Tottenham Vs Arsenal: Tactics, Squad News and Predictions

Arsenal’s trip across north London to face Tottenham Hotspur no longer feels like a routine derby assignment.

Instead, it unfolds under a cloud of doubt, pressure and rising noise about whether Mikel Arteta’s side has the nerve to finish what they have started.

For weeks, the narrative around Arsenal has shifted dramatically.

What once looked like a smooth march towards a first Premier League title since Arsène Wenger’s iconic 2003-04 “Invincibles” season is now framed by uncomfortable questions about character, composure, and mentality.

Are the Gunners tightening up at the decisive moment? Are they “bottling” their biggest opportunity in two decades?

The timing of this north London derby only intensifies that scrutiny.

Arsenal head to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium- a ground where Spurs have struggled domestically this season, as they’re sitting at 16th position with 29 points, but the context has changed.

The instability surrounding Tottenham, including the departure of Thomas Frank and the arrival of Igor Tudor, adds an unpredictable edge to the occasion.

Tudor, known for injecting intensity and quick starts at previous clubs, brings fresh energy to what was already destined to be a fiercely charged atmosphere.

For Arsenal, this is more than a derby. It is a psychological examination.

On paper, there is little justification for panic. Arsenal remain top of the Premier League table with 58 points.

They were flawless in the Champions League group stage, winning all eight matches.

A Carabao Cup final against Manchester City looms, and an FA Cup tie against League One side Mansfield Town offers further opportunity.

Yet football is rarely governed by logic alone.

The recent collapse from 2-0 up against Wolves, a match that spiralled amid visible tension and late chaos, has amplified doubts.

That result forms part of a worrying run of just two wins in seven league games.

Even Wolves’ social media vibes about “Game Management” served as a public reminder that Arsenal’s grip may be loosening at the worst possible time.

Now, the question is simple but brutal: Can Arsenal steady themselves, or will the pressure of history prove too heavy?

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Managers Opinions

Tottenham

Hotspur’s new interim head coach, Tudor, says instilling the players with confidence is his most urgent task.

“Priority is to give everything the team needs in these moments. The team needs, I believe, first of all, to get some confidence, to get some courage, but also, in the same way, the concrete things in the pitch,” Tudor told Spursplay.

“Of course, I’m coming here knowing that the situation is not easy. There is no time to find excuses. What I said from the first day here, each of us needs to give something more, something extra.”

He added, “The position of the club in this moment is one that nobody can accept. Every Tottenham fan cannot accept the situation. We are aware of that. But it’s not enough to just be aware of that.”

“I understand the importance of this game. This is a derby, a north London derby,” he said.

“This is a team that is full of quality, full of talented players, with good motor engines. But my goal in these first training sessions is that we become a team, with a really right way of going to war.

“A team who want to suffer. To fight, to run, to have the right mentality. This is the start.”

Arsenal

Arsenal’s boss rejected the term “bottlers’ ahead of Sunday’s Premier ⁠League visit ⁠to Tottenham Hotspur.

“It’s not part of my ‌vocabulary, and I don’t see it like this because I don’t think anybody wants to do that as an intention,” Arteta told reporters on Friday, when asked about the term being used regarding their latest wobble in the title race.

“That’s individual opinion, perspective. You have to ⁠respect that. That’s what I said after ⁠the press conference. You lose two points against Wolves in the manner that the game played out; you have to take it on the ⁠chin. It’s part of our role.”

“What I’m very interested in is the next one, ⁠what we are made of, what ⁠we love about this and how we write our own destiny from here.”

Tactics

Tottenham

Spurs’ new head coach for the rest of this season prefers a back three.

Across his last three roles, with Juventus, Lazio and Marseille, he used it in 95 per cent of games, with 3-4-2-1 his go-to shape.

Stylistically, Spurs will also look very different, no matter what shape he uses.

Out of possession, Tudor demands an incredibly hostile and non-negotiable man-to-man press.

For a side who have forced just 20 shot-ending high turnovers this season (the second lowest tally) it will be a major gear shift.

On the ball, they will also be more fluid in terms of positional rotation.

