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Arsenal news: Gunners in line for tidy profit as Ethan Nwaneri move gets 'green light'

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Arsenal news: Gunners in line for tidy profit as Ethan Nwaneri move gets 'green light' - The Mirror
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Arsenal are gearing up to face Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby on Sunday

Arsenal are preparing for the first north London derby of the season as the Premier League returns this weekend. The Gunners entered the third international break of the season as the table toppers and will stay there whatever happens across Saturday and Sunday.

Despite being held to a 2-2 draw at Sunderland earlier this month, their lead over second-placed Manchester City remained. The Gunners are now firmly aiming to win the Premier League title after three consecutive second-placed finishes in the last three years.

Arsenal have garnered praise for their squad depth this season. However, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has been called on to sanction the loan of one star who has been out of the first team this season.

In other news, Arsenal could be set to make a handsome profit through a former player. Mirror Football brings you a round-up of the latest Arsenal news.

Arteta told to make move

Arteta has been told that he should sanction the loan departure of Ethan Nwaneri, with the youngster's development being hampered by a lack of minutes this season.

The teenager was the Premier League's youngest ever player when he made his debut in 2022 and has continued to shine when given the opportunity. However, the arrival of the likes of Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze has pushed Nwaneri, who scored nine times across 37 appearances last season, further down the pecking order.

It is understood that Arsenal would be open to letting the 18-year-old head out temporarily. Ex-Gunner Lauren insists it will be good for Nwaneri - and potentially for Arsenal's other teenage star, Max Dowman - to leave the Emirates on loan.

He said: "First of all, youngsters have to play to able to develop and improve his qualities. We know about his qualities. A young player needs to play if he is to develop. At this moment of time, it’s very difficult for him to pop up into the team because there is a top player now.

"There are more good players in the last third so for him it’s more difficult, and it’s the same with Dowman. It’s not a bad idea to go on loan and then to play the games that you need to develop. Maybe he might come back. It’s not the end of the world. I believe it could be a good option for a youngster to move along and then come back later on."

Gunners in line for profit

Arsenal are in line for tidy profit as former right-back Brooke Norton-Cuffy attracts interest from a number of elite Italian clubs. The England U21 international left the Gunners for Genoa in August 2024 in a deal worth an initial £1.75million plus a further £1.75m in bonuses.

Norton-Cuffy has caught the eye in Serie A, playing every minute of Genoa's league campaign to date. His displays have been said to have made forced Inter Milan and Juventus to sit up and take notice.

If Norton-Cuffy was to make a switch, Arsenal would be due an undisclosed cut of the fee after they negotiated a sell-on clause with Genoa.

Current Italian champions Napoli have also been credited with an interest amid unconfirmed reports that Antonio Conte's side have already seen a verbal offer worth in the region of £8.8m turned down.

Norton-Cuffy spent time on loan at Lincoln City, Rotherham United, Coventry City and Millwall before moving to Genoa. There was also interest from a series of French and Bundesliga clubs when he made the decision to depart the Gunners in 2024.

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Tottenham star Joao Palhinha hits back at Jamie Carragher as Arsenal fired warning

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Tottenham star Joao Palhinha hits back at Jamie Carragher as Arsenal fired warning - The Mirror
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Tottenham midfielder Joao Palhinha has been speaking ahead of the North London Derby and he is adamant Spurs are going to the Emirates Stadium for all three points

Joao Palhinha claims only a win will do for Tottenham in the North London Derby - even if the pressure is ALL on Arsenal.

The Portuguese stalwart is striving to provide the steel to inspire Spurs' first away Premier League victory over their rivals since November 2010.

Palhinha said ahead of today's crunch meeting: "I think it’s a bit of a similar feeling to when we played PSG in the Super Cup because they beat everyone at that moment.

"They won the league, they won the Champions League, everything that they could have and when you have these teams that are in the top moment, top form, I think the pressure is probably more on their side than us.

"I think we need to recognise their form and then their talent because if they are in the position they are in the moment then they deserve it, completely.

