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Darwin Nunez could make a surprising Premier League return this summer, merely a year after departing Liverpool for Al-Hilal. The Uruguayan forward transferred to the Saudi Pro League giants in a £46million deal last August, though his debut campaign with the club has proven anything but smooth.

With nine goals and five assists recorded across 24 outings in all competitions, it would seem on the surface that the 26-year-old has flourished in the Middle East. Nevertheless, following Karim Benzema's arrival earlier this month, Nunez has found his Al-Hilal future thrown into doubt.

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Due to tight foreign player restrictions and Benzema's registration, Nunez is now ineligible to feature in Pro League or Cup fixtures for his present employers. It represents a significant setback for the striker, who would have been hoping to stake his claim for international selection at this summer's World Cup in North America.

According to TEAMtalk, Nunez is now weighing up his options with the club following his harsh exclusion from the squad, with sources suggesting that several European sides have made approaches ahead of the summer transfer window. Intermediaries have held discussions with various clubs in England specifically, with Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United reportedly keen on a potential swoop for Nunez when the window reopens.

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Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid and Juventus are also believed to be long-standing admirers of the striker. A significant obstacle in landing Nunez could prove to be the enormous £400,000-per-week wages he currently reportedly commands at Al-Hilal, despite no longer featuring for the first team in competitive fixtures.

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That said, it is also understood that Nunez would be prepared to take a considerable pay cut for the right club ahead of the 2026/27 campaign. This comes as Newcastle have struggled to find the back of the net consistently this season, despite splashing out on Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa following Alexander Isak's £125m departure to Liverpool.

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Meanwhile, Spurs find themselves in danger of being dragged into a relegation scrap, sitting 16th in the Premier League table and a mere five points above the drop zone following Sunday evening's 4-1 humbling in the North London Derby.

Liverpool, for their part, have not been entirely free from their own striking concerns this season. Whilst Hugo Ekitike has caught the eye in his debut campaign at Anfield, contributing 15 goals and four assists across all competitions so far, Isak's spell at the club has yielded considerably less impressive returns.

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The Swedish forward managed a mere three goals and one assist before sustaining a fractured fibula in December, which necessitated surgery. Consequently, he now faces an extended spell on the treatment table, with his return pencilled in for April at the earliest.

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Whilst Isak's absence has not entirely derailed Liverpool's recent form, it has partly undermined the club's ambitions of securing Champions League football for the 2026/27 campaign. Currently, the Reds sit sixth in the Premier League table with 11 matches still to play, level on 45 points with fourth-placed Chelsea and fifth-placed Manchester United.

Gabriel Magalhaes tagged Richarlison in an Instagram post following the North London Derby, sharing a photograph from the Arsenal team coach. The image captures him clutching several playing cards in his right hand, with the four of hearts visible after their 4-1 triumph.

Positioned on the table before him is an opened packet of chocolate M&Ms, a can of Rio and the player of the match trophy. Viktor Gyokeres, though, was the one who received that accolade following his brace. Eberechi Eze presented the award to his colleague during their joint post-match interview on Sky Sports.

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Gabriel Martinelli and Piero Hincapie both responded, "Completinho chefe," which translates to 'complete chef' or 'full on boss'. Numerous other players also responded with laughing emojis, including Christhian Mosquera and Declan Rice.

The ongoing exchange between Gabriel and Richarlison started during the summer when the Spurs striker tagged his fellow Brazilian in a post after Spurs defeated Arsenal in pre-season. He was holding the man-of-the-match award in a photograph accompanying the post.

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His social media engagement on Sunday evening also included liking Bukayo Saka's post. The winger accompanied the image of their celebration with the comment: "More like it." Eze replied with a red heart emoji, whilst Mikel Merino also reacted with the raised hands and flexed biceps emojis.

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Christian Norgaard, Gabriel Jesus, Gyokeres, Jurrien Timber, Leandro Trossard, Martin Odegaard, Martin Zubimendi, Mosquera, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Rice and William Saliba also liked the post. Mikel Arteta heaped praise on Saka following the match, too.

