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Mikel Arteta's Arsenal need to bounce back with a win in the north London derby

Arsenal find themselves at a pivotal juncture in their season, one which will ultimately determine whether it is deemed a success or a bitter disappointment.

Mikel Arteta's men are coming off the back of two disappointing draws in the Premier League that have thrown the title race wide open. Despite taking the lead, they were held to a 1-1 draw at Brentford before blowing a two-goal lead against Wolves earlier this week and settling for a 2-2 draw against the bottom-of-the-table side.

The Gunners now hold a narrow lead in the Premier League title race, with Manchester City breathing down their necks. However, Arsenal have the perfect chance to respond with a huge victory over rivals Tottenham in Sunday afternoon's north London derby, which could provide the momentum they desperately need.

football.london now examines two of the most recent developments involving the Gunners.

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Saka's dressing room comments

Declan Rice has revealed how Bukayo Saka educated him on the significance of the north London derby upon his arrival at Arsenal nearly three years ago. With their title pursuit hanging in the balance, the Gunners will undoubtedly feel extra pressure when they travel to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.

Yet, the players understand the importance of a derby victory, even without the context of a title race. This stems largely from dressing room figures like vice-captain Saka, who came through the club’s youth system with an ingrained rivalry towards their N17 neighbours and have ensured newer players understand that losing to Spurs is simply not an option.

Rice, who experienced similarly intense derbies against Tottenham during his West Ham days, revealed to The Sun: "I remember Saka saying: ‘You can’t lose derbies here to Spurs’. For the fanbase, everyone, the players, the staff, that’s the game you can’t lose."

He went on to say: "The north London derby is always special. I've been able to play in a few of them now and understand the rivalry, understand who you're playing against and what it means.

"Sunday isn't just going to be about football, it's going to be about how much you want it as well. You're going away to Spurs, they have a new manager, they've had loads of injuries but it's going to be a game both of us are going to want to win. But that day, it's all in your mind, ‘How much do you really want it?’ You've got to fight for it and trust me, I want it."

Eze's 'not easy' confession

Eberechi Eze has spoken about the physical and mental pressures of representing a club of Arsenal's stature. The England international completed a dream transfer to his boyhood club last summer from Crystal Palace.

Eze has found it challenging to recapture the impressive displays that led to his return to north London this season, although he'll take confidence from netting a hat-trick against Tottenham in the derby earlier in the season.

Speaking to the official Arsenal website, the midfielder opened up on his mentality, explaining: "Nervous? I'd say I get nervous, yes. But nervous in the sense that I probably see nerves in a different way. I see nerves as my body preparing me for the moment that's coming.

"That's a natural thing that happens because you want to do well, you want to perform, you want to help the team, you want to win. I think that's just part of elite sports and I love that feeling. I love going onto the pitch and thinking ‘OK, this is the moment.’ This is what football is about. That's what makes it special."

He went on to speak about the physical demand of playing intense fixtures every few days, adding: "Yes, 100 per cent. It's not easy at all. You talk about the physical side, but the mental side is probably the more difficult part. Staying on it, staying prepared, staying locked in for a full season, when every game matters. It's not easy, but if you want to win, if you want to achieve stuff, this is the sacrifice and this is the cost. It’s what we've all bought into."

Tottenham look for revenge in the North London Derby as Igor Tudor takes charge of his first game against an Arsenal side reeling from their title race wobble at Wolves

The latest North London Derby arrives on Sunday afternoon with Arsenal and Tottenham in very different predicaments. Despite a recent blip, Mikel Arteta's side are favourites for the Premier League title while Spurs are just a few points off the relegation zone.

The latter's situation forced a decision to be made at the helm with Thomas Frank sacked and replaced by Igor Tudor as interim head coach until the end of the season. The Italian spoke to the press for the first time on Friday and was brutally honest on the task at hand.

The Gunners meanwhile, have played twice since Spurs' defeat at home to Newcastle but they failed to increase the gap to Manchester City following draws to Brentford and Wolves. Their most recent stalemate was a worrying collapse at the Premier League's bottom side with concerns increasing that

Overall form and squad quality places Arsenal as firm favourites over Spurs, but this is a derby and anything can happen. With that being said, football.london's writers have made their predictions for the huge clash that impacts both ends of the table.