"But we know what we can do, we are really capable to give our best in that game and hopefully we can reach what we really want now, which is the victory. "We don’t want to draw, we just want to focus on the victory because this team is together and we push each other all the time. We know it will be difficult, of course."

Tottenham remain unbeaten on the road in the Premier League this season and no top-flight side has claimed more points than Thomas Frank's men (13) on their travels.

Not only does Palhinha intend to preserve that record but he's also out to prove his critics wrong after recently receiving flak from Jamie Carragher for being "too negative" on the ball.

He continued: "I saw it because some people sent it to me, I couldn’t say that I didn’t see it. But to be honest, about this, what can I say? I don’t care what the people say.

“If he says bad things about [Cristiano] Ronaldo, he can speak about everyone. Some people need to speak about another to be on the screens on the TV. My life is not about that, definitely.

“It makes it a bit embarrassing seeing sometimes the ex-players speaking that the way that they speak and they look sometimes like superstars on their past, I don’t have problems to say.

“I think he should have seen probably more games of me at Tottenham. I think I am doing a top season and the things that he says about me go to the back [of my mind].

“But he’s not going to be the first and he’s not going to be the last one, you know?

“The way is about how we react. And the way I react is scoring a goal, after he said this to me, against Copenhagen.

“I will keep showing how I can do it. I don’t need to give these answers, but that’s what I feel. I don’t really care about this kind of thing. It’s not important for me.

“I just want to keep doing my job and show what I am capable of doing because I am really proud of what I have been doing until now."

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Bukayo Saka makes emotional claim before Arsenal vs Tottenham clash – 'I would not accept it!'

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Bukayo Saka makes emotional claim before Arsenal vs Tottenham clash – 'I would not accept it!' - The Mirror
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One of the Premier League's most exciting talents, Bukayo Saka has been with Arsenal since he was seven years old and the Gunners forward has been reflecting on his story

Bukayo Saka has looked back on his footballing journey as Arsenal gear up for the North London Derby. The Gunners will be desperate to stretch their advantage at the top of the Premier League on Sunday.

The 24-year-old winger has been embedded within the Arsenal setup since arriving at the club's prestigious Hale End academy aged just seven. Since those early days, Saka has blossomed into one of Mikel Arteta's most vital players and regularly dons the captain's armband on the pitch.

The Ealing-born maestro made his Arsenal debut roughly 12 months before Arteta's appointment. Now, having operated under the Gunners' gaffer for nearly six seasons, Saka has transformed into one of England's top players.

Throughout his professional career, Saka has remained loyal to just one club – Arsenal. Despite achieving remarkable success in the Premier League and across European competitions, the club's No. 7 remains grounded about his humble beginnings.

Chatting to BBC Sport's Kelly Somers, Saka said: "Playing in my back garden with my brother and my dad. It was 2 v 1, actually. It was me against them, and they're both older than me.

"I would never lose. I would not accept it. I would cry, I would do anything, and that started young."

When asked about his earliest memories, without hesitation, Saka said: "Greenford Celtic. I remember everything, from the kit to the games. The kit was green stripes with white stripes – it had like a Celtic logo.

"We used to play in a local park, after the game – boots muddied completely and you'd have to slap them against the trees. Proper football.

"I remember everything. It was a really important chapter of my life and I enjoyed it."

Saka was questioned about the moment he realised he could pursue a professional career in football. He said: "You can be humble and also believe that you're good as well.

"I think there's nothing wrong with both and they can both be together. And I think I had that from young, but I just never thought about it.

"I was just enjoying the game and I was good at it. So it made it even more fun."

Selecting the right club represents one of the most crucial decisions any aspiring young footballer can make. It's a decision that has the power to define an entire career.

However, for Saka, the choice would always be Arsenal. He continued: "I remember my dad telling me I got scouted because it was different... You got a scout card – scouts would have come to watch you at a local team... and they gave my dad a card and said: 'Call me, we'll set up a trial.'

