Sports Mole

Following a two-week hiatus for the first international break of the 2024-25 season, Premier League football graces our screens once again this weekend, which also means Gameweek four of Sports Mole's prediction competition.

This week, we will be pitting our wits against Jack Jones - the frontman of Welsh alternative band Trampolene - who is a Swansea City fan at heart but also holds a soft spot for newly-promoted Southampton.

Jones's second team are coincidentally first up this weekend, hosting none other than Manchester United in Saturday's lunchtime kickoff, which is followed by seven more fixtures throughout the day.

Liverpool and Manchester City will both endeavour to maintain their perfect starts to the new term at home to Nottingham Forest and Brentford respectively, before Chelsea's trip to Bournemouth closes a breathless day of action.

However, the weekend's headline fixture undoubtedly comes on Sunday afternoon, when Tottenham Hotspur host Arsenal in the latest edition of the North London derby, always a captivating and chaotic fixture.

Read on to find out how Jack Jones sees this weekend's Premier League fixtures going, in addition to seeing who won out of Sports Mole and electronic dance music (EDM) rising star Kyle Starkey in Gameweek three.

Southampton vs. Man Utd

Saturday, 12.30pm

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Jack: Southampton 0-1 Man Utd

Sports Mole: Southampton 1-2 Man Utd

Both teams find themselves under pressure to turn their fortunes around at this early stage in the season following underwhelming starts, and they will back themselves to come away from this fixture with a positive result.

Three of the last four meetings between these two sides have ended as a draw, and another tight affair could be in store on Saturday, but we are backing Man United to come away with a slender victory on this occasion.

Brighton vs. Ipswich

Saturday, 3pm

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Jack: Brighton 4-1 Ipswich

Sports Mole: Brighton 3-1 Ipswich

Both Brighton and Ipswich will attempt to play on the front foot and push forward at any given opportunity, so an entertaining contest could be on the cards on Saturday.

However, the Seagulls will be regarded as favourites in front of their own fans and should have few problems outscoring their opponents, even if they are without a few first-team players due to fitness issues.

Crystal Palace vs. Leicester

Saturday, 3pm

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Jack: Crystal Palace 1-1 Leicester

Sports Mole: Crystal Palace 3-1 Leicester

Palace and Leicester cannot both concede first on Saturday afternoon, even though both sides have a propensity to fall behind, but neither goalkeeper should add another clean sheet to their tally in the capital.

Glasner's men put in a much-improved performance at Stamford Bridge two weekends ago, though, and with the hosts also reinforced by several new arrivals, we are backing the Eagles to soar to their first Premier League win of 2024-25.

Fulham vs. West Ham

Saturday, 3pm

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Jack: Fulham 2-2 West Ham

Sports Mole: Fulham 2-2 West Ham

Fulham have been a strong outfit on home soil for some time and will fancy their chances of success against a West Ham side who they thrashed 5-0 in this exact fixture last season. The Hammers will be no pushovers this time around, though, and even if Fullkrug misses out, they still have a number of players who can cause the Cottagers problems in the final third.

Only two of the last 16 meetings between these two teams in all competitions have ended all square, but we can see the spoils being shared in this weekend's contest.

Liverpool vs. Nott'm Forest

Saturday, 3pm

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Jack: Liverpool 1-1 Nott'm Forest

Sports Mole: Liverpool 2-0 Nott'm Forest

While it is still very early days in Slot's reign, it is difficult to highlight any weaknesses in this current Liverpool team, who should have no problems keeping low-scoring specialists Forest at bay.

The international break should not have disrupted the Reds' momentum too much, so we can only picture Slot's 100% record staying intact as Forest head home empty-handed.

Man City vs. Brentford

Saturday, 3pm

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Jack: Man City 5-1 Brentford

Sports Mole: Man City 3-1 Brentford

Brentford could cause Man City one or two problems in the final third through Mbeumo and Wissa, but it is difficult tn back against Guardiola's men outscoring their opponents on this occasion.

Also taking into consideration their exceptional unbeaten home record, the league-leading Citizens have our vote to kick-start September with maximum points and continue their perfect start to the new season.

Aston Villa vs. Everton

Saturday, 5.30pm

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Jack: Aston Villa 2-0 Everton

Sports Mole: Aston Villa 2-1 Everton

English football's most-played fixture will quite likely go Aston Villa's way once again, as Everton have been worryingly shaky at the back and can be vulnerable to pace.

Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins and co can open up the visitors' defence and post Villa's third league win from four, before embarking on an exciting European campaign.