Kieran Horn

A managerial change and Arsenal's recent setbacks means the North London Derby could not have arguably come at a better time for Tottenham.

On paper, the Gunners are far superior and undoubtedly have the best defence in the league but it has shown fragility and in front of what is likely to be a red-hot atmosphere, I expect Spurs to score.

The desperation for three points suggests an open and chaotic encounter with the phrase 'can't lose the derby' changing to 'must win the derby'.

I'm going for a repeat of Arsenal's last result with the hosts coming from a goal down to go in front before having a player sent off in the second half that allows Arteta's side to snatch a point.

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Luke Thrower

A week ago, I feel as though it would've been quite clear how this game will end up. However, it feels like the entire dynamic of the match has been turned on its head and the wider context of the encounter only ramps up the importance of a fixture that already has bragging rights on the line.

Tottenham could spring a few surprises with Igor Tudor in the dugout, in what may be viewed as a free hit for a first match in charge. The main concern I have for him is whether the players at his disposal will be capable of playing the way he wants, which usually involves a back three.

For Arsenal, their poor Premier League form means they need a real shot in the arm, and this could be just the fixture for it. That will require them standing up and taking the game by the scruff of the neck, viewing it less as their title to lose and seeing it more as theirs to win instead.

With how feisty a North London Derby can get, and with high stakes for both teams, I think we could be in store for another classic. But I think Arsenal should have just too much where it really counts, and their quality in both boxes should eventually shine through, with Bukayo Saka primed to make an impact off the back of penning his massive new Arsenal contract this week - so I'm going for a slim 1-0 win to the visitors.

Spurs 0-1 Arsenal

Matty Hewitt

Despite Arsenal's recent draws with Wolves and Brentford, I'm still backing the Gunners to have come away with all three points from the North London Derby. Spurs will be hoping for a new manager bounce under Igor Tudor, but I think Mikel Arteta's men will response to their recent poor performances with a strong display on the road.

The Gunners may have injury problems, but it's nowhere near the size of Tottenham's and Spurs have struggled at home in the Premier League.

It's made for a strange atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this season, with the LilyWhites winning just twice in the top flight.

I'm not expecting Tudor to work miracles in such a short period of time, and Arteta's men should show their title prowess on Sunday.

Spurs 1-2 Arsenal

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Amie Wilson

If you’d have asked me for my prediction to this game just a few weeks ago, you would have got a clear and confident answer, but a lot can change in just a few days in football.

Spurs will be looking for the new manager bounce following the appointment of Igor Tudor as interim manager, while Arsenal’s title hopes were handed a body blow midweek with Wolves’ late equaliser.

While I do rate Arsenal as a better team than Tottenham on performances this season, a derby does seem to equal things out. In a way, I think it will be better for the Gunners that the game is being played away from home, and any nervous energy that could be around the Emirates Stadium.

Despite the last week, I’m still backing Arsenal to come out on top. I think now is the time for the team to step up and show that they are capable of winning the title, and what better way to do that than by winning the North London Derby.

I don’t think the score will be as emphatic as November’s 4-1 win, but I’m going to back the Gunners to come out as 2-1 winners.

Spurs 1-2 Arsenal

Bruna Reis

Football is a funny old game, isn't it? A few weeks ago, predicting the outcome of the North London Derby would have been straight forward, given Arsenal's strong form and Spurs' downward slide.

But things look very different now after the Gunners' recent results and the arrival of Igor Tudor as Spurs' new interim head coach. We all know the impact a new manager bounce can have, and that could well come into play on Sunday.

Spurs will head into the game feeling confident and eager to show their new manager what they're capable of, while Arsenal's confidence has taken a hit in recent matches - especially after that late equaliser at Wolves on Wednesday.

I'm still backing Arsenal to win the Premier League, but there will be some nervousness among fans and players if things don't start well for them.

They desperately need a win here, and they must do whatever it takes to come away with three points, because Manchester City won't mess about. A draw or defeat could potentially spell the end of their title bid.

With all that in mind, I'm predicting a narrow 1-0 Arsenal win.

Declan Rice hasn't lost to Tottenham Hotspur since joining Arsenal from West Ham in July 2023

Declan Rice has revealed what Bukayo Saka first told him about the North London Derby, and it speaks volumes about the mentality at Arsenal. Since joining the Gunners from West Ham in a deal worth over £100milion back in the summer of 2023, the 27-year-old midfielder has relished the big occasion.

