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Mirror Football brings you two of the biggest news stories involving Arsenal as Mikel Arteta's Premier League leaders host Thomas Frank's 'concerning' Tottenham Hotspur

The Premier League returns this weekend with a bang as Arsenal take on Tottenham in Sunday’s north London derby. Mikel Arteta’s side, who currently lead the table by four points, will face their bitter rivals under the management of Thomas Frank for the first time since they lost their meeting in pre-season.

The Gunners have not lost to Spurs in their last six official meetings and their recent run of 14 games unbeaten means they are the favourites to emerge victorious at the Emirates Stadium. But this particular derby is known for its chaotic nature and for throwing up controversy, meaning form very often goes out the window when the two clubs meet.

One particular concern for Arteta will be his lengthy list of injuries, which the recent international break appeared to exacerbate. Both Gabriel Magalhaes and Riccardo Calafiori are doubts for the game after leaving their respective camps early and face a race against time to return for the fixture.

Now, ahead of what promises to be a tantalising encounter, Mirror Football takes a look at two of the latest news stories surrounding Arsenal.

Keown voices fears

Arsenal legend Martin Keown has voiced his concerns over facing Spurs this weekend, believing they pose more of a threat than they are given credit for. Frank’s side have started the season steadily under their new manager and, despite having lost three and drawn three, are currently fifth in the table.

Keown thinks Frank will look to frustrate the home crowd and create anxiousness around the Emirates with his tactics in the first north London derby of the season. Arteta’s men, who are expected to claim all three points, have now been told how to counteract that.

The pundit told the Metro: “What concerns me this weekend is Spurs’ away form. Spurs at home it’s like two different entities.

“At home it’s like one win in five and I think they’ve won four out of five away from home. Their manager is very good at slowing things down, just quietening the crowd and the keeper just puts his foot on the ball.

“I’ve had a little look this week to see what they do away from home and they do it really well. Arsenal are going to have to go in and press high and look to dominate the game.”

North London derby referee named

The Premier League has confirmed that referee Michael Oliver will take charge of Sunday’s fixture. He will be assisted by linesmen Stuart Burt and James Mainwaring, fourth official Michael Salisbury, as well as Stuart Attwell as the lead VAR operator and Constantine Hatzidakis as his assistant.

But, along with the Spurs players, Oliver will be the most unpopular man in N5 when the players and officials come out onto the pitch. That’s because of two hugely contentious decisions he made last season that went against the Gunners.

The first was in September 2024 when he sent off Leandro Trossard in a crucial game against Manchester City for kicking the ball away 1.07 seconds after he had blown his whistle, which he deemed to have delayed the restart. The decision left Arsenal fans, players and coaching staff irate.

He followed that up a few months later by incorrectly sending off Myles Lewis-Skelly against Wolves for a late challenge that was neither reckless nor denied a goal-scoring opportunity. The red card was later rescinded, sparking further anger among the Arsenal faithful.

That incident 10 months ago was the last time Oliver was placed in charge of an Arsenal game. Arteta will be hoping his side are dominant enough that any controversial calls this time around won’t impact the outcome of one of the most crucial games of the season so far.

Arsenal are going to see at least one change for their clash against Tottenham when the Premier League returns after Gabriel Magalhae's injury on international duty

Arsenal are without Gabriel Magalhaes for the north London derby after he suffered a devastating injury during the international break. The Brazilian defender could be ruled out until January with a thigh issue.

Gabriel has started all 11 Premier League matches for the Gunners this term. The 27-year-old has not missed a minute under Mikel Arteta with Arsenal setting the pace at the top of the division.

The Spaniard will be forced into making an alteration for the clash against Thomas Frank's Tottenham as Arteta's men look to bounce back from a draw with Sunderland. Arsenal are eight points ahead of their closest rivals, who currently lie in fifth place.

The Gunners boss may have a bead of sweat on his brow ahead of such an important decision. Arteta may be relieved that Andrea Berta's summer transfer business brought in new options in Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera.

Arsenal's head coach is unlikely to change much from a successful system but has plenty to weigh up in personnel. Mirror Football looks at his choices.