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The manager said: "I loved his attitude, his presence, how dominant he was in the game from the beginning. The first reaction immediately, he wants to grab the game, and he really wants to say, 'I'm here'. And that's what I love, he didn't score, but he was in every action. I think he was really, really good."

On the match itself, Arteta added: "I think the whole team, I cannot be prouder and happier for what I've seen out there, but especially the way we lived the last 72 hours, because I think this game in particular needed some context. And after what happened against Wolves and the manner in which we lost two points in the last kick of the game, it was tough.

"But that's the beauty of this game. There is no explanation watching the game, for how the hell you draw that game, from any angle.

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"You watch it back and say it's impossible, and you have to watch it again and say it's not going to happen, but it happened. And then you have to lift yourself up because you're feeling angry, upset, ashamed at some point."

Igor Tudor's first match as Tottenham manager ended in a heavy defeat in the north London derby against Arsenal. Spurs equalised 24 seconds after the restart following Eberechi Eze's opener, which came from his first Premier League shot on target since these two teams last met in November. But Viktor Gyokeres restored Arsenal's lead two minutes into the second half before Eze's second of the evening - and his fifth of the season versus Spurs - killed the game on the hour mark.

Gyokeres scored the visitors' fourth in stoppage time to give Arsenal their biggest win at Spurs since 1978 and a repeat of the scoreline between these two at the Emirates three months ago. League leaders Arsenal move five points clear at the summit while Spurs remain just four points clear of West Ham in the relegation zone. Express Sport rates and slates the Tottenham players after interim manager Tudor's disappointing dugout debut...

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Tottenham player ratings vs Arsenal

Guglielmo Vicario - 6

Came out to make an early diving header and produced a crucial one-on-one save from Saka in the first half. Denied Saka again in the second half and appeared to have thwarted him a third time only for the ball to break to Eze to score. Could do little about the goals.

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Joao Palhinha - 4

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Struggled at times on the right of the back three but was unlucky for the third Arsenal goal.

Radu Dragusin - 5

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Apart from being dispossessed during one run out of defence, the Romanian was Spurs' best defender in the first half. However, it was his poor header that helped Arsenal break for Eze's second goal on the hour mark and he endured a difficult time from that point onwards.

Micky van de Ven - 4

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Off the pace in the first half with Saka getting in behind him on several occasions and the captain for the day never really found his rhythm.

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Archie Gray - 4

Took an elbow to the face in the first half, leaving him with a bloody nose. The teenager had a difficult afternoon and was frequently left isolated against two Arsenal attackers.

Yves Bissouma - 6

Another new manager to impress and he displayed considerable enthusiasm for the cause despite it being a losing effort. One of the few players to emerge from the match with some credit.

Pape Matar Sarr - 4

Contributed very little in midfield beyond the occasional tidy touch.

Djed Spence - 5

Had limited success dealing with Saka, with Tudor shouting at him on several occasions to close down the Arsenal winger more tightly. Moved to the right late on and created a chance for Richarlison.

Conor Gallagher - 4

Worked tirelessly and saw a deflected cross converted by Kolo Muani only for it to be disallowed for a push. Substituted after an hour without making much impact.

Xavi Simons - 4

Fortunate when a wayward pass went straight to Trossard outside the Spurs box as the Belgian blazed well over. Failed to find his rhythm in the first half but forced a save from Raya early in the second period.

Randal Kolo Muani - 7

Selected to lead the line and he capitalised by dispossessing Rice and racing into the box from the left to net his maiden Premier League goal. Thought he'd scored again after converting Gallagher's deflected cross early in the second half but was deemed to have fouled Gabriel. Grafted hard before being replaced by Richarlison.

Substitutes

Dominic Solanke - 5

Beyond a few neat touches, he contributed little to the Spurs cause.

Richarlison - 6

Had an effort clawed off the line by Raya and worked hard to make his presence felt throughout.

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Mathys Tel - N/A

Introduced as a left wing-back late in the match, though the role failed to utilise him effectively. Surely Souza would have been the more sensible option for that particular position?

