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Tottenham Hotspur travel into another highly charged north London derby this weekend, and with Thomas Frank searching for a statement result, we have attempted to predict the Dane’s starting XI against Arsenal.

Thomas Frank will be hoping to get one over Tottenham Hotspur’s biggest rivals, Arsenal, when the two face off on Sunday.

The Dane’s record against the Gunners inspires little confidence, as he has won just one of his last nine meetings against the Gunners.

Despite it being a big ask, Spurs supporters will be looking to see their side put up a fight at the weekend as Tottenham look to get back to winning ways after their 2-2 draw with Manchester United in matchweek 11.

With Spurs chasing a win, we have now attempted to predict Tottenham’s starting XI for their clash at the Emirates.

Predicted Tottenham XI vs Arsenal

Goalkeeper – Guglielmo Vicario: It is most definitely a no-brainer on who will be behind the sticks for Tottenham, as Guglielmo Vicario has been in good form of late, and he should keep his place.

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Right-back – Pedro Porro: Thomas Frank is not afraid to mix this up in the full-back position, as we have seen him move Djed Spence to the right with Destiny Udogie staying on the left, but we do not expect any changes at right-back when Spurs visit the Emirates Stadium.

Centre-back – Cristian Romero: The Argentine impressed while with Argentina in his singular friendly clash during the break, and he should be fresh to play against Arsenal.

Centre-back – Micky van de Ven: The Dutchman is a man in good form and he will be an asset for Frank in this encounter, where set pieces will be crucial. He is Spurs’ top goal scorer and he should start at the weekend.

Left-back – Destiny Udogie: We do expect Djed Spence to miss out here, with Frank opting for a more left-footed option in Udogie to help keep width on the flank.

Pivot midfielder – Joao Palhinha: The midfield could be very physical, and this will be the sort of encounter where Palhinha’s defensive acumen will be of great use.

Pivot midfielder – Rodrigo Bentancur: With this being an away clash, Frank will want to keep this tight in the middle of the park, and that should see him continue with the pivot pairing of Palhinha and Bentancur.

Centre midfielder – Xavi Simons: This will be a big game for Simons, who could announce himself to the Lilywhites faithful in style after a series of underwhelming displays since his move to north London. We can see Frank sticking with the Dutchman, especially after his goal while away with the Netherlands.

Right winger – Mohammed Kudus: The Ghana international missed out against Copenhagen and Manchester United in Spurs’ last two games. If he is fit, he will take up a spot on the right.

Striker – Richarlison: Spurs are short of number nine options, with Randal Kolo Muani picking up a facial injury against United and Dominic Solanke also sidelined. This leaves Frank with Richarlison and Tel as his main centre-forwards.

Tottenham Hotspur have now discovered how much they have to pay to land one of their top midfield targets in January.

It has been suggested that Thomas Frank’s men may bulk up their midfield in January, and one Wolves star, who has been on Tottenham’s radar since last year, could be on the market.

Last week, TEAMtalk reported that Spurs are expected to reignite their interest in Joao Gomes in January, with the Lilywhites thought to have been impressed by the Brazilian’s consistent displays over the last 18 months.

According to a new update, the Wolves player has now made up his mind on his future after the Midlands club’s woeful start to the Premier League season.

How much would Tottenham have to pay for Joao Gomes?

A new report by Portuguese news outlet Record claims that Gomes has become one of the top midfield targets for Manchester United in January.

Interestingly, it is revealed that the 24-year-old would be happy to jump ship from Molineux, seeing as Wolves, who are winless in the Premier League so far, seem bound for relegation.

The report asserts that an offer of around £44m would be enough to prise away the Brazilian international away from Rob Edwards’ side.

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Man United and Spurs could also battle it out for another midfielder

Gomes is not the only central midfielder who is wanted by both the Red Devils and Spurs in January.

It has been widely reported that Man United could battle Tottenham for Conor Gallagher, who has fallen down the pecking order at Atletico Madrid this season.

Thomas Frank has come under bizarre criticism after revealing he was previously approached by two big Premier League clubs.

It is too early to say whether or not Tottenham Hotspur will have a good season, with their results fluctuating from one week to the next.

Thomas Frank has helped to steady the ship after a dreadful Premier League campaign, but Spurs are still only eighth in the league table.

On top of this, Tottenham have already been knocked out of the Carabao Cup, which is usually viewed as the most winnable piece of silverware on offer.

Simon Jordan rips into Thomas Frank’s personality

Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan has blasted Frank, claiming that the Spurs manager ‘sucks’. However, his comments have nothing to do with Tottenham’s performances, but how the manager performs in an interview.

Frank revealed he held talks with Chelsea and Manchester United before his Spurs appointment and Jordan believes this says something negative about the Dane.