"So I remember first coming into Hale End – my first trial. I didn't even feel an ounce of fear. I was just like, 'I'm just going to play football, just enjoy it,' and I played so good.

"I think I trialled at the B team. I played so good they put me in the A team, and from there signed and I've been at Arsenal ever since.

"Yeah [it was always Arsenal]. Well at that point of my career, the decisions were more made by your parents. You're just a kid, you don't really, do you know what I'm saying? My dad made it clear to me 'Arsenal is the club I want you at', and I said: 'OK, let's go.'"

This Sunday, Saka will aim to achieve what every budding Arsenal academy star fantasises about – defeating Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby.

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Arsenal injury crisis forcing Mikel Arteta to make four big decisions vs Tottenham

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Mikel Arteta has four big decisions to make ahead of the north London derby, with Arsenal set to host Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon

Mikel Arteta has four big decisions to make ahead of the North London Derby. Arsenal are set to host Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon, with both teams eager to get back to winning ways.

Before the international break, Sunderland managed to hold the Gunners to a 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light. The Lilywhites also dropped points, losing a stoppage-time lead to Manchester United on home turf. Since Arteta took over from Unai Emery, Arsenal have only been defeated by Tottenham three times, two of which were during the Spaniard's debut season.

The third and most recent loss to Spurs was in May 2022, when Harry Kane knocked the Gunners out of the race for Champions League qualification.

Arsenal have won five of their six encounters with the Lilywhites since then. This weekend, the Premier League leaders have the chance to secure a fourth consecutive victory against Tottenham for the first time since 1989.

So, with history on the line, Mirror Sport has looked at four crucial decisions that could tip the balance in Arteta's favour.

Arteta picks Gabriel replacement

Gabriel Magalhaes sustained a thigh injury during the international break. The 27 year old defender was forced to withdraw during Brazil's 2-0 friendly victory over Senegal at the Emirates Stadium last Saturday.

Arteta has confirmed that the centre-back could be out for a few 'weeks', but luckily, he has plenty of options to choose from when selecting a new partner for William Saliba.

Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie have shown great potential since joining the Gunners from Valencia and Bayer Leverkusen respectively in the summer transfer window. Jurrien Timber and Ben White could also step in for Gabriel in the backline, although they're often preferred at right-back.

Arsenal trio fight for starring role

With Viktor Gyokeres potentially missing the north London derby, Gabriel Jesus, Mikel Merino, and Leandro Trossard will have been hoping to impress Arteta in training this week. The first of the three is the only natural striker on paper, although he's recently returned from a lengthy injury layoff.

Jesus has only just returned to first-team training as he looks to regain his fitness following an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Merino has impressed whenever he's been asked to lead the frontline, while Trossard's knack for scoring makes him a strong contender for the vacancy up top.

Lewis-Skelly battles for Arsenal chance

Riccardo Calafiori missed each of Italy's final World Cup qualifiers due to injury. With doubts over the 23 year old defender's availability, Arteta could give Myles Lewis-Skelly his first Premier League start of the season.

The Hale End graduate faces stiff competition for a starting spot, with Hincapie also able to operate at left-back. Timber has featured on the opposite flank previously, meaning he could provide cover for Calafiori as well.

Frank helps Arteta make Eze-y decision

Thomas Frank took a cheeky swipe at Eberechi Eze during his pre-match press conference. The Dane was questioned about whether he believed Tottenham had sealed a deal for the former Crystal Palace star before Arsenal pounced.

"Who's Eze?" replied Frank with a deadpan expression. Following a brief and uncomfortable pause, the Spurs manager finished the joke and said: "Very good player. He plays for Arsenal – a team we want to beat on Sunday."

Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke are both nearing returns from injury lay-offs. While it's unlikely they'll start on Sunday afternoon, Frank's comment will have provided Eze with the motivation he needs to inspire Arsenal to triumph.