Bournemouth vs. Chelsea

Saturday, 8pm

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Jack: Bournemouth 0-1 Chelsea

Sports Mole: Bournemouth 1-2 Chelsea

Chelsea playing away from home almost always means no clean sheet for the men in blue, who should not end their streak without a shut-out against a goal-happy Bournemouth crop, even if the two-week hiatus came at the worst time for Iraola's side.

In contrast, a fortnight's reset should have done the Blues the world of good, and we have faith in Maresca's wealth of attacking options to breach a youthful Cherries backline at least twice en route to victory.

Spurs vs. Arsenal

Sunday, 2pm

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Jack: Spurs 1-0 Arsenal

Sports Mole: Spurs 2-1 Arsenal

Merino-Rice-Odegaard would have been the perfect Arsenal midfield for Sunday's blockbuster derby, but the Gunners now face being overrun in the engine room while also losing Odegaard's invaluable ingenuity in the final third.

Arteta's troops can still expose Spurs' frailties at the back, but we cannot see a way for the visitors to earn the derby bragging rights with their current selection crisis; North London should be lilywhite this weekend.

Wolves vs. Newcastle

Sunday, 4.30pm

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Jack: Wolves 1-0 Newcastle

Sports Mole: Wolves 1-2 Newcastle

Each of the nine previous Premier League showdowns between Wolves and Newcastle at Molineux has seen both teams score, and we can see that streak stretching to 10 on Sunday, taking into account Wolves' lack of clean sheets and the Magpies facing the most shots in the Premier League so far this term (54).

The potential returns of Schar and Tonali will add a bit more backbone to the visitors' XI, though, and the irrepressible trio up front should do what they do best to fire Howe's side to a gritty victory.

Jack Jones Q&A

© Simon Sarin

How did you come to support your club and what are your favourite memories from your time as a fan?

Jack: My old man lived in Southampton (but is from Wales), took to me see Southampton when I was just a toddler, so they are my Premier League team. However, I then started going to see the Swans and they stole my heart. Winning the EFL Cup in 2013 at Wembley is by far my greatest personal football memory - it was the perfect day out.

Who have been your favourite five players for your club?

Jack: Lee Trundle, Alan Tate, Michu, Angel Rangel, Francis Benali

What's going on for you as an artist at the moment?

Jack: I'm just about to go on an in-store tour and release my first solo record...come and see me and say hello :)

Jack Jones releases his self-titled solo album on September 20th. Stream single 'Peaches Out Of Reach' now.

You can follow Jack Jones on Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter).

Scores are calculated as one point for a correct result and five points for a correct scoreline.

Gameweek 1: Everyone Says Hi's Nick Hodgson 13-14 Sports Mole

Gameweek 2: Make Friends' Max Lewin 15-4 Sports Mole

Gameweek 3: Kyle Starkey 16-13 Sports Mole

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North London derby day is almost upon us once again, as Tottenham Hotspur prepare to welcome Arsenal to their capital home in this weekend's Premier League main event on Sunday afternoon.

Ange Postecoglou's side only managed to take one point from six on offer against their bitter rivals last season, and both teams have some wrongs to right from before the September international break.

Indeed, the Lilywhites suffered their first defeat of the season in a 2-1 loss to Newcastle United, leaving them 10th in the early-season rankings with a record of one win, one draw and one defeat in 2024-25 so far.

Meanwhile, Arsenal were denied a third win from three in a 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion, where they went down to 10 men early in the second half as Declan Rice was controversially sent off.

Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at the head-to-head record and previous meetings between Arsenal and Tottenham.

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Head-to-head record

Previous meetings: 209

Spurs wins: 67

Draws: 55

Arsenal wins: 87

Counting their inaugural fixtures in the late 19th century, way before they ever clashed in the top tier of English football, Tottenham and Arsenal have pitted their wits against each other on 209 occasions, and it is the men in red and white that boast the superior wins tally with 87.

Arsenal's latest success in this eagerly-anticipated fixture did not come without a gargantuan effort, as after taking a three-goal lead on rival turf thanks to Spurs' set-piece woes, the Gunners conceded twice late on but nevertheless clung on for a 3-2 victory in April 2024.

Thanks to their first-half surge - which Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and a Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg contributed to - Arsenal achieved something that they had never previously managed since the Premier League's inception in 1992, winning back-to-back top-flight games on Tottenham's turf.

In contrast, Spurs have come up trumps on 67 occasions, while 55 draws have also been played out between the two rivals, including a four-goal Emirates classic in September 2023, where Arsenal led twice but let their advantages slip both times.

The April 2024 win was enough for Arsenal to prolong their unbeaten run against Tottenham to four matches, having done the double over Spurs in the 2022-23 campaign, prior to which the Lilywhites' most recent NLD triumph came on home territory towards the end of 2021-22.