Declan Rice held his hands up to apologise to his team-mates and looked up to the skies wearing a smile of disbelief. Tottenham had just made it 1-1 thanks to Randal Kolo Muani's immediate equaliser. Rice clumsily took a risk on the ball on the edge of his own box and was dispossessed by Kolo Muani who lashed beyond David Raya. Just 123 seconds earlier, Eberechi Eze's first Premier League shot on target since November - and also the last time these two teams met, when he scored a hat-trick - had put Arsenal in front.

After the ball hit the back of the net, Rice gathered the men in red and white into a huddle and urged them to concentrate. As they returned to their own half, Rice gestured to his team-mates to stay switched on as he pointed to his temples with both index fingers. Isn't it ironic, don't you think, that he was the one who ignored his own advice and gifted Spurs their equaliser. In doing so, Arsenal broke a golden rule of football.

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That rule, taught at every single level of the sport, is that you simply cannot gift-wrap presents to your opponents like that so soon after scoring yourselves. You have to be more concentrated than that. At such a high level, matches are won and lost on mistakes and split-second decisions. One lapse, one error, can be so costly. Rice now has to thank his team-mates that this one was not. He would have been constantly reminded of it otherwise.

Conceding 24 seconds after the restart is unacceptable for any team, let alone an Arsenal team of this calibre. Gary Neville reacted on Sky Sports' commentary: "You cannot believe that. These moments by Arsenal have to stop." The Gunners had already thrown away precious points in the title race at Brentford and Wolves in the last 10 days.

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They led Manchester City by six points after 25 games. Coming into this, their 28th match of the Premier League season, they led by just two. Giving away more goals like this will cost them in the end. The pressure and emotional toll it will put on them, in the title race with City, will mount. For a team with only experience of losing the title, rather than getting it over the line, it sows seeds of self-doubt. At this time of the season, those seeds blossom pretty quickly.

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On this occasion, Rice's blushes were spared. The Englishman, and the Arsenal team as a whole, responded strongly to Kolo-Muani's leveller. They couldn't strike back before half-time but just 91 seconds into the second half, Viktor Gyokeres unleashed a stunner past Guglielmo Vicario to put Arsenal 2-1 up.

The Swede has faced a lot of criticism this season. A fair bit of it warranted. But his 14th goal of the season will do wonders for him, especially his relationship with the Arsenal fans. This time, the away side stayed switched on. Eze killed the game beyond doubt on the hour mark with his fifth goal of the season against Spurs, who famously tried to sign him last summer before he headed to the Emirates instead. From there, the away team controlled it perfectly. The away end were able to enjoy themselves largely stress-free and Rice was pivotal to that comfort. They even got chance to celebrate further, when Gyokeres made it 4-1 in stoppage time - securing a second successive 4-1 win over Spurs this season.

Arsenal have thrown away points from winning positions against Manchester United, Brentford and Wolves in 2026 alone. They were not going to do so again here. Had they gone three without a win in the Premier League, with only themselves to blame, the repercussions could have been catastrophic. It would have been like throwing chum into the water for the sky blue City shark that lurks ominously beneath the surface.

Of course, this win by no mean guarantees Arsenal will be champions on May 24. But the five-point gap, having played one game more than City, is a relief. So is avoiding a slip-up against their arch enemies. It is a victory that tastes extra sweet, against their bitter rivals and after so much talk about the possibility of them bottling their lead at the top. Pep Guardiola's City will not play their extra game - at home to Crystal Palace - until after they meet Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final (March 22) and probably not until after they play at the Etihad in the league (April 18 or 19) either.

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That means the north Londoners boast a buffer that is massive for them psychologically. This win alone does them the world of good mentally too. It is a warning to City that Mikel Arteta's men will not feel sorry for themselves and wilt away. They remain a serious football team with serious ambitions.

But mistakes like Rice's simply cannot be allowed going forward. If they do, Arsenal will pay and City are poised to take advantage. Failing to win this Premier League title would be the most painful near-miss yet for Arsenal. This can be one of the greatest seasons in their history, and they have to stop being the creators of their own downfall to realise it. Their response to Rice's error here was the perfect example of what they must do between now and late May.