He told talkSPORT: “I bet he thought he was good enough for those jobs. I bet he thought he should be in the conversation for those jobs. And if he wasn’t in the conversation for those jobs, he’d would have been morally offended.

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“So, the fact that he’s done a good job at Brentford and we’re seeing a side of Thomas Frank that’s very relatable, very human, and very authentic in people’s minds and all the things you would like to think that managers represent and don’t.

“So the fact that he didn’t get two interviews tells you that he sucks at interview levels and spends more time writing a book than doing interviews.”

Responding to Jordan should not be Frank’s priority

Despite sucking at interviews, as Jordan says, Frank secured the managerial role at one of the biggest clubs in England.

It is not uncommon for clubs to interview multiple managers and the fact Frank was not offered a job by Chelsea or Manchester United probably says more about those clubs than it does about him.

Frank should not waste time listening to the opinions of people like Jordan, who are always looking for something to rant about. Instead, he should channel his focus into getting Tottenham winning matches and moving up the Premier League table.

Rumoured Tottenham target Conor Gallagher has just fueled the speculation over his future by making a big admission ahead of the January transfer window.

There has been much debate among Spurs fans about the Joao Palhinha-Rodrigo Bentancur pairing at the base of their midfield and whether it is effective enough creatively.

It has been suggested that the Lilywhites could look to improve that area of the pitch in January, with reports indicating that Tottenham are seriously considering making a move for Conor Gallagher.

Some sources have suggested that Spurs would have to pay €60m (£52.3m) to land Gallagher, and the midfielder has now handed the North Londoners a huge boost with his latest comments.

Tottenham target Conor Gallagher admits he wants more game time

The former Chelsea man has fallen down Diego Simeone’s pecking order at Atletico Madrid after the arrival of Johnny Cardoso from Real Betis in the summer.

Gallagher has said that he is happy at the La Liga club, but admitted that he is not satisfied with the minutes that he is getting at the moment.

The England international told AS: “I’m not satisfied. I don’t think anyone will be if they don’t play as much as they would like, but I will continue to work very hard to, whenever I have the opportunity, help the team, and hopefully more opportunities will come to be a starter.

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“I’m very happy here. My goal is to win titles with Atleti, and I want to have a bigger role in the team. And, as I said, I’m going to continue working to the maximum to play more minutes and be able to help the team.”

Spurs could face plenty of competition for Gallagher

Even if the 25-year-old decides to leave Atletico in January, the Lilywhites will not find a deal to be straightforward, with plenty of clubs interested in the midfielder.

It has been reported that Tottenham could face competition from Newcastle, Man United, Everton and Crystal Palace for Gallagher in January.

Tottenham Hotspur prepare for a return to Premier League action with a huge north London derby on the horizon. Here’s how to watch the clash against Arsenal.

The Premier League finally returns following a two-week pause brought about by the November international break, and Tottenham Hotspur now shift their attention towards a clash that always carries real weight.

Thomas Frank will be taking charge of his first north London derby, and it is a moment that will test both his plans and his temperament.

This marks the first competitive meeting of the season between Spurs and Arsenal, although the two met in a pre-season tie in Asia, where Tottenham got the better of Mikel Arteta’s side.

When and where Arsenal vs Tottenham takes place

Tottenham will be visiting the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, 23 November 2025, with kick-off scheduled for 16:30 (UK time).

How to watch Arsenal vs Tottenham in the Premier League

Supporters in the United Kingdom can watch Arsenal vs Tottenham live on Sky Sports Main Event,

Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra HDR.

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Team news for Arsenal and Tottenham

Both sides come into this fixture with several injury concerns, as Tottenham remain without a number of established first-team players.

Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison remain sidelined, while Radu Dragusin continued his recovery during the break after getting 45 minutes under his belt in a behind-closed-doors match.

Dominic Solanke could be in contention, with reports hinting towards a possible return after the international window.

Lucas Bergvall remains a doubt after withdrawing from the Swedish national team, and Archie Gray is still out alongside Kota Takai, Ben Davies and Yves Bissouma.

Pape Matar Sarr picked up a knock in a friendly against Brazil and remains a doubt for this one.

Randal Kolo Muani is also out after picking up an injury to his jaw in the clash against United, while Kudus could return at the weekend, having missed out entirely against the Red Devils in matchweek 11.

Arsenal also have their own problems to deal with. Gabriel is currently out with a muscle issue, while Gabriel Jesus continues his recovery from a cruciate ligament injury.

Gabriel Martinelli is sidelined with a thigh problem, and Kai Havertz is dealing with a knee issue.

Martin Odegaard is managing a knee injury, Noni Madueke is unavailable with a knee concern, and Riccardo Calafiori is considered doubtful due to physical discomfort.

Spurs Web prediction for Arsenal vs Tottenham

Thomas Frank will be looking to guide Tottenham to a first away victory at the Emirates on Sunday, as Spurs have failed to win in their last ten visits to Arsenal’s ground.