While five of Tottenham's last seven derbies with Arsenal have ended in defeat, the Lilywhites previously went five unbeaten against Sunday's visitors from December 2018 to December 2020, including two home Premier League wins in the COVID-19 era and an EFL Cup success in the 2018-19 season.

In terms of individual goalscoring records, Harry Kane is still the master of doing that against Arsenal as the 2023-24 Champions League quarter-finals proved, and the England captain is head and shoulders above his colleagues when it comes to NLD goals, netting 14 in the Spurs strip.

The highest outright scorer for Arsenal in this matchup is a revered Frenchman; not Thierry Henry, but Robert Pires with nine efforts, while Emmanuel Adebayor struck eight times for the Gunners before scoring twice for Tottenham after his bold decision to cross the divide.

Last 20 meetings

Apr 28, 2024: Spurs 2-3 Arsenal (Premier League)

Sep 24, 2023: Arsenal 2-2 Spurs (Premier League)

Jan 15, 2023: Spurs 0-2 Arsenal (Premier League)

Oct 01, 2022: Arsenal 3-1 Spurs (Premier League)

May 12, 2022: Spurs 3-0 Arsenal (Premier League)

Sep 26, 2021: Arsenal 3-1 Spurs (Premier League)

Mar 14, 2021: Arsenal 2-1 Spurs (Premier League)

Dec 06, 2020: Spurs 2-0 Arsenal (Premier League)

Jul 12, 2020: Spurs 2-1 Arsenal (Premier League)

Sep 01, 2019: Arsenal 2-2 Spurs (Premier League)

Mar 02, 2019: Spurs 1-1 Arsenal (Premier League)

Dec 02, 2018: Arsenal 4-2 Spurs (Premier League)

Feb 10, 2018: Spurs 1-0 Arsenal (Premier League)

Nov 18, 2017: Arsenal 2-0 Spurs (Premier League)

Apr 30, 2017: Spurs 2-0 Arsenal (Premier League)

Nov 06, 2016: Arsenal 1-1 Spurs (Premier League)

Mar 05, 2016: Spurs 2-2 Arsenal (Premier League)

Nov 08, 2015: Arsenal 1-1 Spurs (Premier League)

Sep 23, 2015: Spurs 1-2 Arsenal (League Cup Round Three)

Feb 7, 2015: Spurs 2-1 Arsenal (Premier League)

Last 10 Premier League meetings

Apr 28, 2024: Spurs 2-3 Arsenal (Premier League)

Sep 24, 2023: Arsenal 2-2 Spurs (Premier League)

Jan 15, 2023: Spurs 0-2 Arsenal (Premier League)

Oct 01, 2022: Arsenal 3-1 Spurs (Premier League)

May 12, 2022: Spurs 3-0 Arsenal (Premier League)

Sep 26, 2021: Arsenal 3-1 Spurs (Premier League)

Mar 14, 2021: Arsenal 2-1 Spurs (Premier League)

Dec 06, 2020: Spurs 2-0 Arsenal (Premier League)

Jul 12, 2020: Spurs 2-1 Arsenal (Premier League)

Sep 01, 2019: Arsenal 2-2 Spurs (Premier League)No Data Analysis info

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was quintessentially tight-lipped when asked whether Martin Odegaard could feature in Sunday's North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur.

The Gunners captain sustained what appeared to be a nasty ankle sprain in Norway's Nations League win over Austria earlier this week, and he was seen on crutches as he boarded a flight back to the UK.

While the midfielder is not believed to have suffered any fracture, Norway's team doctor has admitted that Odegaard could take around three weeks to recover from his sprain, which would rule him out of the derby and upcoming matches with Atalanta BC in the Champions League and Manchester City in the top flight.

Arteta has always been one to keep his cards close to his chest when it comes to injury news, especially before a blockbuster game, and the 42-year-old adopted a similar approach in Friday's press conference.

Asked whether Odegaard could be involved against Tottenham, the Spaniard replied: "We need some more tests so let's see what happens in the next day or so, this afternoon probably, and see what happens with the extent of the injury and how quickly we can get him back.

Arteta refuses to rule "super positive" Odegaard out of North London derby

"He is super positive about everything, we know Martin, he wants to be there every single day, but we have to wait and see. With 48 hours until the game, players could always become available, but let's see what happens."

While Arteta did not give anything away regarding Odegaard's fitness, the Spaniard confirmed that Gabriel Jesus - who has missed Arsenal's last two games with a groin injury - was back in training and is on course to be fit for Sunday's game.