Manchester United icon Gary Neville picked out two of Arsenal’s most reliable players for criticism in their 4-1 win over Tottenham. Eberechi Eze had given the visitors the lead in the first half with his first league goal since a hat-trick against Spurs in November, but they were immediately pegged back by Randal Kolo Muani’s equaliser.

The on-loan French striker picked the pocket of Declan Rice, before fending off William Saliba and rifling a shot past David Raya as the Gunners were caught napping. Neville could not believe what he had witnessed, as Mikel Arteta had been let down by two of his most important players.

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As Kolo Muani wheeled away in celebration, Neville fumed: "Declan Rice has just joined his backline in making an error, but this time in a really poor area. He tries to dribble past Kolo Muani, he might even try to nutmeg him. Does he? He can't try and nutmeg him there.”

The commentator corrected himself, adding: “No he just tries to take it round him, but Kolo Muani's still got a lot to do. Saliba...He's got to be more aggressive than that hasn't he? That's a nothing challenge.

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"You cannot believe that - Kolo Muani still has a lot to do, and Saliba has to be more aggressive than that. We have a game and these moments by Arsenal have to stop."

That game, however, was wrestled back in Arsenal's favour shortly after the whistle blew to kickstart the second half.

Viktor Gyokeres, in a much-improved performance from the Swedish striker, rifled in an effort from the edge of the box in a goal worthy of his £55million price tag.

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Eze, as he tends to do now on derby day, inflicted more pain on Spurs as he put the game effectively beyond their reach with his second, Arsenal's third, just after the hour mark.

He pounced on a loose ball and Bukayo Saka was sent in on goal, his effort was saved but Eze had followed up with a bursting run and tapped home for his fifth goal of the season in this fixture.

Then Gyokeres capped off a magnificent day for the striker, with Neville dubbing it his best in an Arsenal shirt, by holding off Archie Gray and scoring Arsenal's fourth in stoppage time.

Arsenal were able to recover from the setback caused by Rice and Saliba, in Neville's eyes, to put some more distance between themselves and second-placed Manchester City in the title race.

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The Gunners now hold a five-point advantage over Pep Guardiola's side, albeit having played an extra game, and next face another London derby when Chelsea visit the Emirates in seven days time.

Arsenal delivered a stinging blow to Manchester City in the Premier League title race by getting one over their local rivals, Tottenham, in a 4-1 away win. Eberechi Eze haunted Spurs yet again, after his November hat-trick, by opening the scoring with his first Premier League shot on target since the third of his goals that day. But Igor Tudor's side responded perfectly and equalised just 24 seconds after the restart, Randal Kolo Muani stripped Declan Rice of the ball and rifled an effort in.

Moments into a second half that was delayed by another technology issue, Viktor Gyokeres fired a stunning effort past Guglielmo Vicario, perhaps finally announcing himself to Arsenal. Eze popped up with a second after pouncing on a loose ball as the Gunners sealed three vital points in their title hunt, with Gyokeres providing the cherry on top of the cake in stoppage time. Here, Express Sport rates a dominant Arsenal team…

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Arsenal player ratings vs Tottenham (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper

David Raya - 8

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Out like a flash on numerous occasions and his starting position was superb. Little he could do to stop Kolo Muani’s powerful effort and was dominant in the air. Appeared to defy physics with the elasticity of his arm, clawing the ball off the line late on to keep Arsenal's two-goal advantage.

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Defence

Jurrien Timber - 6

Overlapped Bukayo Saka well on occasion and kept Xavi Simons quiet. Replaced after 57 minutes as he began to tire in the second half.

William Saliba - 5

Needed to be much stronger when Kolo Muani breezed past him to score.

Gabriel - 6

Not his typically dominant self in both boxes but a steady game and did little wrong. Was awarded a soft free-kick for a push by Kolo Muani before the striker thought he bagged a second.

Piero Hincapie - 7

Continued his impressive form as he keeps Riccardo Calafiori out of the team. Strong in possession and a tough defender, a very neat addition to this Arsenal squad.