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Thomas Frank makes thoughts clear on £100m transfer as he dubs Arsenal duo 'traitors'

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Thomas Frank makes thoughts clear on £100m transfer as he dubs Arsenal duo 'traitors' - The Mirror
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Thomas Frank has spoken about the direction Tottenham Hotspur are taking on and off the pitch as the club gears up to take on Arsenal in the north London derby

Everything you need to know about Thomas Frank's Arsenal pre-match press conference

Owner ambition & backing: Tottenham coach Thomas Frank is optimistic about the club's future direction under the current Lewis family ownership structure. He confidently believes the owners are committed for the long term and will provide the financial backing necessary to build a successful team.

Ownership structure change: The Lewis family, specifically siblings Vivienne and Charles Lewis and the former's son-in-law Nick Beucher, have taken a more prominent role. This new group is now actively supporting the club and CEO Vinai Venkatesham, following the exit of long-time chairman Daniel Levy.

Investment details: The Lewis family has already demonstrated their commitment by injecting a substantial £100 million into the club's finances. Further financial support is anticipated to help Spurs close the gap with the biggest-spending clubs at the top of the league.

The £100m transfer question: While confident in the owner’s ambition, Frank suggested that Tottenham signing a single £100 million player remains unlikely in the immediate future, following comments previously made by Ange Postecoglou. He expressed certainty that such a massive investment will happen someday, but stressed that the club is not close to that level of spending right now.

Player development philosophy: Frank emphasised that long-term success requires a balance of time, process, and smart investment, not just large-scale purchases. He advocated for the importance of developing existing players effectively, citing Liverpool and Manchester City as examples of clubs that didn't solely rely on signing the most expensive talent.

North London Derby: Those comments were made in the context of the club preparing to face their fierce rivals, Arsenal, who currently sit at the top of the league table. Frank added a touch of humour by jokingly referring to former Brentford stars David Raya and Christian Norgaard, now playing for Arsenal, as "traitors."

Significant Injury boost: Thomas Frank delivered positive news regarding the squad's availability just ahead of the Super Sunday clash. Crucially, eight of the club's 12 previously unavailable players are back in contention, including Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Bergvall, and Randal Kolo Muani.

Set-Piece focus: Frank also addressed the tactical battle that will take place on Sunday, with both teams showing a heavy focus on the effectiveness of set pieces. Frank noted that the increased, league-wide emphasis on this phase of play, including long throws, may have been inspired by his coaching work at Brentford.

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Thomas Frank puts Tottenham owners under pressure with £100m transfer declaration

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Thomas Frank puts Tottenham owners under pressure with £100m transfer declaration - The Mirror
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Spurs boss Thomas Frank was asked about Tottenham's ambitions under the Lewis family ahead of the Lilywhites' Premier League clash against Arsenal this weekend

Thomas Frank has called upon Tottenham's owners, the Lewis family, to back up their words with actions to help push Spurs to the top. The Lilywhites boss does not believe the north London side are on the verge of splashing £100million on a player, but Frank remains intent on delivering results.

After his first 11 Premier League matches in charge of Tottenham, Frank has guided his team into fifth, after they finished 17th last term. The club sit eight points behind local rivals Arsenal in the division, ahead of the North London Derby.

The Lewis family saw Daniel Levy depart the club earlier this season and have made sustained success a priority. They have also injected £100m into the club, with the prospect of spending in the January transfer window on the horizon.

Asked if he had received assurances of the club's ambition, Frank revealed his confidence in his employers. “They [the Lewis family] definitely said they are all in for the club, that they want to be here for the long term and they want to have success," he said.

“That’s, of course, a little bit big headlines. We’ll see what happens in the future, but I’m confident they will back us to do everything we can to build a successful club.”

Frank added: “I’m very good at talking up here [to the media], but it’s about showing it out there on the pitch consistently and after setbacks. The same with them. In the best positive way, that’s what we need to do together.”

The former Brentford boss has doubts that Spurs will follow in the footsteps of Arsenal in the transfer market, however. The Gunners stumped up £100m to sign Declan Rice and cement their place as title challengers.

Frank does not reckon a £100m purchase is coming soon to aid Spurs. “In the next 50 years? Then yes!” he joked.