"Gabby was out [training]. He has got another session tomorrow. If everything goes well he will be ready to be selected in the squad, which is great news for us," Arteta replied.

However, the Arsenal boss is unsure if the freak calf injury that Riccardo Calafiori sustained on Italy duty will settle down in time, adding: "It's another one that we have to wait for another day or so."

Mikel Merino (shoulder), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) and Kieran Tierney (hamstring) complete Arsenal's list of injury-related absentees for the derby, while Declan Rice is suspended after his controversial sending-off against Brighton & Hove Albion.

What could Arsenal's midfield look like against Tottenham?

Even when it is seemingly set in stone that Odegaard will not be available for the North London derby, Arteta still refused to give too much away, but it would be a huge surprise to see the Scandinavian involved.

Jesus's anticipated return will offer the Spaniard a straightforward solution, though, as if the Brazilian is given the green light to start up front, Kai Havertz could drop back into midfield to play the Odegaard role.

Arteta's only other like-for-like replacement in the number 10 position is 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, and the Spaniard stressed in his press conference that he would have no qualms about throwing in a young player if they are ready.

However, the teenager has only ever made two appearances in the top flight, - one at a record-breaking 15 years and 181 days old - and he should not be expected to make his first start in the competition away to Tottenham.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that Dominic Solanke and Micky van de Ven are both on track to be fit for Sunday's North London derby against Arsenal.

Solanke - who became Spurs' most expensive signing of all time when he joined in a £65m deal from Bournemouth this summer - has been out of the reckoning since hurting his ankle on his debut against Leicester City.

Meanwhile, Dutch defender Van de Ven was absent from the recent 2-1 loss to Newcastle United with a league injury, which also prevented him from linking up with the Netherlands squad during the international break.

However, there was optimism that both Solanke and Van de Ven would be able to shake off their issues in time for the visit of Arsenal, and Postecoglou has now confirmed that should be the case for the pair.

Speaking to the official Tottenham website, Postecoglou said: "It's fairly positive. Micky's good, he's trained all the way through the international break and it was good for him to stay with us to build him back up so he's ready to go.

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Postecoglou shares Yves Bissouma, Richarlison updates ahead of Arsenal game

"Dom's improved as well and trained the back half of this week. We still have two days to go with those guys so hopefully they get through training ok and are available."

While both Van de Ven and Solanke are on course to return this weekend, Spurs were dealt a fresh injury concern over the international break, as Yves Bissouma picked up a knock while playing for Mali against Eswatini in World Cup qualifying.

The ex-Brighton & Hove Albion man has not been ruled out of the visit of Arsenal just yet, though, and Postecoglou is keeping his fingers crossed that he will recover in time for the derby.

"We had the last of the boys in late yesterday so we'll have a look at them today and everyone's reporting all well except for Biss. He's got a bit of an issue, but we'll have a look at him over the next couple of days and see how it settles," Postecoglou added.

Should Bissouma return as well, Spurs' only absentees for the Arsenal showdown would be Richarlison - still recovering from a training injury - and Will Lankshear, with Postecoglou adding: "Richy's still got a bit of work to do, alongside Will Lankshear who is still in rehab."

What changes could Postecoglou make against Arsenal?

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With neither Solanke nor Richarlison available against Newcastle, Postecoglou fielded a front three of Wilson Odobert, Dejan Kulusevski and Son Heung-min at St James' Park, but a fit Solanke will almost certainly return to the XI.

As Son is also an attacking stalwart and boasts eight goals against Arsenal, either Kulusevski or Odobert would likely be forced to cede their spots, and the latter's inexperience may prove costly.

Bissouma's knock could lead to a recall for Rodrigo Bentancur, even though the Uruguay international could be slapped with a lengthy ban for a racially insensitive comment he made about South Koreans earlier this year.

Van de Ven's expected return should also see Radu Dragusin drop back down to the bench, in what will likely be the third and final change made by Postecoglou for the derby.

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Arsenal put their unbeaten record on the line at the home of their biggest rivals on Sunday afternoon, reuniting with North London derby foes Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

The Gunners went into the international break on the back of taking seven points from their first nine in 2024-25, most recently being held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Brighton & Hove Albion at the Emirates.

Before Joao Pedro's equaliser and Declan Rice's controversial sending-off, Kai Havertz had broken the deadlock thanks to a sublime assist from Bukayo Saka, who has now set up a goal in each of his first three matches this season.

The England international - who turned 23 during the international break - also has one strike to his name this term against Wolverhampton Wanderers, and haunting Spurs was his speciality last season.

Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Saka has fared against Tottenham in the past.

