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Ange Postecoglou has opened up on one lingering regret from his time at Tottenham ahead of this weekend’s North London derby.

The 199th north London derby is set to take centre stage this weekend at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Spurs have come out on top 61 times, while Arsenal have claimed 85 victories.

However, this time around, both sides arrive in patchy form, but there is no denying that the red half of north London is in a far stronger position, sitting top of the Premier League table.

Spurs, by contrast, are 16th and just five points clear of 18th-placed West Ham United, having managed just two wins from their last 17 outings.

Ange Postecoglou wanted to win a North London Derby with Tottenham

Spurs are in desperate need of a spark, and having a new manager before this clash could well provide some much-needed bounce.

However, Igor Tudor is set to have his work cut out as Tottenham have yet to secure a competitive win in the Premier League against the Gunners since May 2022, a victory that came under Italian boss Antonio Conte.

Thomas Frank was well beaten in the reverse fixture 4-1, while Ange Postecoglou failed to get a result during his time in north London, with his best result being a draw.

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The former Tottenham manager, speaking on The Overlap, has now revealed his Arsenal regret during his time at Tottenham, admitting he wished he had secured a derby victory and explaining what the fixture means to supporters.

Postecoglou said: “It is probably my one regret that I did not win one. I would have loved to have another crack at it. I would have loved to have won it because I know what it would mean to the supporters.

“I thought there was a rivalry when you are inside it and this game will come at a pretty pivotal time for the club (Tottenham). If you are talking about something to spark, the north London derby that is more of a spark you are lighting a flame there.”

Igor Tudor can ignite Spurs season with statement win over Arsenal

Given the intense rivalry between the two sides, Postecoglou is right in his assessment that a victory here could well prove to be a big turning point for Tottenham.

New boss Tudor could also quickly make himself a cult hero in his first game in charge, should he mastermind a victory over the Gunners and add to their misery.

While Spurs might be down there in the league, many fans will no doubt find joy in putting a big dent in the title aspirations of their bitter rivals, who are desperate to bring an end to a 22-year wait for a Premier League title.

Tottenham head into this weekend’s clash well rested after a 12-day break, whereas their bitter rivals Arsenal have played three times in the space of ten days ahead of the fixture.

Xavi Simons has opened up on his mindset and his competitive nature as he looks to make his mark at Tottenham Hotspur after a difficult start.

The attacking midfielder has not had the easiest of introductions into life in the Premier League, having had to find his feet at a dysfunctional team which has been in crisis.

In fact, many had already written off Xavi as a flop at Tottenham after his first couple of months at the club, but the 22-year-old has not allowed the criticism to affect him.

We are now seeing the Dutchman really come to the fore and produce the kind of displays we saw from him at RB Leipzig, but he is far from satisfied and has grander ambitions.

Tottenham star Xavi Simons insists he pays no attention to detractors

This kind of pressure is not new for the midfielder, who was tipped to be a superstar from a young age and had the spotlight on him through his teen years at Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.

Xavi admitted that he had learned to ignore the negative comments very early on and revealed his determination to achieve what he had set out to.

The Spurs star told Goal.com: “Everyone knows how challenging social media can be. You have the positive things, but you have the negative things as well. I think I’ve handled it in the best possible way.

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“Nobody can say, ‘Xavi, you cannot do this’. I know what I can achieve and I know what I’m going to achieve. That’s important, and I have my family right behind me. They’re all I need.”

The attacking midfielder confessed that he is a family man, and it was special to have his loved ones with him when he signed for Spurs.

Speaking about his family, Xavi said: “They mean everything for me. It’s my life. Football is really important to me, but at the end, the most important thing in life is my family. Being there for me on a special day when I signed for Tottenham was really, really special. I’m really happy I can achieve my dreams together.”

Xavi idolises one Brazilian superstar he played with

The Netherlands international is never one to hide, even when things are not going against him, always wanting the ball and being ready for a battle, and he admits that he has had that competitive spirit from a young age.

“I was born like this,” he insists. “I have an older brother, and he was always the one winning against me when I was younger. That brought a bit of competitiveness to me.”

The Tottenham man confessed that he looks up to Brazilian superstar Neymar, with whom he had the opportunity to share a dressing room at PSG.

When asked what he likes about Neymar, Xavi responded: “Everything. He was the one who inspired me when I was young, he still inspires me. The way he expresses himself on and off the pitch, that’s something incredible.

“I know the real Neymar. People maybe only see the footballer, but the character and person he is off the pitch is an incredible guy, a family guy, a really warm guy.