Rice had struggled to overcome Tottenham Hotspur during his time at the Hammers, winning just three of the 11 meetings in the Premier League. He had also only beaten the Lilywhites once in the first of three tries in the Carabao Cup.

But since swapping the London Stadium for the Emirates Stadium, the England international has had much more success. During his time at Arsenal, Rice has faced Spurs four times, winning three and drawing one.

While the midfielder will be keen to get another victory under his belt, Saka would seemingly settle for a draw if push came to shove. Shortly after joining the Gunners, the Hale End graduate gave Rice a short and sharp message.

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Speaking to The Sun, Rice recalled: "I remember Saka saying: ‘You can’t lose derbies here to Spurs’. For the fan base, everyone, the players, the staff – that’s the game you can’t lose."

While Arsenal certainly can't afford to lose against Tottenham with Manchester City in their rear-view mirror, a win would – and has always been – far more valuable. The winger's comment perhaps speaks volumes about the mentality under Mikel Arteta: the Gunners would rather draw than do whatever it takes to bank three points.

Such a mentality has already proven costly. Under the Spaniard, Arsenal have finished second in the Premier League three years in a row, with their only major piece of silverware being the FA Cup in an empty Wembley Stadium during Covid in 2020.

Manchester City capitalised on the Gunners' conservative approach during the 2023/24 campaign when they won the Premier League title by just two points. After lifting the trophy for a fourth season in a row, Rodri recalled Arsenal's particularly poignant visit to the Etihad Stadium which ended goalless.

During an interview with Optus Sport, the midfielder was asked how his side continue to achieve such success. As quoted by Sky Sports, pointing to his head, Rodri said: "To be honest, I think it's in here.

"It's the mentality. Arsenal, also they deserve [to win the league], they did an unbelievable season, but I think the difference was in here [pointing to his head again].

"When they came here, they faced us at the Etihad, I saw them and said: 'Ah, these guys, they don't want to beat us, they just want a draw.' And that mentality, I don't think we would do it the same way.

"And we caught them. At the end, if you give us one point, we will win the last seven, eight games even though it's so tough. So I think it comes down to mentality."

Micky van de Ven has urged senior figures in the Tottenham Hotspur squad to step up

Micky van de Ven has named three players who can help Tottenham Hotspur climb the Premier League. The Lilywhites have been dragged into a relegation battle after a disastrous start to the year.

Spurs have failed to win each of their last eight games in the English top flight, falling to 16th in the table. Igor Tudor, who was appointed interim head coach earlier this week, has been tasked with guiding Tottenham to safety.

In an interview with Sky Sports ahead of the North London Derby, Van de Ven commented on the Lilywhites' disappointing campaign. The defender said: "Last season, I didn't play it when we were in this tough position.

"It's different when you're standing on the pitch; you suffer more. I would maybe say, on the other side, you suffer as well when you're injured, because you can't help the team.

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"But still, the situation we're in now is really tough, and we just need to make sure that we get some points, and just make sure we look up the table a little bit more."

Van de Ven continued: "If you are a club like Tottenham Hotspur, you have this quality of place (training ground), and you are, what I say, as big as the most, it's unacceptable that you're standing at this place on the table, and the results need to be way, way better.

"It's fair that [the fans] are disappointed, but they need to know, as well, that we keep working every day and day out to do everything about changing this around, because even for us, the vibes in the dress room, the vibes after the games, if we lose, the meetings, it's tough. It's really tough. So we do everything to turn things around."

On whether the leaders in the squad need to step up during an injury crisis, the Netherlands international said: "Of course, we still have some quality players left.

"We have a really talented squad and some top players, but we also miss some key players for us, and it's really important for the players who are fit right now to step up."

On who those players could be, Van de Ven said: "You have some young players, obviously, in the group, and you can't really ask them to be the guys that need to push us forward.

"So, then, normally, I have Cuti next to me, who is now unfortunately suspended, but you have [Guglielmo] Vic behind me, who has a lot of experience, Joao Palhinha, in the midfield, who has a lot of experience, [Dominic] Solanke, who has a lot of experience.

"So you have some experience in the group, and then you just need to make sure that all the young guys speak out – just get everyone together. And I think that's now most important, especially with the injuries we have."