Midfield

Martin Zubimendi - 6

Kept the ball moving but with little impetus. Unchallenged by the Spurs midfield in the second half.

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Declan Rice - 4

An uncharacteristic mistake on the edge of his own penalty box allowed Kolo Muani to score. For some reason, Rice tried to dribble around the striker, only to get his pocket pinched and then he was punished. Had his blushes spared again by David Raya as the goalkeeper prevented another goal from a Rice error.

Eberechi Eze - 9

Handed a chance to replicate his hat-trick hero efforts against Spurs earlier in the season, with Martin Odegaard only fit enough for the bench, and duly took it. He loves playing in this derby, against the team he nearly joined this summer, and took his first goal well after the ball flew up in the air and he rifled past Vicario. One of his better games in an Arsenal shirt, popping up left and right to cause all kinds of problems and he was in the right position once again, following up Saka's effort to tap into an empty net.

Attack

Bukayo Saka - 7

Persistent while back on the right flank, though came up against Djed Spence and Micky van de Ven in impressive form. Did well to find Eze for an assist after a bit of luck to poke the ball past Pape Matar Sarr. Worryingly hobbled off the pitch late on.

Viktor Gyokeres - 9

His best performance in an Arsenal shirt, even without the brace. A very lively start and found the left channel before cutting inside and firing just wide, though it was an attempt at a goal he scored regularly in Sporting, but not at Arsenal. However, the effort he tucked away was done with such aplomb that it's a wonder how Gyokeres has not scored more regularly this season. He hit that channel once more in stoppage time and outmuscled Archie Gray to bag a second. Perhaps this could get his Arsenal career properly underway.

Leandro Trossard - 5

Quieter game than usual and more was needed from the Belgian. Disappointing from a usually reliable star.

Substitutes

Cristhian Mosquera (57') - 7

Very capable at right-back as Jurrien Timber was given a breather, with the conveyor belt of versatile defenders at Arsenal only more impressive every week.

Martin Odegaard (77') - 7

Helped steady the ship and see out the win. A late assist for Gyokeres.

Gabriel Martinelli (77') - 6

Did more defending than attacking but tracked back well.

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Noni Madueke (90') - N/A

Peter Bankes will take charge of one of the most fiercely contested and hotly anticipated encounters of the campaign this Sunday afternoon when Tottenham host Arsenal in the north London derby. The Lancashire-born official boasts extensive experience and represents an ideal selection for such a crucial fixture, though the 43-year-old has never refereed matches featuring two specific Premier League sides.

Bankes, who has held FIFA-listed status since 2021, will be supported by Eddie Smart and Blake Antrobus at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Sam Barrott has been confirmed as fourth official, with Darren England and assistant Tim Wood overseeing VAR duties.

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Originally from Merseyside, Bankes' County FA is the Liverpool Football Association. It is precisely for this reason that he has never presided over a fixture involving either Liverpool or Everton.

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Premier League officials must disclose which football club they support and are prohibited from refereeing matches involving that team or fixtures that directly affect them. They are also typically excluded from overseeing clubs in their immediate vicinity, even if they do not support them, as well as teams affiliated with their County FA.

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Bankes has overseen 18 league fixtures this season and issued 72 yellow cards, averaging four per match. He has also shown three red cards, including one for two bookable offences, whilst awarding five penalties.

Some Arsenal supporters may be heartened by his selection for the derby, considering Mikel Arteta's side have secured nine victories, drawn one and suffered three defeats from their 13 matches with Bankes as referee. Two of those setbacks came against Southampton, one in the FA Cup and one in the league.

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His latest fixture involving Arsenal was their 1-0 triumph over Chelsea in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final. Prior to that, he officiated their 2-1 loss to Aston Villa in December and their 5-1 thrashing of Manchester City back in February 2025.

He has also only issued 12 yellow cards to Arsenal players and has yet to dismiss a Gunners player. Meanwhile, Spurs supporters may be less pleased to see Bankes on Sunday.

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The official has managed to infuriate several Tottenham managers over the years, including Jose Mourinho in September 2020. Mourinho was left fuming with Bankes during a 1-1 draw with Newcastle over a handball decision against Eric Dier.