“I remember being at home and saying to my mum, ‘I need to play with this guy one day’. He’s my idol, I wanted to achieve that. I worked hard and achieved that. Being with him every day, seeing how he is, how he does things, for me was really special. He’s the one who inspired me the most and the one that has helped me most in my football career.”

Tottenham Hotspur fans will be happy with the decision that the club have made regarding season ticket prices for next season.

Tottenham have had one of the highest season ticket prices across the Premier League for several years, even though the football hasn’t always lived up to it.

That is part of the reason there has been a disconnect among the fans and the Tottenham hierarchy over recent years, with some supporters perhaps feeling that the quality of the football on offer does not match the premium they are paying for it.

That is certainly the case this season, with Spurs currently finding themselves in the midst of a relegation battle.

Tottenham freeze season ticket prices for the 2026-27 season

The Athletic have now revealed that Spurs have frozen their season-ticket prices for next season after discussions with various fan groups.

The club held talks with the Fan Advisory Board and the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust (THST) regarding the matter before arriving at the decision not to raise prices.

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While Tottenham did not raise the price of season tickets this season either, they did controversially remove concessions for new senior season ticket holders.

The North London club increased season-ticket prices by six per cent for the 2024-25 season, and as things stand, the lowest-priced adult season ticket at the club is priced at £856.

THST left frustrated after recent meeting with the club

While Tottenham may have listened to the supporters group regarding season ticket prices, the supporters’ trust expressed their discontent regarding another of the club’s recent actions.

THST accused the Spurs of leaving out key discussion points from their recent meeting after the club published the minutes of the meeting, which was held earlier this month.

Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a boost ahead of the North London derby as a senior Arsenal man is now a doubt for the clash.

Spurs have pressed the reset button by sacking Thomas Frank and appointing Igor Tudor until the end of the season.

The Croat faces an extremely difficult challenge first up against the league leaders, with the Lilywhites having a woeful recent record against their North London rivals.

Tottenham were brushed aside 4-1 in the reverse fixture at the Emirates in November, but one man who scored for the Gunners that evening may not take the field on Sunday.

Arsenal could be without Leandro Trossard for Tottenham clash

The Gunners were held to a 2-2 draw away at Wolves on Wednesday, with the result coming as a huge blow to their title ambitions.

To make matters worse, Leandro Trossard, who replaced Bukayo Saka on the 73rd minute after the England international limped off, was himself forced off with an injury.

The former Brighton man came off worse after a collision with Wolves defender Santiago Bueno and was unable to continue despite receiving treatment.

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The Standard reveals that while Saka is expected to be fit for the big derby clash, there are doubts over whether Trossard will make the trip to N17.

Spurs may receive injury boost ahead of derby clash

Richarlison has been spotted training with his Tottenham teammates this week after missing the last six weeks of action.

The Spurs striker was initially expected to be out until March, but seeing him in training has given supporters hope that he may make a surprise early return.

However, Tottenham could be without 11 other first-team players against Arsenal.

Igor Tudor might be managing in the Premier League for the first time in his career, but adapting to life at Tottenham could be far easier with a few familiar faces he has previously worked with.

One of Igor Tudor’s aims as Tottenham Hotspur manager will be to infuse some much-needed belief into a Tottenham side devoid of confidence.

This is not entirely new to the Croatian, who has had to do similar during his spells at Juventus, Lazio and Udinese in recent years.

Spurs are in a relegation scrap, and there is an argument to be made that they are better off than where they are in the league table, and it is Tudor’s job to help pull them out of this mess in the final stretch of the season.

Tottenham players Igor Tudor previously worked with

The new Tottenham manager has a few familiar faces he can turn to as he has come in with his own coaching staff, as they aim to turn things around.

But it is not just members of his backroom staff that represent familiar faces, with Tudor having already worked with four current Tottenham players at different stages of his managerial career.

During his time at Juventus, when he was assistant head coach to Andrea Pirlo, Tudor had the opportunity to work with both Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski, who are currently out injured.

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He also worked with Radu Dragusin, who was promoted from the club’s U23 setup to train with the senior side and went on to make a handful of first-team appearances across domestic and European competitions that season.

Cristian Romero could also be counted, with the defender briefly around the Juventus setup during the same period before departing back on loan to Genoa.

Tudor obviously also worked with Randal Kolo Muani during his stint as Juventus manager, and the on-loan Spurs striker hit some good form under the Croat.

Spurs injury blows limit Igor Tudor reunion

For his first match in charge against Arsenal, Igor Tudor will not be able to call on three of these familiar faces as injuries have both Rodrigo Bentancur and Dejan Kulusevski sidelined, while Cristian Romero is suspended.