Bukayo Saka record vs. Tottenham Hotspur

© Imago

Played: 9

Won: 5

Drawn: 1

Lost: 3

Goals: 3

Assists: 2

Still in the embryonic stages of his Arsenal career - even though he is now one of the longest-serving players in Mikel Arteta's squad - Saka is set to make his 10th appearance against Tottenham this weekend, and his first nine fixtures have produced a mixed bag of results.

Indeed, Saka has been on the winning side in five of his first nine matches against Tottenham, all of which have come in the Premier League, while also suffering three defeats and being involved in one stalemate.

That solitary draw came at the Emirates Stadium in the 2023-24 campaign, where Saka dispatched a penalty following a Cristian Romero handball, but Son Heung-min's double stole a point for the Lilywhites in a 2-2 thriller.

Later that season, Saka repeated his goalscoring trick against Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with Arsenal's second in an enthralling 3-2 success, meaning that he could join an exclusive club of Arsenal players this weekend.

Should the 23-year-old make the net bulge against Ange Postecoglou's team this weekend, he will become just the third Gunners player to score in at least three consecutive North London derbies after Robert Pires and Emmanuel Adebayor.

During Arsenal's 2-0 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in January 2023, which memorably descended into chaos at full time, Saka also had a hand in Arsenal's first goal, as his cross was diverted into the Spurs net by Hugo Lloris.

The winger failed to directly contribute to a goal in five of his first six appearances against Tottenham, though, the one outlier being Arsenal's 3-1 win at the Emirates in September 2021, where he set up Emile Smith Rowe before bagging one of his own.

In total, Saka has three goals and two assists under his belt from his nine Premier League clashes against the Lilywhites, and since being booked on his North London derby debut, he has not picked up a single yellow or red card in this fiery fixture.

Read more on Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal

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No first-choice midfielders? Arsenal injury list for Tottenham clash

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"Clear psychological edge", "they can bully them" - Spurs vs. Arsenal predictions

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Premier League football returns in style this weekend, with one of the red-letter days of the English football calendar headlining the weekend as Tottenham Hotspur welcome Arsenal for the North London derby.

The 210th edition of the famous fixture takes place on Sunday afternoon, and both sides will be looking to return to winning ways after setbacks immediately prior to the international break.

Arsenal saw their 100% start ended by Brighton & Hove Albion, while Spurs were beaten 2-1 by Newcastle United to leave them on four points from their opening three games.

Victory in what usually lives up to the billing of one of the most entertaining fixtures in the Premier League would be the perfect way to put those results behind them, though, and both teams will enter the derby optimistic of claiming all three points alongside the bragging rights which come with it.

But who do our team think will win? Here, the Sports Mole reporters give their predictions for the mouth-watering showdown.

Barney Corkhill - Draw

Arsenal have definitely had Tottenham's number in recent years, winning five of the last seven North London derbies, but with some notable absentees they may struggle to keep up their dominance this time around.

As always with this fixture, I expect a hugely entertaining contest with plenty of goals - only one of the last seven games has seen fewer than three goals scored, and you have to go back six years for the last time there was only one goal.

However, ultimately I expect the spoils to be shared; I think if you offered fans of both clubs a draw before the game, many would take it, and while both teams have legitimate reasons for optimism heading into the match, I am backing an open, end-to-end 2-2 draw.

Matt Law - Draw

Tottenham have made an underwhelming start to the season, but they were excellent at home to Everton, and a similar performance in this match should earn them at least a point.

Arsenal were solid in their first two matches, but they were far from their best against Brighton last time out, and the absence of Declan Rice will be a big one; Martin Odegaard is also set to miss out with an ankle issue, so it is tough to back the Gunners this weekend.

Tottenham beat Arsenal 3-0 at home in the Premier League at the end of the 2021-22 campaign, and it would certainly not be a shock to see a Spurs win on Sunday.

If Arsenal had their best side available, I would be backing a narrow away victory, but taking everything into consideration, I have had to settle on a low-scoring draw.

Ben Knapton - Tottenham

With Martin Odegaard's ankle injury ruling him out of the derby, Arsenal will be without their first-choice midfield entirely, most likely forcing Arteta to pair Thomas Partey with Jorginho and move Havertz a little deeper.

Unless Partey drops a rare 10/10, Arsenal's midfield could easily be overrun, and Arteta was already struggling for depth without this latest injury crisis.

The Gunners can still bully their rivals from set pieces, but with a depleted squad in a hostile atmosphere, Arsenal will likely come out second best on this occasion.

Jonathan O'Shea - Arsenal

Not only have Arsenal outperformed Tottenham over the past few years, but they also hold a clear psychological edge over their North London rivals.