Piero Hincapie

The Ecuador international arrived able to play in the centre or the left side of the defence. In many ways, Hincapie looks like a straightforward option.

But, the 23-year-old has only enjoyed two starts so far, with life at the Emirates interrupted by a groin injury. The defender's preferred role is in the heart of defence and with his front-footed defensive nature, would offer the closest thing to a like-for-like replacement.

Cristhian Mosquera

Young star Mosquera has already shown he can hold his own against top opposition after being called upon against Liverpool. The 21-year-old has played on the left of a defensive partnership for Valencia despite being right-footed.

Mosquera has already played alongside Saliba this term too. They started together in September when Arsenal defeated Port Vale in the Carabao Cup.

Speaking in September after beating Nottingham Forest, Arteta said: "It's not easy to adapt to the league, to adapt to a new way of playing, but Mosquera is a great example.

"I think what he did against Liverpool, being thrown out there after three minutes at Anfield in your first exposure in the Premier League, is very difficult to do. I think he was superb today again."

Riccardo Calafiori

A more surprising option could prove to be Italy star Riccardo Calafiori. The ex-Bologna star joined Arsenal in 2024 as another versatile option.

Calafiori has made the left full-back role his own this season, however, and often been positioned very high up the pitch in Arteta's system. Myles Lewis-Skelly could perhaps take on that role if Calafiori was shifted, but you could forgive Arsenal's boss for not wanting to change too much at once.

Arsenal's latest injury scare as star sends seven-word message days before Tottenham clash

Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber suffered a cut to his knee during the first half of the Netherlands' clash against Lithuania on Monday night.

Jurrien Timber has taken to social media with a seven-word message after giving Arsenal an injury scare ahead of the North London Derby this weekend. The Gunners' defender was in action for the Netherlands against Lithuania on Monday night and needed treatment from physios in the first half for what looked like a knee issue.

Despite a rather nasty cut to his leg, the right-back soldiered on but was eventually substituted just past the hour mark. With Arsenal set to face Tottenham on Sunday, supporters would have been worried that the defender may be ruled out due to injury.

However, Timber has now posted a reassuring message on Instagram. Alongside several photos of himself playing for the Netherlands, Timber wrote: "We made it, see you in 2026 [love heart emoji]."

Given the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury Timber suffered shortly after joining Arsenal, some fans may well have feared the worst. However, given that he continued to play and seems upbeat based on his social media posts, there is no reason to have serious doubts that Timber will be ready for the showdown with north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur this weekend.

The injury scare to Timber comes after Gabriel Magalhaes was forced off with a groin injury during Brazil's friendly against Senegal, incidentally at the Emirates Stadium, last week. A statement later confirmed that the 27-year-old would miss his national team's next match after undergoing initial examinations.

"Arsenal player Gabriel Magalhaes was re-evaluated this Sunday and underwent imaging tests that revealed a muscle injury in his right thigh," the statement read.

"Therefore, the player will not travel with the team to the match against Tunisia in Lille. No other player will be called up to replace him."

Elsewhere, Riccardo Calafiori is currently following a separate training programme in Italy due to his hip problem. Manager, Gennaro Gattuso, in turn decided not to select him for World Cup qualifiers with Moldova and Norway.

Despite the worries, there is still expectation that Calafiori will still be available to meet Tottenham this weekend. Viktor Gyokeres, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus have also been side-lined at various times this season, but there is optimism that some may return in the near future.

Arsenal will take on Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon. For that showdown, Michael Oliver has been named as the on-field referee.

Oliver has been involved in a number of flashpoints with Arsenal in previous seasons. He will be assisted by Stuart Burt and James Mainwaring, not to mention fourth official Michael Salisbury.

They'll be backed up by Stuart Attwell and Constantine Hatzidakis on VAR from Stockley Park.

Benjamin Sesko was forced off in their 2-2 draw against Tottenham with the striker set to be side-lined for a number of weeks as a result of a knee injury.

