The Mirror

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.

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.

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.”

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)

Arsenal vs Tottenham Betting Offer

If you are on the lookout for the latest free bet offers, then look no further. Here, not only do we bring you numerous free bet offers, but all from the very best betting sites in the industry. Each bookie we recommend is fully licensed and regulated by the UK Gambling Commission, so you know you are always betting on a safe and trustworthy site.

Check out the Mirror Betting Hubs Free Bets offers here.

Full terms and conditions apply | gambleaware.org | Gamble responsibly | 18+ | UK only

Gamble responsibly

Reach plc is committed to promoting safer gambling. All of our content and recommended bets are advised to those aged 18 or over. Odds are subject to change too.

'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.

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.

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.

Arsenal face Tottenham Hotspur in this weekend's North London Derby at the Emirates Stadium but the Premier League leaders will be without injured defensive powerhouse Gabriel, Mikel Arteta has confirmed

Everything you need to know from Mikel Arteta's pre-match press conference ahead of Arsenal vs Tottenham, as the Premier League leaders prepare to get back down to their title charge

Article continues below

Gabriel injury update: Mikel Arteta confirmed that defender Gabriel Magalhães sustained an injury while on international duty with Brazil and will be sidelined for several weeks. He is scheduled for another scan next Wednesday, which will provide a much clearer timeline for his return to the pitch.

Wider injury issues and potential returns: Arteta expressed his hope that several key players, including Gabriel Martinelli, Viktor Gyokeres, Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke, and Martin Odegaard, might be available soon - but was keeping his cards close to his chest. He and the medical staff worked intensely during the international break, but final decisions on any possible involvement will only be made after the final training session.

Gabriel Jesus' fitness: Gabriel Jesus is making excellent progress in his rehabilitation, having trained fully with the team for almost two weeks now following his injury. While he looks sharp, the club plans to give him some exposure in internal games to regain full match fitness before he is fully relied upon.

Significance of the North London Derby: Arteta described the North London Derby as a uniquely special and ferocious rivalry where both clubs aim to "conquer" that part of the city. He views the immense passion and emotion from the home fans as a "superpower" that the team must harness with their own commitment on the field.

Assessment of Tottenham: The manager acknowledged that Thomas Frank has instilled a clear, new identity in the Tottenham squad and believes they have truly earned their position in the league table. He expects a very tough game, particularly highlighting their impressive away record, and stressed that Arsenal will need a top-level performance to win.

Eberechi Eze: Arteta expressed his pride and happiness that Eze chose to join Arsenal over other interested clubs - notably Spurs - during the summer, calling it a good sign. He believes there is still a lot more to come from the England international, noting that as he settles and builds connections with teammates, his natural talent will result in an even bigger impact on the team.

IN FULL: Read everything Mikel Arteta said in its entirety on our sister website, Football.London

Follow Daily Mirror:

The first north London derby of the season between Arsenal and Tottenham will take place on Sunday at the Emirates Stadium

Everything you need to know ahead of Arsenal vs Tottenham

Arsenal enter the derby as the league leaders but know a victory is essential to maintain their gap over second-place Manchester City. Dropping points at home would allow their rivals to significantly close the gap, adding immense pressure ahead of the festive period.

Gunners centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes has officially been ruled out for "weeks" after sustaining a thigh injury with the Brazil national team. His absence is a huge blow, removing a crucial leader and set-piece threat from a defence that previously enjoyed a strong run of clean sheets.

Tottenham manager Thomas Frank has confirmed that five key players, including Mohammed Kudus and Pape Matar Sarr, have returned to full training and are available for selection. This significantly alleviates their injury crisis and gives them much-needed depth and fresh attacking options.

The north London derby marks the start of a critical seven-day stretch for Arsenal, which includes a massive Champions League clash against Bayern Munich. Success or failure in the derby could set the tone for a challenging week, which is crucial for their season ambitions.

Mikel Arteta's Arsenal will look to dominate possession and control the game's rhythm through their highly technical midfield. However, Tottenham, under Frank, are expected to deploy a more pragmatic, direct and counter-attacking strategy designed to frustrate their hosts.

This will be Frank's first official North London derby as Tottenham manager, bringing a new tactical dimension to the rivalry. Frank's teams are known for their physical intensity and dangerous set-piece routines, which could unsettle an Arsenal side who looked unusually shaky last time out against Sunderland's direct approach.

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, who has missed recent matches due to a knee injury, is reportedly back in full training and will face a late fitness test. His potential return would provide a massive creative and psychological lift to the Gunners' midfield.

This derby marks the first time in over a decade that neither the influential Harry Kane nor Son Heung-min will be involved in the fixture. Spurs will hope it signifies a fresh start against their bitter rivals, with the Gunners having dominated in recent years with just one loss in the last nine meetings.

READ THE FULL STORY ON GABRIEL'S INJURY: Mikel Arteta confirms Arsenal's worst fears with Gabriel injury update

Follow Daily Mirror:

Benjamin Sesko was forced off with an injury in Manchester United's draw with Tottenham Hotspur before the international break and is now a major doubt for Everton

Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko was absent from training ahead of Monday night's clash with Everton. The forward limped off against Tottenham Hotspur before the international break, leaving the Reds a man down for the rest of the game.

Sesko headed straight for the tunnel after his injury, and manager Ruben Amorim hinted that he might need to dip into the transfer market if the injury turns out to be a long-term problem.

It remains unclear whether this will be necessary, but Sesko was not seen at Friday morning's training session. Harry Maguire and Kobbie Mainoo were also not seen at the session.

Since making his full debut for United, Sesko has either been chosen to start by Amorim or the team has played without a striker. The latter strategy was used in matches against Liverpool and Tottenham.

If Sesko is unavailable, Joshua Zirkzee could be called upon, although so far this season the Dutchman has only played a total of 90 minutes over five appearances.

It seems more likely that United will stick with the same system they used against Spurs. This would involve Amad potentially playing alongside Bryan Mbeumo, with Matheus Cunha leading the line as a false nine.

Alternatively, Mason Mount could be recalled to the starting line-up. He made a strong impression when he came on against Tottenham, setting up two chances for Sesko in the 2-2 draw.

Amorim will give an update on Sesko's injury at his press conference this afternoon. But speaking earlier this month, the United boss hinted that the injury - along with Bryan Mbeumo's impending absence to play in the AFCON - could force them into January transfer business.

He said: “He had something in his knee so we have to see. We have to check everything, we have to check what’s happened with Ben. Of course, we are going to have a problem there (AFCON), but we already knew that.

“We knew that we would have a lot of players who are not going to play because it’s one game a week, so we knew that trying to manage that situation was going to be hard.

“Let’s see when the window is open, if we can improve the team, and try to repair something that happened. Until then we have to take the chance. We’ll see.”