Despite facing a few absences, the Gunners should take maximum points once again, so Spurs will have to wait a while longer to topple their old foes.

Joel Lefevre - Arsenal

Being without Declan Rice through suspension is not ideal, however, I still don't see the Gunners dropping points against Tottenham this weekend. Arsenal possess more attacking pieces than Tottenham who should trouble the Spurs backline.

They also have a motivated Raheem Sterling keen to show he's still capable of contributing at this level and with a solid track record for scoring versus Spurs, netting eight times against them.

I believe Mikel Arteta's men have learned how to stay sharp consistently throughout a long season, which will serve them well this weekend. I expect another close game between these two, with Arsenal's depth carrying them to victory.

Carter White - Draw

Unbeaten in their last four clashes with Tottenham - dropping points on just the single occasion - Mikel Arteta's Arsenal would have been supremely confident of recording another North London derby success before their recent midfield availability crisis.

Declan Rice's suspension and Martin Odegaard's ankle concern mean that the Gunners could be without two of their most influential players, whilst summer arrival Mikel Merino remains sidelined due to an unfortunate shoulder injury.

On the contrary, Spurs could welcome Micky van de Ven and Dominic Solanke back to their XI after they both missed the defeat to Newcastle United, massively bolstering a side who have dominated all three of their league matches so far this season, albeit earning only four points in the process.

Combining all of those factors, I suspect there will be an opportunity for Ange Postecoglou's troops to pounce on the frailties of Arsenal on Sunday, leading to an exciting share of the spoils at a raucous Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Lewis Nolan - Draw

With Arsenal's first-choice midfield likely to be unavailable for selection, Tottenham should look to take advantage of the Gunners' vulnerability in the centre of the pitch, but Mikel Arteta could find some success against Ange Postecoglou's team if Arsenal prioritise creating counter-attacking opportunities.

Andrew Delaney - Arsenal

Even though form often goes out the window when it comes to big derbies, Arsenal are a class above Tottenham at present and going away to their rivals has not been a daunting task considering they've won on their last two visits.

Martin Odegaard's injury on Monday is a concern, and they will be without Declan Rice, but Mikel Arteta's side should still have enough firepower to expose an often leaky Spurs defence.

Spurs have been punished for not taking their chances so far this season, and Arsenal will not let them off the hook in that regard either.

Nathan Hunter - Tottenham

With Arsenal missing key players in Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard, I can imagine Mikel Arteta will be more inclined to prevent this game being played at Tottenham's tempo and might look to stifle the home side rather than taking the game to Spurs in the way his side did last season.

Even though Tottenham have endured a stuttering start to the season, I have a feeling that they might be catching Arsenal at a good time here.

Babafemi Busari - Arsenal

I believe Arsenal should still be able to edge this game despite the injuries that now mean they are lighter than ideal in midfield for such a big game.

The Gunners have shown they can get wins against their noisy neighbours in less than ideal circumstances so I'd say a 2-1 Arsenal win.

Read more on Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal

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Nwaneri's time to shine? Arsenal's three possible Odegaard replacements

Skipper swap: Six players who could captain Arsenal in Odegaard's absence

Solanke status, Van de Ven latest: Spurs injury news for Arsenal clash

No first-choice midfielders? Arsenal injury list for Tottenham clash

Click here to read our full preview for Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be forced to field a hotchpotch midfield for Sunday's North London derby away to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

As well as Declan Rice's controversial suspension and Mikel Merino's freak shoulder injury, the Gunners have now lost influential captain Martin Odegaard to an ankle sprain, which is expected to sideline him for at least three weeks.

Arteta refused to rule Odegaard out on Friday, but he is set to be working with a second-choice engine room for Sunday's fiery battle, which will no doubt be anchored by Thomas Partey and also feature the experienced Jorginho.

Kai Havertz is seemingly the most likely candidate to play the Odegaard role this weekend, although that may hinge on Gabriel Jesus recovering from a groin injury in time to spearhead the attack, which is thought to be possible.

The Brazilian would start in between Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka - a potential stand-in captain - if that is the case, although Leandro Trossard and debutant Raheem Sterling are alternative attacking options.

Arsenal's injury concerns are not limited to the engine room, as Riccardo Calafiori hurt his calf on international duty, while Kieran Tierney (hamstring) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) are also sidelined.

However, Arteta will still be able to put out a first-choice backline, as David Raya is shielded by William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Jurrien Timber and Ben White.

Arsenal possible starting lineup:

Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Havertz, Partey, Jorginho; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli

> Click here to see how Tottenham could line up for the North London derby

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is still sweating over the fitness of both of his strikers for Sunday's Premier League North London derby at home to Arsenal.

