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The full-time whistle has blown between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal in the Premier League, and the player ratings are in.

It ended up being a humiliating afternoon for Tottenham, who suffered a 4-1 loss to their bitter rivals.

Tottenham full-time player ratings vs Arsenal

Guglielmo Vicario – Having conceded twice in the first half, Tottenham wasted no time in allowing Arsenal to add a third, with Eberechi Eze slotting home less than thirty seconds after the restart. 5.

Djed Spence – Leandro Trossard kept Spence honest throughout the clash. Although the full-back managed to quieten him at times, the defining moment came when he allowed the Belgian to ghost in behind for Arsenal’s opener. 4.

Cristian Romero – A poor defensive display all round, and the Tottenham captain was powerless to prevent the collapse. Arsenal scored goals of all varieties, and the Argentine could only watch on. 3.

Kevin Danso – The centre-back earned a start as Thomas Frank opted for a back five. However, he was withdrawn at half-time after a dismal first-half showing from the entire Tottenham team. 4.5.

Micky Van de Ven – It could definitely have been a better performance from the Dutchman. His passing was often loose, though he did make several important recoveries and blocks. 4.

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Destiny Udogie – The Italian played Trossard onside for Arsenal’s opener, the one major moment he got wrong. Aside from that, he stuck closely to Bukayo Saka and limited the winger’s influence. 5.

Rodrigo Bentancur – A poor display from the Uruguayan in both halves. Tottenham could not cope with Eze and Mikel Merino in midfield, and Bentancur offered little going forward. 4.

Joao Palhinha – The Portuguese midfielder was Tottenham’s best performer in the second half, showing fight, winning duels, and attempting to carry the ball forward. 7.

Mohammed Kudus – A north London derby debut to forget. Kudus spent much of the match chasing shadows as Spurs failed to produce anything in the final third. 4.

Richarlison – Grabbed what proved to be a consolation with a strike from the halfway line. It should have sparked a comeback, but instead Arsenal went on to make it 4–1. 6.

Wilson Odobert – The Frenchman had nothing to work with, as Tottenham once again failed to show any attacking thrust against a top Premier League side. 4.

Substitutes

Xavi Simons – Replaced Danso at half-time and slotted into the number ten role as Frank searched for a response. 5

Pape Sarr – The Senegal international came on for Bentancur but had little impact as Arsenal continued to dominate. 5

Randal Kolo Muani – The Frenchman received minutes from the bench, playing with protective gear to shield his jaw. 5

Pedro Porro – Replaced Spence on the right and was tasked with handling Noni Madueke late on. N/A

The half-time whistle has blown between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, and the player ratings are in.

Tottenham trail their rivals 2-0 at the break following a toothless display at the Emirates.

Tottenham half-time player ratings vs Arsenal

Guglielmo Vicario – Arsenal looked to draw first blood in the second minute after Eberechi Eze’s scooped pass found Declan Rice free in the box. The Arsenal midfielder caught his volley sweetly, but Vicario made a fine stop to keep things level early on. Well beaten on two occasions later on in the first half. 4.

Djed Spence – The English full-back stuck to his task well against Leandro Trossard down the right for most of the first half. However, he failed to track the Belgian’s run for Arsenal’s opener, allowing Trossard to get in behind far too easily. 3.

Cristian Romero – Spurs have yet to see Romero get on the ball to help progress play with his distribution from deep. Arsenal are pressing high, limiting how much time the Argentine has in possession. 4.

Kevin Danso – surprise inclusion as Thomas Frank opted for a back five. The Austrian came close to scoring an own goal early on after Vicario’s parried save ricocheted onto him. Tottenham are looking to take advantage of set plays, and Danso’s long throws have been on display. 4.5.

Micky Van de Ven – The Dutchman is operating as the ball-playing centre-back when Tottenham attempt to build from the back. His passing, however, has been poor, too often finding an Arsenal shirt. If he can sharpen up, Spurs could profit. 5.

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Destiny Udogie – Has looked sharp against Saka, winning several one-v-one duels with the Arsenal talisman and giving him little space to create. Unfortunately, he failed to hold the defensive line for Arsenal’s opener, playing Trossard onside. 4.

