenham have watched Malick Fofana in action alongside Barcelona, with the north Londoners eager to position themselves strongly.

According to Team Talk, Malick Fofana continued to attract massive interest in the market, as Tottenham have watched the winger in action. Barcelona are also in the frame, although it is the North Londoners are trying to position themselves strongly in the race for the Belgian winger.

Lyon are resigned to losing Malick Fofana, and could count themselves fortunate following the winger’s failure to leave the club back in the summer. The French giants have multiple issues, including a huge financial hole, which makes the Belgian’s departure inevitable, as they are demanding a fee of £44 million.

There are a host of clubs interested in Fofana, who will decide on his future soon, as the January window could be when he could potentially depart Lyon. The likes of Chelsea and Liverpool are among those looking at him, while Barcelona are also interested.

The Catalans have watched the player in action recently alongside Tottenham, with Barcelona now eager to explore a move. The financial implications of any deal do place some question marks on the Spanish giants over their ability to fork out the required sum for the long-term £44 million-rated attacking target.

Tottenham, on the other hand, are trying to position itself strongly and make Fofana the cornerstone of their long-term project focused on young players. There are significant doubts over the futures of some of their present wingers like Wilson Odobert, Brennan Johnson and even summer signing Xavi Simons, as Fofana is seen as a big upgrade on either of those stars.

Tottenham in the mix for Malick Fofana

Tottenham were expected to make a winter approach for Fofana, although the competition in place for the Belgian international may not make Spurs the clear front runners. The north Londoners are eager to make a statement of intent with a signing of this sort, and like Barcelona, they have watched him in action.

The financial aspect of a deal for the long-term £44 million-rated attacking target may not be the issue for Spurs, but Fofana’s demands to play Champions League football could be the deterring factor. For now, they are trying to position themselves as a strong contender in the race, but may face intense competition to convince the young Lyon star to make the switch to north London.

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move for 25-year-old Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic in recent months.

As per a report by TEAMtalk, Tottenham have ruled out a move for Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic. Chelsea, Everton, and West Ham United remain keen on signing the player, and the development will come as a boost for them.

The Serb is valued at €20 million, and it will be interesting to see where he ends up. His contract with the Italian club expires in the summer. Vlahovic has not signed an extension, and therefore, Juventus are under pressure to sell him in January. The Serie A giants cannot afford to lose the player for free at the end of the season.

It remains to be seen whether Chelsea come forward with an offer to get the deal done. They have recently signed a couple of strikers, and investing in another centre-forward would be surprising. They should look to bring in a quality central defender and another winger instead.

Everton and West Ham need Vlahovic

On the other hand, Everton could desperately use another quality striker. Beto has not been able to live up to the expectations, and Everton need an alternative. The towering Serbian striker could be the ideal fit for them. Vlahovic has the physicality and technical attributes for English football, and he could make a big difference in the Premier League.

Everton are looking to build a team capable of fighting for a place in the top half, and they need players like Vlahovic. It will be interesting to see if they can convince the Serbian international to move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Finally, West Ham United are in desperate need of a quality striker as well. Niclas Fullkrug has not been able to live up to the expectations, and the German striker will likely leave West Ham next year. The Hammers have been linked with multiple strikers in recent months, and it will be interesting to see if they can sign the player from Juventus.

The €20 million asking price is quite reasonable for a player of Vlahovic’s quality, and he could justify the investment in the coming seasons. The Serbian striker is at the peak of his powers, and he will look to make an instant impact. The opportunity to play in the Premier League will be exciting for the 25-year-old, and it remains to be seen where he ends up eventually.

Rangers midfielder Nicolas Raskin is reportedly more likely to move to the Serie A club instead of joining Crystal Palace, Tottenham Hotspur, or any other Premier League club.

According to a report by TEAMtalk, Nicolas Raskin is the subject of interest from Tottenham Hotspur. The Lilywhites are eager to bolster their first-team squad by signing a versatile midfielder in the winter transfer window. So, the 24-year-old Rangers star has emerged as a target for the North London outfit.

The player is also a target for Crystal Palace. However, a winter move will unlikely materialise, as the Liege native is more likely to join a Serie A club instead of moving to a London club. Meanwhile, recent reports have claimed that Rangers are unwilling to sanction Raskin’s exit in the winter transfer window. So, Crystal Palace and Tottenham must identify a contingency plan for the youngster, who may be available for only £18-20 million.

Nicolas Raskin and his career in Scotland

Nicolas Raskin has been one of the most impressive midfielders in the Scottish Premiership since joining Rangers from Standard Liege in January 2023. The 24-year-old spent his formative years in Belgium, but he has seen his stock soar over the last two and a half years, having been a mainstay in the middle of the park for the Scottish giants.

The Belgian international has made over 100 appearances thus far for Rangers while chipping in with seven goals and 18 assists. Meanwhile, Raskin’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several well-known clubs. Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur are among the prospective suitors vying for his signature heading into the winter transfer window.

London calling?

Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in Nicolas Raskin is understandable. The Lilywhites are combing the market for a versatile midfielder, as Yves Bissouma has no future at the North London club. Several candidates have thus emerged on Tottenham’s wishlist, with Raskin also a viable target.

As for Crystal Palace, the uncertainties surrounding Adam Wharton’s long-term future have forced the South London club to identify alternatives. Interestingly, recent reports have suggested that a move to Tottenham appeals to the Rangers midfielder. However, the latest update has revealed that the player is more likely to join a Serie A club instead of Premier League outfits.

While the 24-year-old Belgian midfielder will be available for only £18-20 million, a deal may not materialise for Crystal Palace or Tottenham. Meanwhile, it is unclear which Serie A clubs will land Raskin, as the report has not revealed the identities of the “two Italian clubs” chasing his signature.