The Lilywhites were without both Dominic Solanke (ankle) and Richarlison (unspecified) for their 2-1 loss to Newcastle United two weekends ago, and the latter will not return for another couple of weeks.

However, there is slight hope that £65m man Solanke will be able to make his North London derby debut from the first whistle, which would lead to a rejig in the final third for the hosts.

James Maddison and Son Heung-min - who has scored eight times against Arsenal in the past - are shoo-ins, leaving Dejan Kulusevski and Wilson Odobert to battle for the final offensive spot, a head-to-head that the more experienced former may win.

Spurs suffered a scare over the fitness of Yves Bissouma during the international break, but Postecoglou has a ready-made replacement in the shape of Rodrigo Bentancur, who could now partner Pape Sarr in the middle.

There is more optimism over the fitness of Micky van de Ven, whose knee problem is expected to settle down in time for him to displace Radu Dragusin alongside Cristian Romero.

Van de Ven's comeback would allow Postecoglou to put out a first-choice backline, as Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro also form part of Guglielmo Vicario's four-man barrier.

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:

Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Sarr, Bentancur; Kulusevski, Maddison, Son; Solanke

> Click here to see how Arsenal could line up for the North London derby

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This weekend's Premier League main event comes from a raucous Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where Ange Postecoglou's Spurs and Arsenal clash in the first North London derby of the season on Sunday afternoon.

The Lilywhites entered the international break on the back of a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United, while the Gunners lost their perfect start in a controversial 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion.

Match preview

The St James' Park curse continues to haunt Tottenham, who have at least managed to reduce their margin of defeat on Newcastle's turf each season, from 6-1 in 2022-23, 4-0 in 2023-24 to a narrow 2-1 loss in the third gameweek of the 2024-25 campaign.

Strikes from Harvey Barnes and Alexander Isak either side of a Dan Burn own goal condemned Postecoglou's charges to their first defeat of the Premier League season, one in which a familiar tale in front of goal arose for Tottenham, who were once again punished for not making the most of their dominance.

A 4-0 thumping of Everton had seemingly dusted off the cobwebs from gameweek one, where Tottenham's wastefulness on the road cost them in their draw with Leicester City, but a lack of ruthlessness is still prevalent in the Spurs ranks if their Newcastle exploits are anything to go by.

Lying smack-bang in the middle of the table in 10th place, Tottenham will also endeavour to end a particular pattern of home results in the Premier League, having followed a win-loss sequence since the beginning of April.

Having crushed Everton in their first home contest of the season, the omens are not exactly promising for Postecoglou's side if that streak is to continue this weekend, but the Lilywhites could arguably not be facing Arsenal at a more opportune time.

When Brighton defender Joel Veltman took a wild swipe at Declan Rice in Arsenal's showdown with Brighton, the vast majority of supporters inside the stadium expected the Dutchman to receive punishment. Instead, the Emirates crowd were left aghast when Chris Kavanagh sent the equally bewildered Rice for an early bath.

Already on a yellow card, Rice lightly tapping the ball away from Veltman as he was lining up a free kick triggered the Englishman's second yellow, allowing the Seagulls to fight back through Joao Pedro after Kai Havertz's delicate first-half lob.

As Arsenal and Mikel Arteta were left to lament Rice's highly controversial sending-off - which came after Pedro escaped a booking for kicking the ball away in the first half - the Brighton faithful were bouncing all the way home after denying the Gunners a third win from three matches in 2024-25.

Saturday's visitors therefore occupy fourth place in the Premier League table at present, two points worse off than Manchester City and Liverpool ahead of their games on Saturday, but Gooners at least received one piece of good news this week with Arteta's new contract signing.

Solace can also be taken from their last two Premier League wins away to Spurs in 2023 and 2024, but they have never triumphed against the Lilywhites in three straight road matches in the Premier League era and head to their rivals' home without arguably their first-choice midfield.

Tottenham Hotspur Premier League form:

Arsenal Premier League form:

Team News

Tottenham's offensive efforts against Newcastle were not helped by the absences of their two main strikers in Dominic Solanke and Richarlison, but only the latter is guaranteed to miss out; there is a good chance that Solanke will be available.

The Lilywhites were handed a scare over the fitness of Yves Bissouma during the international break after the Mali midfielder suffered a heavy knock, but Postecoglou is keeping his fingers crossed that Micky van de Ven's knee issue will settle down in time for the weekend.