On the key to turning things around, Van de Ven said: "Getting points. That's the most important, I think, right now. Even if you don't play the best game, it's just important you, at the end of the whistle from the referee, that you're standing there with the three points, and I think that, at this point, is most important."

The North London Derby will have a huge impact on both the Premier League title race and relegation battle this season, with Arsenal and Tottenham both in need of points

Alan Shearer and Harry Redknapp disagree with their predictions for this Sunday's North London Derby, as both Arsenal and Tottenham eye a crucial win for their Premier League campaigns.

Spurs play host in their first match under interim head coach Igor Tudor, following the sacking of Thomas Frank earlier this month. The home fans will be hoping that the time between games and the change of management will help turn their fortunes around, with relegation from the Premier League a real possibility.

It will be a tough task, with Arsenal sitting top of the table, but they have faced their own struggles in recent weeks, which adds some extra jeopardy to the game. Mikel Arteta's side threw away a two-goal lead against Wolves in dramatic fashion in midweek, leaving the door ajar for Manchester City in the title race.

That all contributes to a North London Derby where bragging rights are front and centre, along with Premier League ambitions for both. For Harry Redknapp, there is a distinct possibility that Tottenham could cause an upset and land an important point in their survival battle.

The former Spurs boss said with his prediction: "The big one, and a very hard game to predict it. Let’s be honest, who knows what to expect from Spurs.

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"I like Thomas Frank, but the performances of late have been really poor and they probably needed a change. Tudor’s come in and he’s got a decent reputation in Italy, but how will he get on at Spurs? Only time will tell. Talk about an early test for him, though!

"As for Arsenal, who knows what to expect? I cannot believe they blew that game against Wolves, that’s just so unlike them and boy, has that put pressure on this game. Are those Arsenal lads beginning to feel the pressure?"

"That Spurs crowd should lift the players and make this a closer game that some might expect. I can see a nervy, entertaining draw," he added, predicting a 2-2 draw between the two teams.

Shearer disagrees, believing it'll be a win for Arsenal, but claiming that anything other than all three points will be a disaster for Arteta's side. He said: "Arsenal have to win the game.

"I mean, it's pretty simple. It would be a disaster if they didn't, and they're not in great form, losing a 2-0 lead in the way they did against Wolves, they go into it under huge pressure. It might even be more if City beat Newcastle on Saturday night.

"But Spurs give me no confidence, even with the new manager bounce, that they would hope that they're going to get, so I'm going to say an Arsenal away win."

As it stands, Opta Analyst still give Arsenal a 79.54% chance of winning the Premier League, regardless of their recent struggles in form. Tottenham, comparatively, are given just a 3.81% chance of relegation, with a lot needed to turn things around to put them in the bottom three.

It remains to be seen what the outcome of the North London Derby will be and how that will impact both ends of the table. But it sets up an interesting tie nonetheless.

Ange Postecoglou has been sent a message by a former Tottenham Hotspur star after his recent comments about the club

Former Tottenham Hotspur star Rafael Van der Vaart has explained why he disagrees with Ange Postecoglou’s ‘big club’ claim about the club. Postecoglou recently appeared on the Stick to Football podcast, where he spoke about his time in north London.

Spurs parted company with Postecoglou last summer, just after the club had won the Europa League. Thomas Frank went on to replace Postecoglou before going on to leave the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and has been replaced by Igor Tudor.

As part of his appearance on the Stick to Football podcast, Postecoglou has explained why he believes Tottenham are not a “big club”, based on the two years he spent as the club’s manager.

Postecoglou said: "I still felt like, you know, Tottenham as a club was saying, 'We're one of the big boys.'

"And the reality is, I don't think they are in terms of my experience over those last two years, of how they act. And you know, when Arsenal need players, they'll spend a hundred million on Declan Rice. I don't see Tottenham doing that."

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He added: "It's a real curiosity in terms of understanding what are they trying to build? Obviously, they've built an unbelievable stadium, unbelievable training facilities. But when you look at the expenditure, particularly, you know, their wages structure, they're not a big club. I saw that because when we were trying to sign players, we weren't in the market for those players.

"Not a big club in terms of the wages that they pay. You know, I was looking at Pedro Neto and [Bryan] Mbeumo and [Antoine] Semenyo at the time, Marc Guehi, because I said; 'If we're going to go from fifth to there, that's what other big clubs would do in that moment.'"