Benjamin Sesko faces the prospect of missing up to eight Manchester United matches, after the full severity of his knee injury was disclosed. The big-money summer signing was substituted during their 2-2 stalemate vs Tottenham - with several updates surfacing throughout the November international period.

Slovenia manager Matjaz Kek initially indicated that no correspondence had been received from United prior to their fixture against Kosovo. That's while also emphasising that the national side warranted respect.

Following defeat in that encounter, which meant Slovenia and Sesko will not be at next summer's tournament in the United States, Kek provided a further update that clearly outlined his position on various matters.

"Completely expected from the English media," he remarked regarding his earlier comments being blown out of proportion. "But I emphasise, once again, the moment that communication was established between us and the Manchester United medical team, the problem was solved in five minutes."

The essence of that discussion was, presumably, to confirm his unavailability, with United also bracing themselves to be without their No.30 for several weeks at minimum. The Athletic have reported that Sesko is now expected to be side-lined for approximately one month with a knee complaint.

They have also highlighted that contingent on how his rehabilitation progresses, the 22-year-old could be absent for anything between three to five weeks. Should it prove to be the shorter timeframe, Sesko would potentially miss home fixtures at Old Trafford against Everton and West Ham United, as well as away journeys to Crystal Palace and Wolves.

A five-week absence would also see him miss Premier League clashes against Bournemouth and Aston Villa, with a potential return on Boxing Day at home to Newcastle United. United will be keen for Sesko to be fit by then, especially as key attackers Amad and Bryan Mbeumo are set to represent Ivory Coast and Cameroon respectively at AFCON.

Before Sesko's injury at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Harry Maguire and Casemiro were both substituted but appear to have escaped injury. Casemiro has since played and scored for Brazil, while Maguire, who was clutching his hamstring, has been seen putting in the effort at the gym.

Long-term absentee Lisandro Martinez is also nearing a much-needed return. However, it's likely his comeback will be carefully managed given that he hasn't played since February.

The Premier League have confirmed all refereeing appointments for this weekend's fixtures - with Michael Oliver set to take charge of the North London Derby.

The Premier League have announced their refereeing line-ups for this weekend's fixtures, and it's a familiar face that has previously ruffled Mikel Arteta's feathers set to officiate Arsenal's clash against Tottenham. The Emirates Stadium is set to host the latest North London Derby, undoubtedly the highlight of game-week 12.

The Gunners are heading into the meeting on the back of a minor hiccup in their Premier League title race, having drawn with Sunderland. The November international break has made Brian Brobbey's last-minute equaliser feel like a distant memory, particularly with so much happening since then.

Martin Zubimendi and Bukayo Saka have both found the back of the net for Spain and England, respectively, but the headline news revolves around Gabriel Magalhaes. The defender sustained a groin injury during Brazil's friendly against Senegal over the weekend, casting doubt over his availability for the Spurs showdown.

A hip issue for Riccardo Calafiori also saw him miss both of Italy's games, but he's still expected to be fit in time for Sunday's clash. With Arteta likely already irked by the unfolding situation, the confirmation of Michael Oliver as the referee for Arsenal vs Tottenham is unlikely to lift his spirits.

As per the Premier League's announcement, Oliver will officiate in the North London Derby, assisted by linesmen Stuart Burt and James Mainwaring, not to mention fourth official Michael Salisbury. They'll be backed up by Stuart Attwell as the lead VAR operator and Constantine Hatzidakis as his assistant.

Oliver hasn't been at the heart of many contentious incidents so far this season, but Arteta will certainly recall him making significant decisions against Arsenal in recent seasons. Back in September 2024, he gave Leandro Trossard his marching orders during a match against Man City for kicking the ball away, which ultimately delayed the restart.

Arteta was understandably irked, especially as Declan Rice had been dismissed for a similar action just a few weeks prior. His frustration was further fuelled by Jeremy Doku doing exactly what Trossard did, but escaping punishment.

"There were two incidents, very similar," Arteta commented on the decisions. "In particular one was very different with a different outcome that forces you to play a game that nobody wanted to watch.

He later clarified: "It's [Trossard kicking the ball away] is less than a second. The previous one [Doku's] is more than a second. That's it. It's simple."