“It’s very evident that every successful club, not for one year. Over five, six, seven years, to build, you need a combination of time and processes.

"Then, of course, investment. If you want success in football, you need to invest in players. Hopefully, do it cleverly and we want to do it smart, so we don’t invest too much on the wrong players.

“But you need to invest... £100m? I don’t know. Let’s see. I don’t think we are close to spending £100m, put it that way. But I don’t know, let’s see what happens in the future.”

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Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur Premier League prediction, odds and betting offer

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Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur Premier League prediction, odds and betting offer - The Mirror
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The North London Derby awaits at the Emirates Stadium with Arsenal looking to maintain their lead at the top of the Premier League table

This weekend, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur face off in the first North London derby of the season. Arsenal arrive at the top of the Premier League, having suffered just one defeat so far. The Gunners are currently enjoying a 14-match unbeaten streak and have won ten of their last eleven games across all competitions.

Mikel Arteta’s side have been formidable defensively, keeping eight clean sheets in their last nine matches and not conceding a single goal at the Emirates in their previous five home games. They remain unbeaten at home this season, with their only draw coming in a 1-1 result against Manchester City.

Arsenal have been in excellent form, scoring freely, winning consistently, and shutting out opponents as autumn sets in. However, just before the international break, they were held to a draw by newly-promoted Sunderland, with former Arsenal academy player Daniel Ballard helping the Black Cats end the Gunners’ 812-minute run without conceding. Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard found the net in the second half, but Sunderland’s late equalizer meant Arsenal had to settle for a point. Despite this, they still maintain a four-point lead over Manchester City, though that gap could shrink if City defeat Newcastle United on Saturday.

While international breaks often provide a reset after a disappointing result, Arsenal face a challenging run of fixtures against Bayern Munich and Chelsea later this month, so maintaining momentum is crucial. The Gunners will be confident, though, as they welcome their rivals to a stadium where they’ve conceded just once in the league all season—the best home defensive record in the division.

Tottenham, on the other hand, have managed only two wins in their last seven matches. Thomas Frank’s side have struggled creatively, failing to score in three of their last six games, and drawing a blank in two of their previous three away fixtures. Their expected goals rate stands at just 1.0 per game, the sixth lowest in the league.

Spurs have found it tough against Arsenal in recent years, failing to win any of the last six competitive meetings, with Arsenal claiming victory in five of those, including the last three. Given their current form, it’s difficult to see Tottenham turning things around, and they could be facing another defeat at the Emirates.

Arsenal are aiming to win six consecutive Premier League home matches without conceding for the first time since 2008. Tottenham, however, boast an impressive away record this season, having collected 13 points from a possible 15 on the road. Their traveling supporters have often had more to celebrate than those at home, although they were denied a win by a last-minute equalizer from Manchester United in a 2-2 draw in gameweek 11. That point was an improvement on their lackluster 1-0 defeat to Chelsea, where they recorded their lowest-ever Expected Goals in a Premier League match. Overall, only five teams have a lower xG than Spurs’ 11.7 this season.

Since Tottenham’s home victory over Arsenal in 2022, North London has largely belonged to the Gunners, who have won five of the last six derbies. Arsenal could now make it four North London derby wins in a row for the first time in the Premier League era.

Arsenal vs Tottenham Betting Tips

Chelsea to win and both teams to score - (Betfred)

Over 2.5 goals - (Betfred)

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I had the best time at one club despite what happened next'

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'I’m an ex-Arsenal and Spurs star - I had the best time at one club despite what happened next' - The Mirror
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'I’m an ex-Arsenal and Spurs star - I had the best time at one club despite what happened next'

One of the few stars to have played for both Arsenal and Tottenham has opened up about which of the two north London rivals made him happiest during his Premier League career

Former Arsenal and Tottenham talisman Emmanuel Adebayor has confessed his happiest Premier League days were spent playing for the Gunners. That's despite becoming a despised figure at the Emirates Stadium after switching loyalties to their fiercest rivals.