Radu Dragusin, however, is available for selection against the Gunners and could well be a part of Tudor’s back three should the 47-year-old line up in his preferred 3-4-2-1 formation.

But even if these players cannot help on the pitch at the moment, their presence in the dressing room will be a big boost to the manager and his players.

The Arsenal fans who made the trip to the Molineux Stadium on Wednesday decided to mock Tottenham and their opponents, but it was Wolves who had the last laugh.

The North London derby on Sunday is not only crucial because of the bragging rights for the two sets of fans, but also due to the importance of the points for the two clubs.

The Gunners are in a title race and cannot afford to drop points, while Spurs are desperately trying to pull themselves out of a relegation battle.

During their game against Wolves on Wednesday, the Arsenal fans decided to remind their fierce rivals of their current predicament.

Arsenal fans sing about Tottenham being relegated

Wolves produced a dramatic comeback on Wednesday to salvage a point after finding themselves 2-0 down with an hour played.

It was a bitter blow to Arsenal’s title hopes as it means that Man City are now just five points away from them with a game in hand.

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Just before the home side’s dramatic comeback, the travelling Arsenal fans at the Molineux Stadium broke into chants of ‘You’re going down with Tottenham’, according to BBC Sport.

The bottom-placed club had the last laugh with Tom Edozie scoring a stoppage-time equaliser, which left the Gunners fans and players demoralised.

Spurs can take hope from Arsenal’s result against Wolves

The fact that Wolves managed to fight back from two goals down to secure a draw demonstrates a mental fragility with this Arsenal side and shows Tottenham that Mikel Arteta’s side are far from invincible.

Given the managerial change at Spurs, one would expect there to be renewed energy among the players and the fans, and there is no doubt that it will be a fantastic atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Additionally, Leandro Trossard is now a doubt for the North London derby after being forced off with an injury against Wolves.

Fresh insight has emerged regarding Micky Van de Ven’s arrival at Tottenham Hotspur, with Ange Postecoglou opening up on what the Dutchman’s Dad told him.

Tottenham Hotspur fans will always remember Ange Postecoglou’s time in the Spurs dugout fondly as he was the manager who brought an end to the club’s long run without a trophy.

That, in itself, was not enough to keep him in the Tottenham dugout, with results in the Premier League stated as the reason for his sacking.

The former Spurs boss, however, continues to resonate with Tottenham fans. His recent comments about the behind-the-scenes happenings at Spurs struck a chord with fans following the sacking of Thomas Frank.

Ange Postecoglou reveals Micky van de Ven had Liverpool interest

Ange Postecoglou once again returned to The Overlap to speak about his time at Tottenham and his managerial career as a whole.

The Australian spoke about several topics, including Cristian Romero’s leadership and how Van de Ven was signed, revealing details about rival interest and conversations with the defender’s family at the time of the transfer.

Speaking to The Overlap about Micky Van de Ven’s qualities, upbringing and the interest from Liverpool, Postecoglou said: “He [Micky Van de Ven] is top, he can be as good as he was. You watch him at the World Cup, I reckon they will play him left-back and he will be unbelievable once he gets going.

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“He is technically good. His ability to cover ground, though, is just phenomenal, mate. You would set him up, a lot of teams like to go man for man now. You would set him up against any striker in the world without any fear that he would get outmuscled and definitely not outrun.

“He has got a top mentality too. I remember when we signed him, because I think Liverpool were in for him at the time as well, and I met his dad.

“I mean, he is not talking out of turn, right? But, like, he was like Secret Service. I remember him saying to me, he goes, ‘Listen, he has got options, but he is coming here to play, you had better play him’.

“So he has had a really good upbringing and he is not going to get carried away. He works hard on his game, and he is aware.”

Postecoglou added on Micky Van de Ven: “He is top mate, he could be as good as anything in terms of you think about the modern game and the physical characteristics are obviously important.

“He has improved his heading, I still think that is an area where aerially he can get stronger, because he is a big lad there. Sometimes his timing is not great, but the rest of his game, very coachable, very coachable.”

Tottenham face transfer risk this summer

While Tottenham pipped Liverpool to Micky van de Ven three summers ago, there is a risk that they could well lose their pacy centre-back this summer.

This is because van de Ven is attracting interest from several clubs across Europe, including Liverpool, whose interest in him has rekindled, as they view him as the long-term heir to Virgil van Dijk.

Ange Postecoglou says that Tottenham Hotspur would have not have won the Europa League if not for one much-maligned player.

Tottenham find themselves in a serious mess at the moment, which the club have tasked Igor Tudor with solving.