Just a few months later, Oliver incorrectly sent off Myles Lewis-Skelly against Wolves for a late challenge that was neither reckless nor denied a goal-scoring opportunity. Although Calafiori netted the winning goal and, in turn, that red card was subsequently rescinded, the decision still sparked furious reactions.

"I am absolutely fuming but I leave it with you," Arteta told Sky Sports. Because it is that obvious, I don't think my words are going to help."

Oliver will be hoping for a quiet afternoon. However, that seems unlikely given the two teams playing.

Benjamin Sesko was forced off with an injury in the 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month but a new update has emerged on the striker

Manchester United have been handed a major update on the injury that Benjamin Sesko suffered before the international break. The Slovenian international, who was brought on in the 59th minute of the 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur on November 8, was unable to see out the match due to his injury.

Initial fears suggested that Sesko could be out of action for a considerable period, but recent reports suggest the injury may not be as severe as initially thought, according to the Manchester Evening News.

Sky Sports have now provided an update on Sesko's condition, even suggesting a potential return date. Sesko is expected to be out of action for "at most" a month following his injury against Spurs.

The forward did not feature for Slovenia during the international break and is not expected to make a comeback for United's Monday Night Football clash against Everton on November 24.

However, it seems Sesko has avoided a serious injury, and could be back in United's squad within a few weeks.

If the projected recovery time of a month from the injury is accurate, he could be back in action for the Wolves match on December 8.

This schedule could see Sesko sidelined for United's Premier League clashes against Everton, Crystal Palace and West Ham.

If Sesko fails to recover in time for the clash against Wolves, he might also risk missing the home game against Bournemouth on December 15.

Ruben Amorim was asked about Sesko's injury in the aftermath of United's draw with Tottenham, which saw the Red Devils earn a point with a stoppage-time equaliser from Casemiro.

"We have to check, he [Sesko] had something in his knee. We have to see," said Amorim on November 8.

Amorim added: "Because it’s the knee we never know [how serious the injury is]. We need Ben to be a better team."

With Sesko unavailable, United will have Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Amad Diallo and Joshua Zirkzee as their forward options going into the clash against Everton next week. United are currently in seventh place in the Premier League table and just one point adrift of the Champions League qualifying spots.

Dominic Solanke has been out of action for Tottenham Hotspur since August due to an ankle injury and the striker has been providing updates on his recovery on social media

Tottenham Hotspur striker Dominic Solanke has shared a fresh update as he works his way back from injury. The forward has featured in only three matches this season whilst attempting to manage the problem.

Solanke is aiming for a quick comeback, with manager Thomas Frank confirming in early October that he doesn't anticipate the former Bournemouth forward being sidelined for a lengthy spell.

The 28-year-old hasn't turned out for Spurs since August and has accumulated merely 49 minutes of action across fixtures against Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and Burnley. And the England international has been attempting to maintain a positive outlook, judging by his recent Instagram activity.

On Sunday, he wrote: "Little bit of life," accompanied by several photographs of himself.

Solanke's message comes after a similar post from four weeks earlier. "Positivity through the dark times," he wrote, sharing several more images of himself.

Solanke has recently suggested on social media that his return to action isn't far away.

"Hi everyone, quick update about my current situation," he shared. "The last few months have been very frustrating as I've tried everything possible to try and push through my ankle issue before taking the option of surgery.

"None of this managed to solve the problem, so we had to go ahead with minor surgery which I underwent this morning. It was all successful so hopefully I'll be back on the pitch in the very near future!

"Thank you for all your love and messages."

Before Spurs' Champions League match against Bodo/Glimt in September, Frank disclosed that Solanke's absence from the trip was due to surgery. "Dom, you know, got that ankle issue that's been bothering him for a little while," he revealed.

"So now we decided to make a minor surgery. It's a small procedure. So that will mean he's not ready for today, of course.

"And of course, Leeds he's out as well. We will have more news about time frame after the international break. But I don't expect it to be long."