Van der Vaart, who made 77 appearances across a two-year spell at Tottenham during his playing career, disagrees with Postecoglou’s remarks.

“I think in general that the spending on transfers and wages is crazy in modern football, especially for players who I think are average,” Van de Vaart told Sky Bet.

“So, Ange suggesting that Tottenham should pay and spend more money, I totally disagree because you cannot spend crazy money on a player who won’t make you a considerably better team.

“Everybody liked Tottenham - White Hart Lane, they had good players, spent money but nothing crazy, and this is the DNA of Spurs, and they need to get this back and build something for the future. They need stability and then in a few years they can maybe win something. You can’t just bring in a manager, spend £200m and win the Premier League – it doesn’t work like that.

“Of course, Spurs are a big club – look at the stadium, the history, and a lot of big players still want to play for Tottenham. I’m romantic about football, when I came to White Hart Lane it was like a family and the old training ground was great, but now everything is new and the soul of the club I hope is still there – you can never forget this as it’s the most important thing.

“When I was at Tottenham, we were together with the fans, and it was always one team but now you can feel the irritation everywhere.”

Van der Vaart has also given his opinion on Tottenham appointing Tudor as their new manager until the end of the season.

Spurs will face Arsenal in the North London Derby on Sunday in what will be Tudor’s first match in charge, and Van der Vaart has explained what he wants to see from the team under the new management.

“Honestly, I don’t know much about Igor Tudor, I knew him a little bit as a player, but as a coach, he’s not had the biggest success from what I understand,” Van de Vaart said.

“We must give him a chance and let’s see what he can do. Of course, I hope he will do well, but you never have any guarantees.

“The most important thing as a coach is to get the players to fight for you. He has to be a likeable guy but also needs quality and to show his training skills.

“For me, the most important thing is not to say that ‘We’re going to win this or this.’ Tottenham is not a club with so many titles, but the pressure is always there to play nice football and to enjoy the game.

“From my experience, our fans normally would prefer a 4-4 draw over an ugly 1-0 win in a Carabao Cup game – this mentality I hope is coming back under Igor Tudor.”

Thomas Frank could be set for a swift return to Premier League management in the coming weeks, which may see him make a return to Tottenham with the current fixture list

Former Tottenham boss Thomas Frank is among the favourites to take over at Crystal Palace - which would see him reunite with Spurs in the not so distant future.

The 52-year-old was dismissed from his role as head coach in N17 earlier this month, following a dismal run of form in the Premier League. It's a run that has left Tottenham 16th in the division, just five points clear of the bottom three and with relegation becoming a distinct possibility.

The hierarchy had a few decisions to make, eventually opting to go with an interim head coach in the form of Igor Tudor. The Croatian coach will have a task on his hands to turn things around, starting with the North London Derby against fierce rivals Arsenal, before a tough run of fixtures.

That includes a clash with Crystal Palace, where Frank could be in the dugout for an interesting reunion against Spurs. That's because the Dane is among the favourites to become the next head coach for the Eagles, as uncertainty continues over the immediate future of Oliver Glasner.

The Austrian coach has already announced his exit at the end of his contract this season, but a poor turn of form since then has brought questions over whether he will last the campaign. Both Bet365 and Betfair had Frank among the frontrunners as the next Crystal Palace boss.

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He could be in position for when Palace take on Tottenham in north London on March 5, for the reunion. While there have been struggles since his exit from Brentford, Simon Jordan has tipped Frank to make a return to management with the potential vacancy at Selhurst Park.

"Has [Frank] been diminished? Of course he has. But success isn't always a straight line," Jordan said on talkSPORT. "He will have to rebuild a little bit, but now what is being considered is that he's not capable of managing a big club. He's clearly capable of managing clubs.

"People are now going to go after him because of the job Keith Andrews is doing [at Brentford]. But if the culture of the club is right, you hand over a decent opportunity. But it will be interesting to find out from him what lessons he thinks he's learned from the mistakes at Tottenham.

"He's now back in the club of managers who can manage in the Premier League but only a certain type of club. But is that an awful thing? To be able to manage, but just not a big-six club."

He was then asked about the possibility of Frank moving to Crystal Palace, to which Jordan said: "Yeah, possibly. A Palace job might be a reasonable job, but Palace fans might say, 'You catapulted Tottenham into a relegation battle, we don't want any of that.'