The decision to replace Ange Postecoglou with Thomas Frank last summer misfired badly for the club, with the Dane lasting just eight months in the job and leaving the Lilywhites just five points off the drop zone.

Some have suggested that Frank was let down by one senior Tottenham man over recent weeks, but Postecoglou has now suggested that the same player was primarily responsible for the club’s Europa League triumph.

Ange Postecoglou says Tottenham players ‘fear’ Cristian Romero

Cristian Romero has been blasted for his recent antics, with some accusing him of thinking he is bigger than Tottenham.

However, Postecoglou has now defended the Spurs captain, labelling him a ‘winner’ and explaining that he is feared and respected by his teammates.

When asked about Romero, the former Tottenham head coach said on The Overlap: “I love him. He plays on the edge, but, mate, he’d scare people at training, and I love the way he talks. I mean, would you rather have Roy [Keane] in your team or against you?

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“We would never win that final without Romero. Kickoff is about to happen, and he’s taken our team into Man United’s half for the huddle, because our supporters are down that end. He’s not scared of anything, mate. He’s a winner, and I love winners.

“Now, does he cross the line? Yeah, he does. He crossed the line of training sometimes, and the coaches go, ‘oh, you know? well, you go tell him, I’m not telling him,’ but you need that mentality in a group. Now, how you control it? You need to harness that.”

When Gary Neville asked if the Spurs players liked the defender, the Australian responded: “They fear him. You’ve got to remember his whole existence is not just Tottenham, he’s also an Argentinian international. He’s won a World Cup, and he’s mixing with players.

“I think part of his frustration, his outburst about the club is that he’s mixing with a [Bruno] Fernandez or Martinez, and he’s saying, ‘well, how come they’re signing players to win, and we’re not?. Why I want to win.”

Postecoglou’s admission shows Romero’s importance to Spurs

Romero has come in for plenty of criticism for his lack of discipline, with many pundits suggesting that the Argentine is a liability.

In fact, there have been repeated calls for Spurs to strip the Argentine of the captaincy and to drop him from the side.

However, Postecoglou’s admission about the 27-year-old and the respect he receives in the Spurs dressing room is another reminder of just how important a figure the centre-back is to this team.

Tottenham and Arsenal go head to head this weekend in what feels like a one-sided fixture at this point, but there is one area in which the scores are level: red cards.

With Arsenal going for the title and Spurs looking to avoid relegation, it would seem fairly obvious that the Gunners will come away with a win in the North London Derby this weekend.

However, anything can happen in these games. Igor Tudor has his plan to get the better of Arsenal, and the players would love nothing more than to derail their rivals’ title charge.

One thing they’ll have to do, though, is keep cool heads – unlike the following 16 players who have been sent off in the North London Derby previously during the Premier League era.

Tottenham players sent off in North London Derby

Emerson Royal – 2022

A topsy-turvy game at the Emirates was delicately poised on the hour mark. Thomas Partey had given the Gunners the lead, before Harry Kane levelled from the spot. Gabriel Jesus pushed Arsenal back in front after 49 minutes and then Emerson Royal saw red on 62 minutes for a rash and reckless challenge. Five minutes later, Arsenal extended their lead through Granit Xhaka and Spurs had no hope of getting back in the game.

Erik Lamela – 2021

Thankfully, Erik Lamela will mostly be remembered for his Puskas-winning Rabona goal against Arsenal in this fixture. However, the fiery Argentinian was also shown a red card that spoiled the day a little bit. The Gunners were already winning 2-1 by that point, and held onto their lead until the death.

Jan Vertonghen – 2018

Tottenham were well and truly battered by Arsenal at the start of December in 2018, coming out on the wrong end of a 4-2 scoreline. Despite falling behind after ten minutes, Spurs did go in at half-time ahead thanks to goals from Eric Dier and Harry Kane. However, a second-half collapse included three goals for Arsenal and two yellow cards for Jan Vertonghen.

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Emmanuel Adebayor – 2012

We’re going back more than a decade here, but it was still a torrid day out away from home for Spurs, with Arsenal winning 5-2 here. Emmanuel Adebayor had given Tottenham the lead after just ten minutes, but he saw red against his former side just eight minutes later.

Scott Parker – 2012

Incredibly, Tottenham lost 5-2 to Arsenal twice in 2012. Again, Spurs had the lead early on thanks to a Louis Saha goal. Adebayor doubled the advantage just after the half-hour mark, but everything fell apart from there. Two quickfire Arsenal goals levelled the score before half-time. By the 68th minute, Arsenal were 5-2 up, and then Scott Parker got sent off with just minutes to go to compound a miserable afternoon.