Only a select few have played on both sides in the north London derby, which is set to reignite on Sunday. Alongside Adebayor, Sol Campbell and William Gallas are the only other men's players to have made significant contributions for both teams.

Despite being labelled a 'Judas' by many Arsenal supporters, Adebayor fondly recalls his time under Arsene Wenger as the pinnacle of his Premier League career. In a recent chat with discovery+, the Togolese star, who also had stints at Manchester City and Crystal Palace, singled out Arsenal as the club where he felt most satisfied.

"Obviously, with Arsenal," said the Premier League legend when asked which English team brought him the most joy. "That's where I scored a lot of goals and was challenging for the Golden Boot.

"I would say I was happy both on and off the pitch because, remember, we were in London, we have a lot of community from Nigeria, my parents are from Nigeria, so I found family here from Nigeria."

Adebayor, 41, first landed on British soil in January 2006 when Wenger signed him from Monaco for a mere £3million. This sum turned out to be a steal after he emerged as Arsenal's most reliable finisher over the next three-and-a-half years, scoring 62 goals in 142 appearances before moving to Premier League rivals City for a reported £25m.

However, it wasn't until he scored against his former team early in the 2009/10 season that he was recognised as a traitor. He notoriously sprinted the length of the pitch at the Etihad Stadium to celebrate in front of his old supporters, an act for which Adebayor later expressed his regret.

"What happened two years ago was an accident and I do apologise to all the fans of Arsenal. Sometimes the emotions, we cannot control them, we are all human beings," he told talkSPORT in 2011. "I regret what I have done and I say sorry to everyone but at the end of the day sorry doesn't change anything. For me it's over.

"I'm looking forward to playing against Arsenal again on Sunday but believe me, if I have a chance to score, trust me I will score but as for the celebration, never in my life will I do something like that again."

Yet his role as the villain still hadn't fully taken shape. To add insult to injury, he later joined Spurs in 2011, initially on loan from Real Madrid, and had another largely successful spell in north London.

Once again, Adebayor made an early mark in the derby when he set up Rafael van der Vaart during a 2-1 victory over Arsenal in October 2011. And 13 months on, he scored against the Gunners before being shown a red card seven minutes later for a reckless tackle on Arsenal favourite Santi Cazorla.

Both Campbell and Gallas were demonised by opposing sides of the north London derby for directly joining their fiercest rivals. However, Adebayor's consistent knack for riling up the Arsenal fans arguably makes him the most controversial figure to have straddled both sides of the divide.

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When it comes to Arsenal bitter rivals Tottenham continue to face familiar issue

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When it comes to Arsenal bitter rivals Tottenham continue to face familiar issue - The Mirror
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Thomas Frank can make himself an instant hit by derailing Arsenal's title challenge, but make no mistake, whatever Sunday's result, there's a big gap between the North London rivals on the field

There are only four miles and four places between Arsenal and Tottenham going into the North London derby weekend. And yet there remains a big gap between the two bitter rivals.

Arsenal are chasing their first title since 2004 and Tottenham’s latest manager, Thomas Frank, is trying to build a squad to regain ground. That, in recent times at least, has been a familiar story. Tottenham, in fairness, had a run of six years of finishing above Arsenal from 2016/17 to 2021/22.

Mauricio Pochettino built a team which reached the Champions League final, they moved into arguably the best stadium in Europe and gave themselves a fabulous platform for success. They finally won their first trophy since 2008 - the Europa League in May - and yet the fanbase are not quite sure yet on Frank. However, he could make himself very popular if beats Arsenal on Sunday.

The issue for Spurs is keeping up with Arsenal. It’s a plot line that goes back many years. Tottenham were the glory boys of the 1960s, winning the Double in 1960/61. But since Arsenal won the title - before going on to win the Double - with Ray Kennedy’s goal at White Hart Lane in 1971, they have largely ruled the roost.

They finished above Spurs for 22 years running from 1995 to 2017 and, apart from winning a UEFA Cup in 1984 and flirting with success under David Pleat, they have trailed in their Arsenal’s wake.