The Gunners, on their part, will be aiming to bounce back from their draw in their last league outing against Sunderland.

Tottenham, however, will take encouragement from the fact that they have the best away record in the league this season, and with the fixture taking place at the Emirates, they could get a result, and that is what we expect.

Tottenham are weighing up their next move for Antoine Semenyo, but one Premier League club has emerged as the frontrunner to land the Bournemouth star.

Tottenham Hotspur were handed a major boost in their pursuit of Antoine Semenyo, with reports emerging that the Ghana international could be available for less than the fee quoted in the summer.

Spurs were not able to meet Bournemouth’s £70 million valuation for Semenyo, with the 25-year-old instead putting pen to paper on a new contract and remaining at the Vitality Stadium.

He has impressed this season with six goals and three assists in the Premier League, but it is believed that a clause in his contract is expected to let him go for £65 million in the winter, and for even less in the summer window.

Tottenham and Liverpool set for Antoine Semenyo transfer race

The Cherries could be waving their star forward goodbye soon, and reports have now identified Tottenham’s rivals in the pursuit of Semenyo.

According to TeamTalk, Liverpool are understood to be “ahead in the race” to sign Antoine Semenyo after learning of the conditions required for a transfer.

Arne Slot’s side are the biggest competitors to Spurs in the pursuit of Semenyo, but Tottenham are reported not to be backing down easily.

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Semenyo’s clause is set to become active in a fixed mid-window deadline in January, allowing Bournemouth some time to scout replacements, meaning Tottenham and Liverpool will have to act fast if they are to land the 25-year-old.

Spurs stance as Liverpool push for Antoine Semenyo

While both clubs are preparing for a winter battle, TeamTalk has also revealed that Liverpool are in prime position to sign Semenyo, as they are ready to meet the price needed to prise him away from Bournemouth.

It is claimed that Semenyo himself has a preference for Liverpool, and that has given Slot’s men added confidence.

Spurs on the other hand will not give up easily, with boardroom whispers indicating that they are “working tirelessly” on a bid, as they look to leverage their prior talks to build rapport.

Tottenham Hotspur may have one ace up their sleeve as the race for Antoine Semenyo heats up ahead of the January window.

It emerged on Monday that a £65m release clause in Semenyo’s contract becomes active in January, and it is hard to imagine that clause not being activated by one of the big boys, given the winger’s form for Bournemouth this season.

Many Tottenham fans have urged the club to pay Semenyo’s release clause, and reports indicate that the Lilywhites may indeed be prepared to do that.

Some sources have suggested that signing a top-class winger is a top priority for Spurs in January, with the Bournemouth winger’s name thought to be near the top of their wishlist.

Mohammed Kudus may be Tottenham’s secret weapon in Antoine Semenyo pursuit

There is no doubt that Thomas Frank’s men will have a lot of competition for the Cherries star, who is allegedly on the radar of several big clubs.

It has been reported over recent days that Liverpool and Man City are ready to battle Spurs for Semenyo, while other outlets have also suggested that Man United are plotting a move for the Tottenham target.

However, the Lilywhites may have one ace up their sleeve as Mohammed Kudus is an international teammate of Semenyo with Ghana, and by the looks of it, the pair are also very close off the pitch.

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Here is a video of the Bournemouth man mocking the Spurs star on international duty in September after Andoni Iraola’s men won 1-0 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Spurs fans would hope that Kudus can convince his friend to join him at N17 rather than head to Anfield, Old Trafford or the Etihad Stadium.

What do Spurs have to do to land Semenyo?

It appears that the biggest threat to Tottenham in the race for the Bournemouth man is likely to come from Liverpool.

According to reports, Arne Slot’s men view Semenyo as a potential long-term heir to Mohammed Salah, and that is a proposition that the Cherries man may find difficult to turn down.

For Spurs to stand any chance of beating the likes of Liverpool to the 25-year-old, they would have to be in or around the top four by January and with one foot in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

A large number of Tottenham Hotspur players could be playing at next summer’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico if they are selected by their national sides for the tournament.

This international break saw the final round of European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, with the top team in each group earning a spot in the tournament and the teams in second place going into the playoffs.

Ahead of this round of fixtures, Tottenham’s Asian, African and South American contingent had already confirmed their places in the tournament, and they were joined by several of their European counterparts.

After the latest round of results, up to 17 Spurs players have seen their nations seal a spot in next year’s World Cup.