Troy Parrott was the Republic of Ireland's hat-trick hero as they dramatically reached the World Cup play-offs, rubber-stamping the his rise after leaving Tottenham in 2024

Troy Parrott wrote his name in Irish football folklore on Sunday to keep the Republic of Ireland's hopes of playing at the 2026 World Cup alive. His sensational hat-trick in their final group game away to Hungary, capped by a dramatic 96th-minute winner, booked Ireland a place in March's play-offs.

Parrott, 23, also scored both goals as the Boys in Green stunned Portugal 2-0 on Thursday in his hometown of Dublin. The striker plays his club football with Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, having left Tottenham on a permanent basis last year for €8million (£6.7m).

After shining in a 2019 pre-season friendly against Juventus, Parrott drew comparisons to Robbie Keane among Spurs fans. But it never worked out in North London for the highly-rated youngster, with Jose Mourinho having some choice words for him in March 2020 when Parrott was Tottenham's only fit striker.

Mourinho told him to stop thinking that he was 'too good' to still be playing for their under-23s when he'd been training with the first-team all season. "I told him before the (youth team) game: 'Every time you play with the kids of your age, you have to show your colleagues why you are the privileged one' because it was something he was not doing," Mourinho told a press conference.

"Every time he was playing with the kids, he was playing with the mentality of, 'I shouldn't be here' or, 'I am too good to be here'. I had exactly the same words with Scott McTominay (at Manchester United).

"He was not loved in his age group because he was not there with the right frame of mind. The moment we started changing that lots of things started changing for him. Troy cannot go there [the under‑age teams] with discontent, contempt.

"It is a process. So everything goes very, very well. But this is a world where lots of people don't even know if Troy has long hair or short hair, or is blond or is dark.

"They don't even know that and they speak about Troy, Troy, Troy. There was a guy behind me on the bench the other day: 'Play Troy, play Troy'. I don't think he knows Troy."

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After joining Millwall on loan later that year, Parrott revealed that he didn't have any qualms with Mourinho, maturely taking his 'helpful advice' on board. "To be fair, he's such an experienced manager and he's done nearly everything in the game, so if he feels like that's right then there must be some truth in it and I had to take it on the chin," he explained.

"I was speaking to coaching staff and players finding out what I needed to do to be better. Because, obviously, Mourinho has worked with some of the best strikers there's ever been.

"To get advice off him was great. I knew what I needed to do. It was helpful advice."

Fast forward five years and Parrott is his new country's hero, scoring all five goals for Heimir Hallgrimsson's side this month and turning their qualifying campaign around. In a tearful post-match interview with RTE, the 23-year-old said: "This is why we love football because anything can happen.

"I just love where I'm from. My family are here. My mum is so proud of me. This is the first time I've cried in years. The boys are all crying over there.

"I don't think I'll have a better night in my life. It's a fairytale, you couldn't dream anything like that."

Two more wins will send Ireland to North America.

Thomas Frank met with Sir Jim Ratcliffe in his London garage last spring, before Manchester United cut ties with Erik ten Hag, as per reports. According to TV2, the Danish manager held talks with the Red Devils and Chelsea in May 2024, as both clubs tested the water with new head coaches.

In the morning, it is said that Frank met with Ineos chief Ratcliffe in a London garage, before holding talks with Chelsea in the lavish Mayfair Hotel overlooking Hyde Park. In the end, however, Frank opted to stay on with Brentford for another season, with United appointing Ruben Amorim in the wake of Ten Hag's dismissal in the November, while Chelsea opted to put their faith in Enzo Maresca.

However, Frank told the publication that he was left feeling in awe at the prospect of even speaking with two titans of world football. He explained: "I know I didn't get either job, but it was still huge.

"I remember walking through Battersea Park between the two interviews and thinking, 'Thomas Frank from f***ing Frederiksværk - am I really experiencing this?'"

After a humble playing career with Frederiksværk between 1995 and 2004, Frank transitioned into the world of football management in 2008, taking up tenure with his nation's U16 set-up. From there, he climbed through the ranks to Denmark U17 and U19, before parting ways with the international game to manage Brondby in 2013.

