Sports Mole

Spurs vs. Arsenal (Sunday, 2.00pm)

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This weekend's Premier League main event comes from a raucous Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where Ange Postecoglou's Spurs and Arsenal clash in the first North London derby of the season on Sunday afternoon.

The Lilywhites entered the international break on the back of a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United, while the Gunners lost their perfect start in a controversial 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion.

We say: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Arsenal

Merino-Rice-Odegaard would have been the perfect Arsenal midfield for Sunday's blockbuster derby, but the Gunners now face being overrun in the engine room while also losing Odegaard's invaluable ingenuity in the final third.

Arteta's troops can still expose Spurs' frailties at the back, but we cannot see a way for the visitors to earn the derby bragging rights with their current selection crisis; North London should be lilywhite this weekend.

> Click here to read our full preview for this match

> A makeshift midfield: Arsenal predicted lineup against Tottenham

> Will Solanke lead the line? Tottenham predicted XI against Arsenal

> No first-choice midfielders? Arsenal injury list for Tottenham clash

> Solanke status, Van de Ven latest: Spurs injury news for Arsenal clash

> Spurs to earn North London derby bragging rights: Premier League GW4 predictions

> Son Heung-min's record vs. Arsenal

> Bukayo Saka's record vs. Tottenham Hotspur

> "Clear psychological edge", "they can bully them" - Spurs vs. Arsenal predictions

> Could Sterling up front be the answer to Arsenal's selection crisis?

> Skipper swap: Six players who could captain Arsenal in Odegaard's absence

> Nwaneri's time to shine? Arsenal's three possible Odegaard replacements

Wolves vs. Newcastle (Sunday, 4.30pm)

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Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle United have the honour of closing out this weekend's Premier League fixtures with a Sunday afternoon showdown at Molineux.

Gary O'Neil's men are still searching for their first top-flight win of 2024-25, while the Magpies have accrued a promising seven points from their first three games of the new term.

We say: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-2 Newcastle United

Each of the nine previous Premier League showdowns between Wolves and Newcastle at Molineux has seen both teams score, and we can see that streak stretching to 10 on Sunday, taking into account Wolves' lack of clean sheets and the Magpies facing the most shots in the Premier League so far this term (54).

The potential returns of Schar and Tonali will add a bit more backbone to the visitors' XI, though, and the irrepressible trio up front should do what they do best to fire Howe's side to a gritty victory.

Arsenal attacker Bukayo Saka could join an exclusive club of Gunners players should he score against Tottenham Hotspur in Sunday's Premier League North London derby.

The 23-year-old has already made his presence felt in Arsenal's first three games of the new season with four direct goal contributions, one of his own and three assists.

After both scoring and setting up Kai Havertz in the Gunners' opening success over Wolverhampton Wanderers, Saka set up goals against Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion before the international break.

The England international also thrived in North London derbies last term, tucking away a penalty in Arsenal's 2-2 Emirates draw before notching their second in their enthralling 3-2 away success.

Having scored in both of Arsenal's clashes with bitter rivals Tottenham in 2023-24, Saka is now bidding to become just the third Arsenal player to score in three straight North London derbies.

Saka out to match Robert Pires, Emmanuel Adebayor records

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The first Gunners man to score in three or more successive appearances against Tottenham was Invincible winger Robert Pires, who netted in four straight North London derbies from 2002 to 2004.

The Frenchman struck in both of his appearances against Spurs in Arsenal's 2003-04 title-winning campaign, as the Gunners clinched the league at White Hart Lane on the final day, and his eight goals against Spurs overall was more than he managed against any other team in his career.

The second and most recent Arsenal player to achieve that North London derby feat was Emmanuel Adebayor, who incredibly registered in five straight matches versus Spurs from 2006 to 2008.

That streak includes a brace away from home in the 2007-08 campaign, although he also scored against the Gunners for both Tottenham and Manchester City, memorably running to celebrate in front of the Arsenal faithful while playing for the latter in 2009.

While Saka will no doubt bomb down the right wing for Arsenal, Mikel Arteta has an alternative option to Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard on the left in the shape of Raheem Sterling, who could now make his Gunners debut.

Arteta reveals "10-second" decision over Sterling transfer

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The Chelsea loanee was not eligible to make his debut against Brighton two weekends ago due to his late deadline day arrival, but he is now in line to become the first Arsenal player to make their first appearance in a North London derby since Isaiah Rankin in 1997.

Sterling was a former student of Arteta's at Manchester City, and the Gunners boss revealed that he was convinced about bringing him to the Emirates after just 10 seconds on the phone with him.

"The first call I had with him, I knew straight away after 10 seconds, we have to bring him because he really wanted it, you know," Arteta told reporters in Friday's press conference.

"And that was my only question mark, what stage is he at in his career, but I knew already after 10 seconds. Bring him here. He has this ability and the credit for that is him and the players that he has around him. You need that if you're one of the front players. He has that intuition, that will and ability to do that. I'm sure he's going to impact the team."

Arteta also issued the latest on Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus's injuries before Arsenal's trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where they have won their last two fixtures against their bitter foes.

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Chaos and controversy can be expected on Sunday afternoon, when Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal renew hostilities in the first North London derby of the Premier League season.