George Graham was a huge success at Highbury. Arsene Wenger established himself as one of the Premier League’s greatest managers. His team of Invincibles clinched the title at White Hart Lane in 2004.

Now Mikel Arteta is threatening to guide Arsenal into a new period of dominance. Does local rivalry matter? Of course it does. Arsenal have made better managerial appointments, signed better players and won more trophies.

Tottenham have tried to redress the balance with a world class stadium which is better, brings in more cash and gives them huge potential. But former chairman Daniel Levy failed to grasp the opportunity or build a team worthy of the ground.

And this, more than anything else, will be Tottenham’s driving force on Sunday. A chance to upset the odds, give the neighbours a bloody nose and silence those cocksure loudmouths on social media.

That is why the derby still matters to the fans as much as it ever did even if Arsenal legend Lee Dixon believes it is a long way from his playing days.

Dixon, speaking via OLBG, said: “I was educated by Paul Davis and Dave Rocastle telling me what it meant. They scared the life out of me! It still meant a lot to me, but even more so to them. So I think over the years that derby in general has kind of lessened, but also, it does make a difference.

“I think Tottenham are still playing catch up as far as the team is concerned, the squad and regardless of the result at the weekend, you know, the bragging rights will be with the team that wins it on the day. But ultimately Tottenham have got an amazing stadium and you'd say arguably that's a better stadium than Arsenal’s because it's more modern, it's an incredible arena.

“They've got a manager now that I believe is a really, really good coach and he was perfect to go in there. So they're showing signs.”

Victory for Spurs on Sunday would be the biggest sign of all. But if Arsenal win then the gap will be bigger than ever.

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Tottenham news: £65m transfer target identified as Spurs announce mega deal

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Tottenham news: £65m transfer target identified as Spurs announce mega deal - The Mirror
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Tottenham Hotspur are building up for a big return to the Premier League with a north London derby on the horizon at the Emirates Stadium

Tottenham are gearing up for a major north London derby this weekend as they visit Arsenal on Sunday afternoon. Thomas Frank's side have a serious run of fixtures coming up, with the Gunners, Paris Saint-Germain and Fulham all on the horizon.

Spurs are hoping to keep their unbeaten away record intact with a visit to the Emirates Stadium. However, with zero wins in the last six north London derbies, the Lilywhites have a big task ahead.

Injuries continue to plague Frank's side recently with Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison still out long-term. However, Mohammed Kudus is returning and Randal Kolo Muani has even been spotted training with a mask to protect his jaw injury, putting him in contention for Sunday's match.

Here, Mirror Football has all the latest coming out of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium ahead of this weekend's huge fixture.

£65million transfer target found

Tottenham are one of many clubs interested in Bournemouth attacker Antoine Semenyo. The Athletic reports Spurs had an eye on the Ghana international in the summer and will ramp up the interest in the next transfer window.

Semenyo's release clause is said to be £65m and can be activated during January. Other Premier League clubs interested include Manchester City and Liverpool.

The striker's international team-mate Kudus signed for the Lilywhites in the summer and could be a factor in convincing the Bournemouth star to make the switch. The 25-year-old has been in red-hot form this season, grabbing six goals and three assists in 11 Premier League appearances so far.

Mega deal announced

Tottenham have announced Elithair will become their official hair treatment partner. The company, which is the largest hair transplant clinic in the world, shared its collaboration with Spurs on Friday, and its branding will feature throughout the club's stadium during home fixtures.

Spurs' chief revenue officer Ryan Norys said: "We are proud to partner with Elithair, a brand that has demonstrated undisputed global leadership in its field.

"As the world’s largest hair transplant clinic, we could not have chosen a better partner than Elithair to engage our fanbase through a mission to inspire self-confidence and offer globally recognised clinical treatment practices."

Elithair co-founder Dr Abdulaziz Balwi said: "Partnering with an iconic Premier League club like Tottenham Hotspur is a monumental step for Elithair.

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