Below is the list of Tottenham stars who have qualified for the World Cup as per the club’s official website:

Korea Republic – Yang Min-Hyeok (two caps)

Japan – Kota Takai (four caps)

Argentina – Cristian Romero (45 caps)

Brazil – Richarlison (52 caps)

Uruguay – Rodrigo Bentancur (71 caps)

Ghana – Mohammed Kudus (46 caps)

Senegal – Pape Matar Sarr (37 caps)

England – Djed Spence (3 caps), James Maddison (7 caps), Dominic Solanke (3 caps)

France – Randal Kolo Muani (31 caps)

Croatia – Luka Vuskovic (two caps)

Portugal – Joao Palhinha (37 caps)

Netherlands – Xavi Simons (32 caps) and Micky van de Ven (17 caps)

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Austria – Kevin Danso (30 caps)

Spain – Pedro Porro (15 caps)

Despite being in previous England squads, James Maddison is almost certain to miss out on the World Cup squad as the Tottenham midfielder is not expected to be fit until next summer.

Four more Spurs stars could be at the World Cup

These players could be joined by the Welsh contingent: Ben Davies and Brennan Johnson, with the Dragons having secured a spot in the World Cup playoffs.

Additionally, Romania have also secured a spot in the playoffs via the Nations League route, which means that Radu Dragusin still has a shot of being at the World Cup.

One pundit has now questioned Xavi Simons’ starting role for both club and country, despite the midfielder scoring his first goal in over two months.

Xavi Simons is yet to find the back of the net in a Tottenham Hotspur shirt, but while on international duty with the Netherlands, he grabbed his side’s fourth with a well-taken finish.

Thomas Frank will be hoping that Simons carries that sharpness back to north London once the international break ends, as Spurs are set to face a big test in the Premier League.

Tottenham play Arsenal in the first north London derby of the season after the pause, and if Simons can deliver a strong performance, then Spurs’ chances of securing a victory will be improved.

Tottenham star Xavi Simons questioned over Netherlands start

Simons‘ poor form has not been limited to Tottenham, with the 22-year-old also struggling to impose himself with his national team.

Before his strike against Lithuania, the Spurs midfielder had found gametime hard to come by for his country, and he earned his first start since September in his latest outing.

After the tie, Anco Jansen questioned why the Tottenham midfielder was handed a starting role, insisting that Simons did not deserve it.

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He voiced his concern on ESPN’s Voetbalpraat, as relayed by FC Update, and made it clear that he felt the midfielder had not justified his selection.

“I was already surprised that Simons played,” Jansen said. “In my opinion: he did not deserve it in the Dutch national team, and he did not deserve it at Tottenham either.

“So, I found that quite striking, and then also ‘number ten’. We have often seen him in other positions in the Dutch national team. I thought he had a very weak first half; I thought he was quite a dissonant player, along with Memphis Depay.

“But that goal he scored was magnificent. That is where you saw the quality.”

Spurs and Netherlands searching for Xavi Simons best role

Finding the right position for Simons seems to be a challenge for both international and club managers.

Ronald Koeman has deployed Simons on the right and in the number ten role, while Frank has used the 22-year-old either centrally or on the left.

However, Karim El Ahmadi believes he knows the Dutchman’s best position, and he explained why the left-sided freedom suits Simons more.

“I think he is even better when he has the freedom to move to the left,” he said. Now Cody Gakpo is always there, so he cannot go there often.

“I think that is the biggest problem when Gakpo plays and Simons is in that position. Because I think Simons is good when he has a free role. Now he was in one position and could not get through in tight spaces.”

Tottenham Hotspur will travel to the Emirates Stadium this weekend in an important North London derby and four of the visitors’ players will need to be careful not to receive a booking.

Tottenham Hotspur have a difficult opening fixture after the international break. Thomas Frank may have found a way to get his team winning matches away from home, but Arsenal have only dropped two points at the Emirates all season.

To make matters worse, Spurs have a long list of injuries ahead of the North London derby, a theme that occurred last season and has shown no signs of going away.

Pape Matar Sarr is the latest Tottenham player to suffer an injury. The midfielder was representing Senegal during a 2-0 defeat to Brazil, but had to be removed after picking up an injury.

Four Tottenham players are a suspension risk in the Premier League

Injuries are the main reason Spurs are missing some key players, but there is also the risk of members of the Tottenham first-team squad getting suspended in upcoming fixtures.

The Standard report that club captain Cristian Romero is most at risk of a one-match ban, since he has picked up four yellow cards in the Premier League this season.

Mohammed Kudus, Joao Palhinha and Kevin Danso are not far behind, with each having three yellow cards up to this point in the league campaign. This means they cannot be suspended directly after the North London derby unless they are sent off.

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However, Spurs have a few tricky fixtures in December and will need as much manpower as possible to get some much needed results.

Spurs have already lost Cristian Romero this season

Romero does not have the best injury record and the centre-back has already been sidelined once this season.

This allowed Danso the chance to step up and he generally did a good job. Despite this, it is important that Romero does not miss a key fixture. Spurs will not want to be without him for their December clashes with Liverpool and Crystal Palace.