Rodrigo Bentancur – It has not been a straightforward midfield battle for Tottenham, with Mikel Merino operating as a false nine and frequently dropping into midfield, giving Bentancur and Joao Palhinha plenty to consider. It was the fluid setup that eventually led to Arsenal’s opener. 3.

Joao Palhinha – The Arsenal midfield are having a field day against Bentancur and Palhinha. How Eze had that much time to wriggle his way through is unfathomable. 4.

Mohammed Kudus – Tottenham have spent most of this contest defending, which has significantly limited the amount of the ball he has seen. 4.

Richarlison – The Brazilian has had very little to work with as Tottenham frequently look to go long. Richarlison simply cannot win the aerial duels against William Saliba and Piero Hincapie. 3.

Chris Waddle has suggested how Thomas Frank’s side should play at the Emirates to give themselves the best chance of getting a decent result.

Strangely, this season, the Spurs have struggled at home but have been a formidable side away from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Some pundits have opined that this is because Thomas Frank’s counter-attacking tactics work better away from home, while the home supporters demand that their side plays on the front foot.

Danny Murphy has thus suggested that playing the North London derby away from home suits Tottenham, and a Spurs legend has now suggested how the Lilywhites should approach this afternoon’s fixture.

Chris Waddle urges Tottenham to absorb early pressure

Waddle believes that Spurs will not want the start of the game to be frantic and urged them to avoid taking any risks in the early stages.

He suggested that Arsenal will be looking to impose themselves at the start of the game in front of their fans, and that Frank’s men need to keep their focus.

When asked what would be most important for Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium, Waddle said (via Football.London): “Concentration and focus are the main things. People want you to come out of the blocks quickly, and I think in Tottenham’s case, they first sometimes weigh up the opposition, and work out how they are set up.

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“It might benefit them for now not to take risks early on, not pile forward and avoid getting picked off. A lot of teams will press and hurry early, and perhaps Spurs don’t match that right now. For Tottenham, they’ve got a lot of injuries and they’re missing creativity on the pitch. I can see that they’re set up well, and they press early.

“I know you have to start brightly and impose your authority on the game, especially early and at home. You need to put your opponents under pressure to get the crowd behind you. James Maddison is not there, [Mohammed] Kudus is injured, and Dominic Solanke is out. Those are the players who carry the ball and take risks, and they’re being cancelled out easily.”

Spurs’ principles of play will not change against Arsenal

We know that Frank is very wedded to his approach, and the tactics broadly remain the same whether his side is playing at home or away.

This approach has led to some impressive results for Tottenham away from home this season, including the 2-0 win at the Etihad.

Tottenham Hotspur step back into Premier League action against Arsenal with both sides unveiling key team news ahead of the north London derby.

Tottenham Hotspur are kicking a football for the first time in two weeks today in their Premier League fixture against north London rivals Arsenal.

The Lilywhites come into this fixture off the back of a 2-2 draw against Manchester United, while Arsenal were also held to a 2-2 draw in their last league encounter with Sunderland.

Frank will be hoping he can secure a first win for Tottenham against their rivals at the Emirates Stadium, a feat that has not been reached since the 2010/11 season.

Tottenham confirmed team news as Thomas Frank prepares for derby

The Dane has been handed a few boosts on the fitness front coming into this derby game, which is much needed given the fixture run ahead.

Randal Kolo Muani is available for selection following scares that he was set to miss months because of a jaw injury.

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Lucas Bergvall was also back in contention, while Radu Dragusin, Kota Takai and Ben Davies have all returned to training.

James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke remain sidelined, but Mohammed Kudus returned after missing the last two games in the Champions League and league, respectively.

This is the Spurs team which takes to the field at the Emirates Stadium today:

Tottenham: Vicario; Spence, Danso, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie; Bentancur, Palhinha; Kudus, Richarlison, Odobert.

Subs: Kinsky, Porro, Sarr, Gray, Bergvall, Xavi, Tel, Johnson, Kolo Muani

Arsenal: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Hancipie, Calafiori; Rice, Zubimendi, Eze; Saka, Trossard, Merino

Subs: Kepa, Mosquera, White, Martinelli, Norgaard, Madueke, Nwaneri, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman.

Arsenal are yet to taste a defeat in their last five league outings and are also without a loss in their last six games against Spurs, but Tottenham fans will be hoping their side can secure a victory here.