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In August 2022, Bankes was on the receiving end of some strong criticism, this time from Antonio Conte, following a match against West Ham. The Italian was displeased with how Bankes handled a penalty incident when he overturned an on-field decision against Aaron Cresswell, denying Spurs a penalty.

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More recently, Ange Postecoglou was left incandescent that two spot-kicks weren't given to James Maddison during a 2-1 victory over Sheffield United.

Need to know

Is Tottenham vs Arsenal on TV? How to watch all-important north London derby

Tottenham and Arsenal will clash in a crucial north London derby on Sunday afternoon.

Everything you need to know about the north London derby

When and where: This crucial north London derby will be held at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, February 22, 2026. Kick-off is scheduled for 4.30pm UK time.

Is it on TV?: Yes, Tottenham vs Arsenal will be shown on television. The fixture has gained additional significance for the Gunners following their 2-2 draw with Wolves on Wednesday night.

UK TV broadcast: Within the UK, the fixture will be shown solely on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. Programming is scheduled to begin at approximately 4pm, and you can register for Sky Sports below.

Live streaming options: Subscribers can watch the match via the Sky Go app on mobile devices, tablets, or laptops. Those without subscriptions can view by obtaining a NOW Sports Day or Month Membership, enabling streaming on smart televisions, consoles, and mobile devices.

Radio coverage: If you prefer live commentary, audio options are available. BBC Radio 5 Live will offer commentary, which is accessible via BBC Sounds.

Tottenham team news: This marks Igor Tudor's debut match as Spurs manager as he seeks to steer clear of a relegation battle. James Maddison, Wilson Odobert, and Dejan Kulusevski are still sidelined, Pedro Porro is a doubt with a calf problem and Cristian Romero is serving a ban.

Arsenal team news: The Gunners possess a largely full-strength squad but will be assessing minor injuries sustained during their midweek encounter. Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz are anticipated to feature.

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Trent Alexander-Arnold's regret, Liverpool return and Real Madrid concerns

Sam Allardyce has criticised Cristian Romero and urged new Tottenham Hotspur manager Igor Tudor to strip him of the captaincy. The defender will miss Sunday's north London derby as he is serving a four-match suspension.

The 27-year-old saw red during Spurs' loss to Manchester United earlier this month. As it marked his second dismissal of the season, the Argentina international received an extended ban, sidelining him for Tudor's crucial first match in charge against Arsenal. Romero has proven to be a vital figure for Tottenham since his move from Atalanta in 2021. The centre-half was handed the club's captaincy at the beginning of the season. However, former Premier League manager Allardyce has argued that the defender should no longer have the armband due to his troublesome disciplinary record.

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"He's a typical player that doesn't learn," Allardyce said on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast. "There's so much talent but he has got so many flaws and he's not eradicating the flaws. He is still doing the same things [from] when he first went to Tottenham. He's still doing them now.

"So, one, you should strip him of the captaincy. And two, you say, 'I want you to stay on your feet, I don't want you to go to the ground and tackle anymore so stop it. I'm telling you now so do it and if you don't do it, I might as well take you out of the side because you're harming the results.'

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"He's giving the manager a bad reputation for not being able to control him. So, Thomas Frank should have nailed him, which I thought he would but he didn't."

Romero's dismissal against United occurred during former manager Thomas Frank's penultimate match in charge. In 21 league games this term, the defender has accumulated eight yellow cards and been shown red twice.

Romero came under increased scrutiny after once again publicly criticising the club before his most recent sending off. Following Spurs' draw with Manchester City in early February, Romero, who had been replaced due to illness, argued the team had been left to cope with a shortage of players.

Taking to Instagram, he said: "Great effort from all my teammates yesterday, they were incredible. I wanted to be available to help them even though I wasn't feeling well, especially since we only had 11 players available - unbelievable but true and disgraceful.

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"We'll keep showing up and taking responsibility to turn this around, working hard and staying together. All that's left is to thank all of you for being there and for always supporting us, the fans."