"But there must be a raft of loads of other reasons behind it. But Thomas Frank's next opportunity will be a lesser club."

Frank isn't the only name being linked with a move to Crystal Palace to take over as their head coach. Robbie Keane has moved to become the favourite for the job, amid links with a possible switch to the club from Ferencvaros.

The former Tottenham striker has been linked with the vacant managerial job at Spurs, but reports stated that he wasn't keen on just an interim role and wanted a permanent move if he was to leave Ferencvaros. It remains to be seen whether he could be in the mix for Palace as well, but it could line up another reunion for early March.

Igor Tudor will look to pile on the misery at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday afternoon, but Mikel Arteta has done his homework

Igor Tudor has a history of making an immediate impact at new clubs, and, while this puts Tottenham Hotspur in good standing ahead of the North London Derby, he appears to have shown Mikel Arteta his cards.

The interim Lilywhites head coach has won the first match in charge in each of his last five spells in the dugout, starting with his second stint at Hajduk Split in February 2020. Tudor got off to the perfect start with the Croatian outfit, putting three past NK Varazdin in their own backyard.

About 18 months or so later, after a spell as assistant to Andrea Pirlo at Juventus, the 47-year-old extended his streak with a 3-2 victory against Roma. Then, in August 2022, Tudor took the reins at Marseille, and he led the French giants to a 4-1 win over Stade Reims in his first game.

After a season in the dugout at the Orange Vélodrome and a nine-month break, the interim Spurs boss returned to management, this time at Lazio. Tudor only had three months at the helm, but he made a good first impression with a 1-0 victory against the Old Lady.

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Nearly a year to the day later, in March 2025, he returned to Juventus as head coach and led them to a 1-0 win over Genoa on his debut. Interestingly, nine of the 12 goals that Tudor's sides scored during his first game in charge came in the second half, with four of them coming in the final quarter of an hour.

Speaking to reporters at Hotspur Way on Friday afternoon, the interim Tottenham boss was asked how he managed to have such an immediate impact. Keeping his cards close to his chest, Tudor said: " I do my job. Nothing special.

"I do the things that I believe are important. Nothing more, nothing less. Each coach has his own style to achieve the results. I have my style, which I believe is the best.

"It’s never the same because there are always different characteristics, different clubs and different cultures, not even of the league but the club. Some clubs like this kind of football, some like this.

"You need to resolve the problems. Everywhere there are problems; if you go to the best clubs in the world, you believe there are not problems there, but there are problems there, like in the third division.

"It’s all about how you resolve the problems in a very quick time. It’s not easy but it’s okay."

History suggests that Tudor will plan to keep Tottenham in the North London Derby until midway through the second half before taking the handbrake off and throwing the kitchen sink at Arsenal. Arteta has already done his homework, though.

"We have analysed everything that he's done in his career," the Gunners boss said at the Sobha Realty Training Centre on Friday afternoon. "In different clubs, different formations, the players that they have available.

"From there, of course, we will have the capacity to adapt in relation to what the game requires. But the main focus is also on what we have to do to win."

James Maddison could return to action just in time for the end-of-season run-in, potentially giving Tottenham Hotspur a huge boost in their fight for survival

Tottenham Hotspur have been given a huge boost ahead of the North London Derby on Sunday afternoon. James Maddison has stepped up efforts to rebuild his match fitness after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

The 29-year-old midfielder suffered the injury during a pre-season friendly against Newcastle United in South Korea. Maddison underwent reconstruction surgery in August and swiftly began a lengthy rehabilitation programme.

At the start of December, the England international was spotted on the grass at Hotspur Way for the first time since the setback. Maddison, who was joined by a member of the sports science staff, embraced a couple of his teammates before breaking away from the first team.

A month or so later, the playmaker upped the intensity of his ball mastery sessions, twisting and turning around mannequins. Now, Maddison appears to have began training with the first team.

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In the background of a video posted to the club's official Instagram page, the Englishman was spotted gearing up for a session with his teammates ahead of the North London Derby. Kitted out in training attire, Maddison adjusted his headband while Joao Palhinha put on his boots.

football.london understands that the Tottenham star hopes to get back on the pitch before the end of the season, but he and the club don't want to risk aggravating the injury. Nevertheless, his return to action will come as a huge boost for Igor Tudor, who's under pressure to steer Spurs to safety.