Tottenham’s away form and derby pressure

The Gunners have a good record after international breaks, and that will give them confidence as they take to the pitch.

But Tottenham need to make their away advantage count as they have done for most of the season, remaining without a defeat on their travels.

This is a game that matters most to fans of both clubs, and Frank will need to ensure that it is his own supporters who leave the ground with the bragging rights.

Tottenham Hotspur have ridden an emotional rollercoaster this season, but one recent flashpoint involving Thomas Frank and two senior players has now drawn criticism from a former Spurs player.

Emotions are a big part of the game as we all know it, and at times, they can cause players and fans to flare up when results go against them.

This season, we have seen a host of emotions at Tottenham Hotspur games, but the one that caught the headlines was the moment after Spurs’ derby match against Chelsea.

The Blues defeated Tottenham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and the performance from the Lilywhites is up there as the worst of the season.

Spurs were outplayed throughout the league fixture against Chelsea, and fans made their feelings known after the full-time whistle, with boos being fired at Frank and his players.

Darren Anderton criticises Spence and van de Ven

The Dane did not only catch flak from his fans, but his players also added to it all after Djed Spence and Micky van de Ven refused to shake the manager at full-time, even when he moved towards them.

Frank has revealed that the situation has been handled and the club has clearly moved on from it, but former Tottenham winger Darren Anderton has shared his view and made it clear he was not impressed.

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Speaking to The Sun, Anderton explained why he thought the reaction from the players crossed a line, especially given the context of the defeat and the responsibility senior players carry.

He said, “I did not like that at all. We are all frustrated after losing a game.

“But you have got to deal with that in a different manner. You have not performed well. You do not start mugging off the manager. If you have got something to say to him, you say it to him in the changing room when you are having a conversation.”

Spurs need to refocus ahead of next test

Frank’s Spurs tenure will receive a lift-off if he can deliver a win against the league leaders, Arsenal, and Anderton believes the players must approach the next match with confidence.

Speaking again to The Sun, he gave his view on why Spurs should still back themselves.

Anderton added: “I do not think there is any reason why the Spurs boys should go there not thinking that they can go and win.

“There is enough quality, enough results away from home this season to give them a belief that they can do that.

“The games we used to play, even when they were with Arsene Wenger and we were playing with a Christian Gross, you always thought you had a chance in the derby. It was such a good game to play in. It was such a leveller.”

Alan Shearer has predicted the result of today’s North London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates.

There is a buzz around North London as the first North London derby of the season approaches, and all the pressure is squarely on one team.

Arsenal need a win to maintain their lead at the top of the Premier League table, with Man City now breathing down their necks.

Spurs will go to the Emirates Stadium to try and dent the Gunners’ title hopes and move back into the top four, with Thomas Frank admitting that he is excited about his first taste of the big derby.

Alan Shearer believes it’s a must-win for Arsenal

Shearer admitted that while derby games are hard to call, he believes that Mikel Arteta’s men will not view anything other than three points as an option.

The Newcastle legend expects a tight affair at the Emirates, but he backed the home side to edge out their North London rivals.

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When asked to predict the big clash, Shearer told The Metro: “Man City will have already played and claimed their points, or none. But whatever happens, Arsenal’s mentality is that they have to win the game.

“It’s always tough to predict a derby game, but I think I’m just going to go for Arsenal to edge it. I usually go for a draw, but I think I’ll just go for Arsenal to edge it.”

Shearer has seen an improvement in Spurs under Thomas Frank

There has been plenty of debate on the impact of Thomas Frank, whose decisions have come in for plenty of criticism of late, in light of Tottenham’s poor displays, especially at home.

However, Shearer insists that he has seen clear improvements with certain aspects of the Lilywhites’ play and suggested that the former Brentford boss needs time to get Spurs where he wants to.

The pundit added about Tottenham: ‘From 17th last season to where they are now, the football hasn’t been great from Spurs, but you can see a stamp from Thomas Frank on that team.

“They’ve improved at set-pieces, and I think it’ll take time. I think Thomas Frank will be quietly pleased with how things have gone so far.”

Tim Sherwood has claimed that a beleaguered Tottenham Hotspur star has an opportunity to become a hero at the Emirates Stadium.

Out of the seven signings Tottenham made in the summer, the one that excited the supporters the most was Xavi Simons.

