Spurs have only one Premier League win away at Arsenal since 1993
Arsenal vs Tottenham - LIVE!
Arsenal take on Tottenham tonight in what is a huge north London derby for both sides. The Gunners are is desperate need of a positive result to lift the mood having lost to Newcastle and Manchester United in the last week, while Spurs sit 13th in the Premier League table and a long way off the European spots.
The pressure is building on Mikel Arteta, with Arsenal’s trophy hopes taking a big hit in recent days. Goals remain a problem and a long-term injury to Gabriel Jesus has left the Gunners even shorter in attack, meaning Raheem Sterling is handed a rare start. With Liverpool drawing to Nottingham Forest last night, a win here would move Arsenal within four points of the league leaders.
Spurs needed extra-time to get past non-league Tamworth in the FA Cup on Sunday, but there were far more positive signs a few days earlier when they beat Liverpool in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final. Ange Postecoglou’s side are on a four match winless run in the league, though, and are closer to the relegation zone than the top-six. Follow all the action with Standard Sport’s LIVE blog, featuring expert analysis from Simon Collings and Dan Kilpatrick at the ground!
Arsenal vs Tottenham latest news
Arteta: We need Sterling
Mikel Arteta has backed Raheem Sterling to step up for Arsenal and make an impact in the absence of Bukayo Saka.
Arsenal are set to be without Saka until at least March after the winger tore his hamstring last month and underwent surgery.
Manager Arteta has started four different players on the right wing since losing the England star and Sterling makes that five tonight.
Sterling came on for the injured Gabriel Jesus during Sunday’s FA Cup defeat by Manchester United and Arteta was impressed.
“I was really happy with the way he (Sterling) came in [against Manchester United],” said Arteta on the eve of the derby. “Since he had the injury and he came back, you could sense he was going to give us something important.
“Great, because we need him. You could see what he can bring. He is used to playing in this kind of context and the demands that we have, every three days. Great to have him.”
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Simon Collings and Dan Kilpatrick at the Emirates Stadium
Interesting decisions made by both managers...
Postecoglou: Spurs must embrace special occasion
Ange Postecoglou does not want to play down the significance of tonight’s clash.
He’s urged his Tottenham players to “embrace” the occasion as they look for a rare win on enemy territory.
Spurs have won only once away at Arsenal in the Premier League since 1993, with that sole victory coming 15 years ago.
"It is a special game and we should all embrace part of that,” Postecoglou says.
“It is not just a normal game, it is a little more."
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Huge night for Arteta with mood shifting
Just days before he was appointed Arsenal head coach, Mikel Arteta sat in the visiting dugout at Emirates Stadium as part of Manchester City’s backroom staff.
The Spaniard left feeling down and with a sense Arsenal had lost their way, such was the mood at the club.
It’s why changing the atmosphere at the Emirates was one of Arteta’s first aims when he was hired and remains one of his key objectives.
Arteta has given his blessing and been involved in pre-match hype videos on social media, while he was also a big driver behind the club’s decision to play the song ‘The Angel (North London Forever)’ by Louis Dunford before games.
The atmosphere at the Emirates has dramatically improved under Arteta, but it was telling this week that he felt the need to call for more.
Two defeats last week has dampened the mood around Arsenal and there are the first few grumblings of discontent.
It is nothing like the toxic final days of Arsene Wenger, or the apathetic ending to Unai Emery’s reign, but there is not the same wave of enthusiasm that felt present during Arsenal’s title charges over the past two seasons.
It is hard to escape the feeling that Arteta needs to come out of this north London derby with a positive result.
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In the building!
The Spurs players have arrived at the Emirates...
Arteta eyeing Arsenal trophy...
Out of the FA Cup, a mountain to climb in the Carabao Cup, but Mikel Arteta still believes.
Arsenal boss is adamant club can still win a trophy this season and there is still plenty to play for.
Victory tonight and they will be only four points off Liverpool, though Arne Slot’s side would have a game in hand.
Simon Collings at the Emirates Stadium
Raheem Sterling now the 5th different player to start on the right wing for Arsenal since Bukayo Saka got injured last month.
Tottenham team news
Starting XI: Kinsky, Porro, Dragusin, Gray, Spence, Bissouma, Sarr, Bergvall, Kulusevski, Solanke, Son
Subs: Austin, Hardy, Reguilon, Olusesi, Maddison, Moore, Johnson, Richarlison, Lankshear
Arsenal team news
Starting XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Trossard, Sterling, Havertz
Subs: Neto, Tierney, Zinchenko, Kiwior, Jorginho, Merino, Butler-Oyedeji, Kabia, Martinelli
Odegaard: Felt like I let the team down
Martin Odegaard has spoken about the responsibility he feels for Arsenal’s FA Cup exit to Manchester United.
Odegaard missed a penalty in normal time as the match went to a shootout, where he then scored from the spot but it was not enough.
Writing in his programme notes, the Arsenal captain says: “It was really tough to take on Sunday – it was very frustrating for everyone.
“On the pitch I had the feeling that we dominated the game from the first half until the end. We could have been sharper in front of goal and also in the last pass and the final shot.
“But to lose that game at home when we dominated everything, it’s a tough one to take.
“And of course I have to take responsibility for the penalty. I should have scored – that’s not good enough from me.
“It was a crucial moment of the game as well because I think if I scored that, we probably go on to win the game. I felt like I’d let the team down, so it was important for me to step up again in the shoot-out, and I wanted to go first like usual.
“It was good that one went in, but in the end it wasn’t enough, so I still feel that responsibility to the team.”
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