After a disastrous start to the year, having not yet won a Premier League game, the Lilywhites have been sucked into a relegation battle. The former Juventus boss has been tasked with climbing the table and, fortunately enough, he could have Maddison at his disposal just in time for the run-in.

Nevertheless, Tudor is focused on the task at hand. Speaking to reporters on Friday afternoon, the Croatian reflected on his first days in the job and said: "I didn’t enjoy because I’m not here to enjoy, I’m here to work.

"Enjoying is just the first moment, after that there is work to do. It’s a privilege to be here, as I said before, at this fantastic club. Also I’m very focused and concentrated to do the right things that this club, this team and these fans need.

"I’m focused on that, I’m not thinking too much about what you asked me, to enjoy," added Tudor, before addressing the injury crisis. "It’s a very particular moment as you know, this very rare situation that you find with 10 players injured, with big injuries also.

"We made training with 13 players. It is how it is. It is not fantastic, beautiful, but in this case it’s an even bigger challenge to succeed and come out of this situation. Of course, 13 we will have for sure and it’s quite enough to achieve what we want on Sunday.

"And the first goal of all, of course I understand the importance of this game, this is a derby, a north London derby, everybody expects the three points from us.

"We are aware of this, but what was my goal in these first sessions we made is that we became a team, that we became a team in the really right meaning of the word. A team who want to suffer, we need to suffer, to fight, to run, to have the right mentality.

"This is the start. I was working on a lot of things, not everything because it’s not only football, it’s not only about that, it’s about having a clear idea of what we want to do, very specific things we want to do with the ball, without the ball, when we are pressing, when we are low.

"We work a lot but the start is always about mentality because the people come before the football player."

EXCLUSIVE: Igor Tudor's seven-word mantra that all Tottenham players must follow after Thomas Frank exit

Igor Tudor will debut as Spurs boss on Sunday as his new side welcome bitter rivals Arsenal to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Igor Tudor will be in the Tottenham dugout for the first time on Sunday when his team face rivals Arsenal. And one of the Croatian manager's mantras must be welcomed by the entire cohort.

After the dismissal of Thomas Frank, Tudor was hired to steady the ship until the end of this season. Spurs sit dangerously close to the relegation places after hitting a barren spell under Frank.

Tudor has previously stepped in at Lazio and Juventus to put them on an even keel mid-season. He will now be tasked with a tall order when the Gunners head to N17.

During his time in Italy and France, one ideology was pivotal to Tudor's success. Italian football expert Daniele Fisichella has highlighted the 47-year-old's way of thinking, which may resonate more with some players than others.

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Fisichella exclusively told football.london: "The type of football that Tudor likes to play, it's vertical football. It's direct football, attacking in a way, where the intensity and the pace is key.

Revealing a seven-word mantra Tudor expects his players to adhere too, Fisichella continued: "One of his favourite quotes and that was when he was managing at Marseille, was, 'If you don't run, you don't play.' Dimitri Payet, who played there under him, didn't see the pitch that much, because probably in training he wasn't doing enough running."

Cristian Romero may not be the biggest fan of this outlook. Of every outfield player who played 200 minutes in the top-flight last season, the Tottenham captain spent 75.5 per cent of his time walking. This was the third-highest percentage in the Premier League.

Romero picked up his second red card of this season when he was given his marching orders in the first half of Tottenham's 2-0 loss to Manchester United earlier this month. This resulted in a four-match ban, meaning he won't be present on Sunday.

One player who is likely to feature against Arsenal is Micky van de Ven. Fisichella thinks the Dutchman should thrive under his new manager's mantra. He added: "I think anyone who's young, energetic, willing to run forward and willing to press will benefit from Tudor. He loves having somebody like Micky van de Ven.

"He's quick, therefore he can push the line higher. Having somebody of that pace, it's a great boost for him because that means his team can play maybe 10, 15 metres higher up the pitch. It will be an aggressive set-up, I think.

"He likes quite a pressing side. The issue is that not always, and not often, they convert those turnovers into shots or into goals, which is a completely different issue. But they do like to press.

"Frank had them pressing. So I think Tudor doesn't need to change too much of the mindset. And last season with Ange Postecoglou, they were used to trying hard, they were used to high intensity. So again, there's not much to change."