However, it can be argued that he has been the least impressive of the lot so far, with the 22-year-old struggling to come to terms with the pace and physicality of the Premier League.

Xavi has already been written off as a flop by some pundits, but the attacking midfielder was showing some positive signs ahead of the international break.

Tim Sherwood claims Xavi Simons can become an overnight Tottenham hero

Sherwood has now urged Thomas Frank to play the Dutchman in his preferred number 10 role at the Emirates so that he can show what he can do.

The former Spurs interim head coach suggested that the North London derby presents a great opportunity for the former RB Leipzig man to win over the Tottenham faithful.

Sherwood said about Xavi to Sky Sports: “Play him where he wants to play, he wants to play as a number ten, but Thomas Frank doesn’t play with a number ten.

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“He must have told him when he was coming to sign, or Xavi Simons shouldn’t have come, if he said, I’m going to play you off the left, but you can drift or play off the right, and you can drift into central areas, then he’s got absolutely no excuse.

“He’s got to deliver when he gets on the ball, and he’s got to show a lot more than what he’s shown. I think there’s a lot of onus on him, like I said, the reputation.

“It’s difficult to adjust to a different country and to adjust to the Premier League; it does take time. It normally takes time, and the time becomes easier if you’ve got better players around you, feeding him the ball.

“The fans like him, he [Frank] got booed when he bought him off against Man United before the international break, but that’s for a reason, because they’re starved of any creativity within the rest of the team.

“We’re saying Tottenham are doing well in the Premier League, but at home, they’re not doing very well. This game on Sunday is all about making heroes, and there’s a chance for him to be an instant hero.

“You can score against Arsenal and get a positive result, then automatically you get elevated into that hero status, and they’ve got an opportunity to be able to do that.

“He’s got the ability, of course, he has, but they’re all very similar in his position. Odobert, Tel, Kudus. Kudus has done all right, but they’re very, very similar. I don’t think Tottenham have got the balance right, and certainly haven’t got the recruitment right.”

Will Xavi start the North London derby?

Pape Matar Sarr has been passed fit for the Arsenal clash, and one would expect the midfielder to come into the starting eleven.

Thomas Frank has gone with a midfield three of Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha at times away from home and against the likes of Chelsea at home.

If he goes with the same midfield at the Emirates, Xavi will be competing with Lucas Bergvall, Wilson Odobert and Brenna Johnson for the left-sided spot in the front three, and it would not be surprising if he does not make the eleven.

Tottenham Hotspur have no shortage of wide options this season, yet one former player believes Brennan Johnson is not showing enough of the positivity needed to truly stake his claim.

There is competition for places in the wide areas at Tottenham Hotspur this season, with Thomas Frank having a variety of options to pick from and several players pushing hard for minutes.

Mohammed Kudus, Brennan Johnson, Mathys Tel, Wilson Odobert, and Xavi Simons are all available for selection out wide, which naturally increases the pressure on each of them to deliver consistently.

However, not all have impressed so far, and former Tottenham winger Darren Anderton has singled out one player who he feels has not been positive enough in his overall play.

Darren Anderton on Tottenham winger Brennan Johnson

Speaking to The Sun, Darren Anderton explained his concerns about Brennan Johnson’s approach and why he believes the winger is capable of far more, particularly given his pace and technical profile.

He hinted that Johnson has the tools to dominate defenders but is not using those attributes as aggressively as he should, before going into further detail about the Welshman’s decision–making.

Anderton said, “I like Brennan. I am just trying to figure out why he is not just destroying teams with the pace and the quality that he has got.

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“He is happy just to get in the box and nick a goal, but in general, I just do not think he is positive enough for his attributes in terms of his pace and getting to the byline. I think he has just got to go out and play that way.

“Kudus is a great player. He is strong, brave, does a bit of everything. He is the sort of player you want on your team.

“You know he will not let you down. You know he is not going to have that disaster of a performance that maybe Johnson will.”

Why Kudus is ahead of Brennan Johnson in the pecking order

Indeed, Johnson has to improve his game if he is to see more minutes in a Tottenham shirt.

Last season, he was impressive, especially in the box, thanks to his ability to read the game well and get into good positions for a tap-in.