Edgar Davids – 2006

Spurs played out a 1-1 draw away at Arsenal 20 years ago, but it could have all been a lot better. Robbie Keane had given the Lilywhites the lead after 66 minutes, but a disastrous final ten saw Edgar Davids sent off and Thierry Henry level the scores for Arsenal.

Simon Davies – 2002

Tottenham were comfortably beaten 3-0 at Highbury back in 2002, with goals from Thierry Henry, Freddie Ljungberg, and Sylvain Wiltord doing the damage. Simon Davies didn’t help matters, though, picking up two yellow cards and getting his marching orders.

Justin Edinburgh – 1997

A pretty dull 0-0 draw was played out between the two teams way back in 1997. In fact, the most interesting thing to happen was two bookings for the late Justin Edinburgh. That happened for two silly challenges at the end of the first-half, but Spurs held on for a point.

Arsenal players sent off vs Spurs

It’s not just Spurs players who see red in this fixture, though. There have been just as many Arsenal players sent off in North London Derbies during the Premier League era.

Rob Holding – 2022

Rob Holding was sent off during a comfortable 3-0 win for Spurs. That win helped Antonio Conte’s men clinch Champions League qualification, and we may have to thank Holding for that one. He was sent off after just 33 minutes, with Tottenham only a goal up at that point.

Lucas Torreira – 2019

A 1-1 draw back in 2019 was actually not impacted by this red card at all. Harry Kane had cancelled out Aaron Ramsey’s early goal, and then Torreira was sent off in the fifth minute of injury time, with the game already just about done.

Francis Coquelin – 2016

However, it’s safe to say this red card changed the complexion of the tie. Spurs were losing 1-0 here, but when Francis Coquelin was sent off, Tottenham saw their way back into the game. A quickfire double, with goals from Toby Alderweireld and Harry Kane gave Spurs the lead, but Alexis Sanchez levelled up with 15 minutes to go.

Emmanuel Eboue – 2009

Arsenal certainly do seem to survive these red cards a lot more than Spurs do. This game ended 0-0 despite Eboue’s sending off, despite the fact that he was sent off after 37 minutes. How Tottenham weren’t able to capitalise on that, especially at home, is anyone’s guess.

Gilles Grimandi – 2000

Arsenal actually won this game 2-1, although to be fair, they were already in front by the time Gilles Grimandi saw red in the 85th minute. Chris Armstrong opened the scoring for Arsenal with an own goal, but then scored at the right end to level things up. However, a Thierry Henry penalty on the stroke of half-time was enough to secure three points for the Gunners.

Martin Keown – 1999

It would seem Tottenham need TWO Arsenal red cards before they can truly take advantage and get a win. Martin Keown was sent off in the 90th minute at White Hart Lane here, while goals from Steffen Iversen and Tim Sherwood were enough to seal a 2-1 win for Tottenham.

Freddie Ljungberg – 1999

Patrick Vieira had given Arsenal a glimmer of hope in that game with a goal in the 39th minute. The Gunners probably came out in the second half eager to take the game to Spurs, but Freddie Ljungberg ruined it all by getting sent off less than ten minutes after the interval.

Stefan Schwarz – 1995

Tottenham have now discovered the referee set to take charge of this weekend’s north London derby clash with Arsenal.

After 12 days of no footballing action, Tottenham Hotspur are finally set to take to the pitch this weekend on 22 February.

A clash against their bitter rivals Arsenal is next on the list for Spurs, who are desperate to turn their disappointing season around, which has them in 16th place on the Premier League table and five points off the relegation zone.

New interim manager Igor Tudor will be hoping work on the training ground so far this week will be enough to spur his side on against the league leaders.

Tottenham learn Peter Bankes appointment for Arsenal North London derby

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will no doubt be rocking as fans aim to bring a fresh atmosphere following the departure of the not-too-popular Thomas Frank.

While they will be hoping for a new-manager bounce, an eye will also be on the match official for what is the biggest game this weekend.

The Premier League has now confirmed that referee Peter Bankes will take charge of this weekend’s north London derby.

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His assistants will be Eddie Smart and Blake Antrobus, while the fourth official will be Sam Barrott. VAR duties will be handled by Darren England, assisted by Tim Wood.

Spurs record under Peter Bankes offers reason for optimism

Tottenham Hotspur have an average record in games officiated by Peter Bankes and the Lilywhites fans have another reason to be pessimistic.

But Arsenal’s record is even better, with the Gunners winning nine of the 13 matches Peter Bankes has taken charge of, with only three ending in defeats.

Spurs have won seven of the 16 games under the referee, drawn four and lost five. He has also never sent off a Tottenham player when officiating one of their matches.