Tudor asks his wide centre-backs to overlap, underlap and invert into central midfield, with midfielders regularly moving wide.

Spurs’ wing-backs may be instructed to push into the twin No 10 roles on occasion, too.

A starting 3-4-2-1 could easily morph into a 2-3-2-3 when they have the ball.

Arsenal

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal utilizes a highly flexible, possession-based 4-3-3 system that evolves into a 4-4-2 or 3-2-5, focusing on positional play, high pressing, and defensive solidity.

Key tactics include inverting full-backs (or left-backs) to create a midfield box, using Kai Havertz in a fluid role, and maintaining a dominant rest-defense

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Squad News

Tottenham

Tottenham have been hit by a significant setback ahead of the derby, with young winger Wilson Odobert ruled out after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the defeat to Newcastle.

He joins an already lengthy injury list that includes James Maddison, Ben Davies, Dejan Kulusevski, Rodrigo Bentancur, Mohammed Kudus, Destiny Udogie, Kevin Danso and Lucas Bergvall leaving Spurs stretched in several key areas.

Cristian Romero will also miss out as he serves the second match of a four-game suspension following his red card against Manchester United earlier this month.

There is, however, a potential boost for Spurs. Brazilian forward Richarlison has returned to training after recovering from a knock and could be in contention.

Pedro Porro, meanwhile, faces a late fitness test as he continues his recovery.

Predicted Starting XI:

Vicario (GK); Palhinha, Dragusin, Van de Ven; Gray, Gallagher, Sarr, Spence; Kolo Muani, Simons; Solanke

Arsenal

Arsenal have been dealt a setback with versatile midfielder Mikel Merino undergoing surgery on a stress fracture in his right foot-an injury picked up in January that could sideline him for the remainder of the season.

Leandro Trossard is also a major doubt for the derby after limping off in stoppage time during the recent clash with Wolves, adding to Mikel Arteta’s selection concerns.

There is cautious optimism elsewhere, however. Arteta is hopeful that captain Martin Ødegaard and Kai Havertz will be available after recent injury struggles, while youngster Max Dowman has returned to training following an ankle issue.

Bukayo Saka, who also appeared to pick up a knock against Wolves, is expected to be fit in time for the showdown.

Predicted Starting XI:

Raya (GK); Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Ødegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli

Head to Head

Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal have faced each other 212 times across all competitions, underlining the deep history of the north London rivalry.

Arsenal hold the advantage with 90 victories, while Spurs have won 67 matches, and 55 encounters have ended in draws.

Recent meetings have tilted firmly in Arsenal’s favour.

The Gunners are unbeaten in their last seven clashes against their neighbours, reinforcing their current dominance in the fixture.

Earlier this season, Arsenal delivered an electrifying performance at the Emirates, cruising to a 4-1 victory over Spurs with Eze scoring hatrick .

They also completed the league double winning both home and away in the 2024-25 campaign, edging Tottenham 1-0 away before sealing a 2-1 win at home.

Tottenham vs. Arsenal Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)

Tottenham: 0 wins

Arsenal: 4 wins

Draws: 1

Current Form (All Competitions, Last Five Games)

Tottenham (LLDWD)

Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle
Man Utd 2-0 Tottenham
Tottenham 2-2 Man City
Eintracht Frankfurt 0-2 Tottenham
Burnley 2-2 Tottenham

Arsenal (DWDWW)

Wolves 2-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 4-0 Wigan
Brentford 1-1 Arsenal
Arsenal 3-0 Sunderland
Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea

Predictions

Manager Igor Tudor oversaw his first training sessions this week and aims to end a run of eight league games without a win.

Notably, Tudor has a history of immediate impact, having won his first match in charge at each of his last five clubs.

Breaking that run today would be historic, as the only other Spurs manager to debut against Arsenal was Glenn Hoddle in 2001.

However, the hosts’ injury crisis and appalling home record is too difficult to ignore, and we still have faith in Arsenal to get back to track as they’re having the rage and hunger after the lose to Wolverhampton.

Tottenham 1-2 Arsenal

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