Johnson was Spurs’ top scorer last term, with the Welshman scoring 18 goals, including the only goal in the Europa League final, a strike that etched his name into the history books at Tottenham.

This season, however, out wide on the right, Frank looks to prefer Mohammed Kudus, who has a lot more to his game when compared to Johnson.

Jermaine Jenas has said that Tottenham and Arsenal are plagued by the same problem and has predicted what will happen in the North London derby.

While Tottenham have a much better record at home against their bitter rivals than they do at the Emirates, Thomas Frank may actually be quietly pleased that his first North London derby is away from home.

That is because Spurs have been formidable away from home this season, while they have not won at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since the opening day of the campaign.

Opta’s Supercomputer believes the Gunners are overwhelming favourites to get three points, but one former Tottenham man disagrees.

Tottenham can get a result at the Emirates

The Lilywhites have a poor record at the home ground of their rivals, but Arsenal will be without Gabriel for the North London derby after the centre-back picked up an injury while on international duty.

That comes as a big blow to Mikel Arteta’s men, given the Brazilian’s effectiveness in both boxes, and Jermaine Jenas believes that the Lilywhites could nick a point tomorrow.

The former Spurs midfielder said on The Wildcards Podcast: “Spurs have not won at the Emirates in the league since I was there, which is insane. How long can that continue?

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“This team had a great result away at City. They can go to places and just dig out some results when they’re away from home. For some reason, at home, they’ve been shocking now for nearly 18 months, but away from home, it’s like they just know their jobs better.

“I don’t think they’ll get a win. I think they could nick a draw. I’m going for 1-1.”

Spurs and Arsenal have issues in front of goal

While Arsenal are eight points clear of Tottenham and sit at the summit of the Premier League table, they have scored just one more goal than their rivals this season.

Jenas believes that both sides are plagued by a lack of goalscorers in the final third, which is why he does not envisage a low-scoring clash.

The pundit added: “When you look at the pitch, where are all the goals coming from for both teams? I mean, you’ve got Saka obviously, for Arsenal and Eze has got that capability as well, as he showed me midweek for England.

“For Spurs with their front line, you don’t know what’s going to happen and you haven’t got a clue who is going turn up.

“If Kudus is fit, that changes the dynamic a little but I don’t see loads of goals in this game, and if someone will win it, it will be Arsenal. I’m just trying to work out if I can get Spurs to nick a draw, so I’m going to go 1-1.”

Sandro has named four Tottenham Hotspur players who could step up in the North London derby for the Lilywhites.

The build-up to the derby is in full swing, and with the clash now just hours away, the nerves are starting to build for Spurs fans.

Tottenham have a woeful record at the Emirates, but that is something that the current team may believe they can put right, given their formidable record away from home this season.

Thomas Frank has admitted that he is ‘super excited’ for his first taste of the North London derby, revealing that he is aware of what this game means to the supporters.

Sandro backs four Tottenham players to show fight against Arsenal

Sandro starred in several North London derbies, and the Brazilian was certainly not short of a fight. In fact, it was his heart, passion and mentality that made him a fan favourite at Tottenham.

The 36-year-old believes that the current Spurs team is not short of characters who can stand their ground, naming Joao Palhinha, Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Djed Spence as players who could have a big impact at the Emirates.

When asked what his message is to the Spurs players ahead of the derby, Sandro told The Sun: “It’s to fight. To fight is the only way – we have to go there and fight. Because against Arsenal, if we slip even just a bit, we are done.

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“We have to fight, and we have the players to do that and give it their all. We have players who can fight. Palhinha in the middle, van de Ven, Romero, Spence, they love to fight. We are not scared of Arsenal.”

Sandro believes Spurs can close the gap with Arsenal

While the Gunners are many people’s favourites for the Premier League title, Tottenham are considered outsiders for a top-four finish.

However, Sandro insists that the gap between the two North London sides is not as big as it may appear, suggesting that Frank can bridge that gap this season.

He added: “I think we are improving. I think we are improving and Arsenal is already there at that level. I think the work that Arteta is doing, we have to give time for Thomas Frank to do. This is so new for Tottenham. The players are the same, but we are improving.

“We won a trophy, okay, we didn’t play well. But now, can we keep the players, and can we improve the level of the football? I think Arsenal are one step ahead of us is all, but the gap is not massive. It’s getting smaller.”