Bissouma's blow means that Rodrigo Bentancur - who is at risk of a lengthy ban after being charged by the FA over his comments about South Koreans - could be tasked with anchoring the Tottenham midfield, while Son Heung-min is out to make the net ripple against Arsenal for the ninth time; only three players have ever scored more in the history of the NLD.

Tottenham's one midfield concern pales in comparison to Arsenal's crisis, though, as alongside Rice's suspension and Mikel Merino's shoulder injury, captain Martin Odegaard sprained his ankle while on Norway duty and apparently faces at least three weeks on the sidelines; Arteta's suggestion that he could be fit may have just been mind games.

Odegaard's absence will likely force Arteta to drop Havertz into a three-man midfield also reinforced by Jorginho, although if Gabriel Jesus is not back from a groin issue in time for the derby, either Leandro Trossard or potential debutant Raheem Sterling could lead the line; the Brazilian is training again, though.

Kieran Tierney (hamstring) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) are definite absentees too, while Riccardo Calafiori hurt his calf in a bizarre incident while playing for Italy but would not have made his first Premier League start here either way.

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:

Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Sarr, Bentancur; Kulusevski, Maddison, Son; Solanke

Arsenal possible starting lineup:

Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Havertz, Partey, Jorginho; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli

We say: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Arsenal

Merino-Rice-Odegaard would have been the perfect Arsenal midfield for Sunday's blockbuster derby, but the Gunners now face being overrun in the engine room while also losing Odegaard's invaluable ingenuity in the final third.

Arteta's troops can still expose Spurs' frailties at the back, but we cannot see a way for the visitors to earn the derby bragging rights with their current selection crisis; North London should be lilywhite this weekend.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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Not long after it was reported that Raheem Sterling's proposed deadline day move to Arsenal was a non-starter, the Gunners pulled off the marquee loan signing of the ostracised Chelsea attacker in the early hours of the morning of August 31.

Having been brutally ejected from Chelsea's senior squad by new manager Enzo Maresca, Sterling was handed a Premier League lifeline by former Manchester City assistant Mikel Arteta, who saved him from a few months out in the cold.

The 29-year-old was in attendance at the Emirates to watch Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion on the same day that his move was announced, having not been registered in time to make his debut in the clash with the Seagulls.

Sterling watched on as his former Chelsea teammate Kai Havertz opened the scoring in delightful fashion, but Declan Rice's controversial red card preceded an equaliser from Joao Pedro, who was not booked for a similar incident that earned Rice his second yellow.

Rice's misdemeanour means that the £105m midfielder is now suspended for this weekend's North London derby away to Tottenham Hotspur, where Sterling could play his first game for Arteta's side, and the ramifications of Rice's red could extend to the Chelsea loanee.

Why Sterling might be the solution to Rice and Odegaard blows

In an ideal world, Arteta would have simply swapped the banned Rice out for another new signing in Mikel Merino, the Euro 2024-winning Spaniard who excelled in the number eight role for Real Sociedad.

However, the 28-year-old suffered a bizarre injury in his first training session with the Gunners, fracturing a bone in his shoulder after Gabriel Magalhaes fell on him, which could keep him out until late October in the worst-case scenario.

Arteta will therefore be forced into a critical rethink, and the Arsenal boss has not been shy to move Havertz into midfield when the need arises, in spite of the fact that the German is far better suited to the number nine role.

Havertz did play in the engine room a couple of times in pre-season, though, suggesting that Arteta feels he can still do a job there, and his tall frame would mimic that of both Rice and Merino to offer a physical presence in the middle of the park.

With Martin Odegaard also guaranteed to miss the North London derby and likely a few matches afterwards due to the ankle sprain he suffered while playing for Norway, Arteta may feel that he has no choice but to drop the German deeper.

Havertz moving into midfield would leave the striker spot vacant, and while Gabriel Jesus would normally be the first port of call, the Brazil international is nursing a groin injury and is not guaranteed to be fit for the trip to Tottenham.

As a result, Sterling - who has looked sharp in training since joining up with the Gunners - is a genuine option in the number nine position, and he is no stranger to such a role, playing 62 matches and scoring 25 goals up front according to Transfermarkt.

Whether Tottenham's Micky van de Ven recovers from his own knee injury in time for the derby remains to be seen, but should the lightning-fast Dutchman be fit, Arsenal could certainly use an injection of Sterling's pace.

What other options does Arteta have?

Havertz moving into midfield and Sterling starting up front is just one possible solution of many; Arteta could also persist with Havertz in the number nine slot and just introduce Jorginho and one wild card option as Rice and Odegaard's replacements.

Teenage duo Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly represent those wild card options who could plug any midfield gaps, but the youngsters are only emergency solutions, while Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli can also act as makeshift strikers.