New Spurs manager Tudor will be hoping to have Romero at his disposal for every remaining fixture this season once his suspension is served. Meanwhile, the club captain will be forced to watch from the sidelines as his teammates battle for victory against Arsenal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Mikel Arteta might surprise supporters with his North London Derby team selection. The Arsenal manager will be eager to re-establish his side's advantage at the top of the Premier League table when he faces Igor Tudor at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Gunners missed the opportunity to widen their lead in the title contest on Wednesday evening, shipping a late equaliser to Wolves at Molineux. Arsenal could have opened up a seven-point gap, but instead handed Manchester City the opportunity to reduce their cushion to just two points.

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While Arsenal remain in Pep Guardiola's sights, they are unable to overtake the Gunners this weekend. Arsenal will back themselves against Spurs, who have endured a calamitous season so far.

Nevertheless, Tudor has won in his opening fixture in each of his previous five appointments, beginning with his second stint at Hajduk Split in February 2020, followed by Verona, Marseille, Lazio and Juventus.

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The Croatian had been unemployed since March 2025 before accepting the interim Tottenham role. With that in mind, we have picked our Arsenal starting elevens.

Tom Canton

I despise this fixture... I know I shouldn't but the anticipation and the potential negative outcomes for me always overshadow the potential satisfaction. There are few things more painful than losing a North London Derby from an Arsenal viewpoint, but if there is one thing, it's losing the derby whilst simultaneously bidding farewell to your title aspirations, which would almost certainly be the scenario here.

This is why I believe Mikel Arteta needs to select some players who might deliver a bit more than we have witnessed recently. That means Ben White in for a struggling Jurrien Timber.

Whilst I have considered Christian Norgaard for this fixture, I still find it difficult to leave out Martin Zubimendi. I wish I could believe Kai Havertz is ready to return, but I just don't, whereas I do believe Martin Odegaard might be prepared to feature.

Piero Hincapie is probably the most in-form player at present and so he starts and I am hoping Leandro Trossard is fit to play because Gabriel Martinelli and the Premier League just aren't clicking.

Arsenal XI vs Spurs: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard.

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Ryan Taylor

There's plenty of significant decisions for Mikel Arteta to consider, particularly if Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz are available for selection. But I don't see the need to complicate matters and believe Mikel Arteta must select the players who are sharp and ready to perform.

There's a significant decision to be made at left-back and although Arsenal statistically perform better when Riccardo Calafiori starts in the Premier League, I believe Piero Hincapie could be the right choice for this match due to his prowess in duels.

In the midfield, I'd select Ebere Eze, whose hat-trick in November against Spurs was remarkable, and there's a feeling he could make more history in this fixture after rejecting a move to Tottenham last summer.

Up front, the proven trio of Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, and Viktor Gyokeres is Arsenal's strongest on paper. Players like Noni Madueke, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli can all contribute from the bench if required.

Ryan's starting lineup to face Tottenham: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice, Eze; Saka, Trossard, Gyokeres.

Jake Stokes

I wouldn't be shocked if Arteta makes a few adjustments to his starting lineup, beginning with Ben White at right-back. The defender had to be substituted towards the end of the FA Cup tie against Wigan Athletic, but it seemed to be only a minor injury and he was back on the bench for the Wolves game.

Jurrien Timber hasn't been performing well, and I wouldn't be surprised if Arteta throws White into the fray to shake things up a bit. As for the midfield, I think Arteta will reintroduce Odegaard, playing him alongside Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi.

Speaking to journalists at the Sobha Realty Training Centre on Friday afternoon, the Spaniard revealed his captain would require a late fitness assessment. Arteta made the same comment regarding Havertz, who, once more, I believe will be afforded at least 60 minutes or thereabouts.

Viktor Gyokeres has genuinely toiled, and Gabriel Jesus has scarcely compelled his manager to face any challenging selections. Out wide, I'd make changes and opt for Saka and Trossard.

Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke would be solid alternatives from the substitutes' bench, particularly if Arsenal are protecting an advantage.

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Jake's starting lineup to face Tottenham: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Trossard.