Frank lasted just three years with the club before he resigned after it came about that the club's chairman, Jan Bech Andersen, had been criticising him via an anonymous profile on a fan forum site. A two year break from football then ensued, before he landed a role with Brentford.

A Championship team at the time, Frank led the side to Premier League football in 2021 as a result of winning the play-off final with a convincing 2-0 triumph of Swansea City.

While many newly-promoted teams have faced relegation the year after achieving promotion as a result of struggling to adapt to top flight football, Frank managed to not only retain Brentford's place in the Premier League in the years that followed, but turned the team into genuine stalwarts - finishing 10th last term.

However, the 52-year-old's time at the Gtech Community Stadium drew to a close this summer. Frank found himself linked with taking up tenure with Tottenham soon after the departure of Ange Postecoglou, before he was finally unveiled as the club's new head coach on June 12.

Despite Spurs suffering a 17th-place finish in the Premier League last season under Postecoglou, it appears as though the club is now breathing a new lease of life under Frank's reign. As it stands, the Lilywhites currently sit fifth in the league table after 11 matches, with five wins, three draws and three losses to show for their efforts.

They are also unbeaten in Europe at present, with wins over Villarreal and Copenhagen, as well as draws with Bodo/Glimt to their name in the Champions League. Frank and his side will hope to pick up where they left off when Premier League action returns next weekend, although there may be a titan task awaiting them.

That's because Spurs next face Mikel Arteta's Arsenal on Sunday, November 23. The Gunners currently occupy first-place in the league standings, eight points clear of Tottenham and unbeaten in their last eight top flight outings.

Former England defender Ledley King worked under Jose Mourinho at Tottenham and shed some light on what the legendary manager is really like

Ledley King says that Jose Mourinho recruited him as a coach at Tottenham mid-haircut. The ex-England centre-back has opened up about the Portuguese icon's true character.

Spurs legend King was forced to retire early due to a persistent knee issue and hung up his boots in 2012. The 45-year-old remained in north London and in 2020 he received an unexpected offer from the incoming Mourinho.

The former Chelsea and Manchester United boss asked King if he would be a member of his coaching staff and the defender recalled the exact moment he found out over FaceTime, shedding light on Mourinho's true nature.

"I think I always admired Jose, do you know what I mean? I was always jealous of the England boys at Chelsea, that they had him as a manager," said King, speaking on In The Mixer brought to you by Sky Bet.

"I obviously played against his teams. But when he joined Tottenham, I bumped into him one day in the corridors and he said, 'I want you on the training pitch.'

"I said, 'Well, I'm not a coach.' He said, 'It doesn't matter. I want you on the training pitch.' So I started going in, watching a bit of training and eventually speaking to players, younger players.

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"The next thing I know I'm working with someone and we're clipping up videos, discussing things. This is for free! Then, this was Covid, the season stopped. So everyone went away. Then they came back and finished the season off.

"But I stayed away because it wasn't allowed. There was only the actual staff present. So in the summer, I got FaceTime, I'm getting a haircut with my last little bits of hair and it's Jose's FaceTime.

"So I jumped out of the chair, got somewhere quiet. He said, 'I want you on my staff next season, full-time.' Couldn't turn it down, could I?"

King went into detail about his time under Mourinho, letting slip what he's like behind the scenes and admitting that he once thought Spurs could be Premier League champions under the iconic head coach.

"I enjoyed it," King continued. "He's a great person, great laugh, very clever. I mean he's got stories for days, he enjoys telling them, not just to staff close to him.

"The first part of the season we were flying, we were doing well. We had no fans unfortunately, which was a shame. Someone like Jose needs fans, he needs that.

"I remember beating Arsenal at home, Man City at home. Beat Man United 6-1 at Old Trafford. Got to December and I'm thinking, we were top, and I think we're going to win the league. First season as a coach I thought, 'I'm going to win the league, because I've got Magic Man Jose with me.' Do you know what I mean?

"Then it kind of just dipped. But I loved my time with him, great guy. He's got so much passion for the game. People looking at him might think, 'Why don't you just retire and enjoy life?' He lives for it. He absolutely loves the game."

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