The Lilywhites are six places and three points worse off than their visitors in the early-season standings, and here Sports Mole rounds up the team news for both clubs.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR vs. ARSENAL

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TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Out: Richarlison (unspecified)

Doubtful: Dominic Solanke (ankle), Micky van de Ven (knee), Yves Bissouma (knock)

Sports Mole's predicted XI: Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Sarr, Bentancur; Kulusevski, Maddison, Son; Solanke

ARSENAL

Out: Declan Rice (suspended), Mikel Merino (shoulder), Kieran Tierney (hamstring), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee)

Doubtful: Gabriel Jesus (groin), Riccardo Calafiori (calf), Martin Odegaard (ankle)

Sports Mole's predicted XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Havertz, Partey, Jorginho; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly concerned that either Arsenal or Manchester City could hijack their proposed £68m deal for Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze.

The 26-year-old was thought to have been a summer target for several top clubs after a stellar 2023-24 season, in which he scored 11 goals and set up four more in 27 Premier League matches.

Even though Eze's contract at Selhurst Park does not expire for another three seasons, the Eagles would have been powerless had an interested party triggered his release clause, thought to be worth £68m.

However, no club made a move before that option expired, and Eze has since started the 2024-25 season as he means to go on with two goals from four matches across all tournaments.

The England international's £68m release clause reportedly re-activates next summer, though, and according to FootballTransfers, Spurs came the closest to prising him away from Palace this summer.

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Tottenham 'worried' Eze's head has been turned

The report claims that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy went on the charm offensive earlier this year, inviting Eze and his family to April's North London derby against Arsenal and even reaching a gentleman's agreement with the player.

However, the Lilywhites were supposedly then informed by Eze's entourage that they had been contacted by some of their Premier League rivals, and the Palace man put his move to Tottenham on ice as a result.

Instead, the North London giants struck a deal to sign Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth for a club-record £65m, and they will most likely reignite their pursuit of Eze at the end of the current campaign.

Ange Postecoglou's side are apparently now concerned that either Man City or Arsenal have managed to turn Eze's head, though, and they will likely need to qualify for the Champions League to stand a chance of winning the race.

The 26-year-old boasts a total of 28 goals and 17 assists in 128 matches for Palace across all competitions since joining from Queens Park Rangers in 2020, commanding a £15m fee to leave Loftus Road.

Which club would be the best fit for Eze?

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An incredibly versatile and tricky attacker who is just about to hit his prime years, Eze would be a dream for any of the three aforementioned sides, and £68m is not an outlandish price for a player of his quality.

The 26-year-old tends to either thrive on the left or through the middle as a number 10, and Arsenal could certainly do with a player in the latter profile if Fabio Vieira ultimately fails to make the grade.

A left-winger would also not go amiss at the Emirates, as Leandro Trossard turns 30 in December and has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, while Raheem Sterling's loan should not be made permanent either.

However, Eze may very well be regarded as a natural successor to Kevin De Bruyne at Manchester City, as the Belgian's contract only runs until 2025, but regular starts are never a guarantee at the Etihad.

Following a two-week hiatus for the first international break of the 2024-25 season, Premier League football graces our screens once again this weekend, which also means Gameweek four of Sports Mole's prediction competition.

This week, we will be pitting our wits against Jack Jones - the frontman of Welsh alternative band Trampolene - who is a Swansea City fan at heart but also holds a soft spot for newly-promoted Southampton.

Jones's second team are coincidentally first up this weekend, hosting none other than Manchester United in Saturday's lunchtime kickoff, which is followed by seven more fixtures throughout the day.

Liverpool and Manchester City will both endeavour to maintain their perfect starts to the new term at home to Nottingham Forest and Brentford respectively, before Chelsea's trip to Bournemouth closes a breathless day of action.

However, the weekend's headline fixture undoubtedly comes on Sunday afternoon, when Tottenham Hotspur host Arsenal in the latest edition of the North London derby, always a captivating and chaotic fixture.

Read on to find out how Jack Jones sees this weekend's Premier League fixtures going, in addition to seeing who won out of Sports Mole and electronic dance music (EDM) rising star Kyle Starkey in Gameweek three.

Southampton vs. Man Utd

Saturday, 12.30pm

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Jack: Southampton 0-1 Man Utd

Sports Mole: Southampton 1-2 Man Utd

Both teams find themselves under pressure to turn their fortunes around at this early stage in the season following underwhelming starts, and they will back themselves to come away from this fixture with a positive result.

Three of the last four meetings between these two sides have ended as a draw, and another tight affair could be in store on Saturday, but we are backing Man United to come away with a slender victory on this occasion.

Brighton vs. Ipswich

Saturday, 3pm

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Jack: Brighton 4-1 Ipswich

Sports Mole: Brighton 3-1 Ipswich

Both Brighton and Ipswich will attempt to play on the front foot and push forward at any given opportunity, so an entertaining contest could be on the cards on Saturday.

However, the Seagulls will be regarded as favourites in front of their own fans and should have few problems outscoring their opponents, even if they are without a few first-team players due to fitness issues.

Crystal Palace vs. Leicester

Saturday, 3pm

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Jack: Crystal Palace 1-1 Leicester

Sports Mole: Crystal Palace 3-1 Leicester

Palace and Leicester cannot both concede first on Saturday afternoon, even though both sides have a propensity to fall behind, but neither goalkeeper should add another clean sheet to their tally in the capital.

Glasner's men put in a much-improved performance at Stamford Bridge two weekends ago, though, and with the hosts also reinforced by several new arrivals, we are backing the Eagles to soar to their first Premier League win of 2024-25.

Fulham vs. West Ham

Saturday, 3pm

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Jack: Fulham 2-2 West Ham

Sports Mole: Fulham 2-2 West Ham

Fulham have been a strong outfit on home soil for some time and will fancy their chances of success against a West Ham side who they thrashed 5-0 in this exact fixture last season. The Hammers will be no pushovers this time around, though, and even if Fullkrug misses out, they still have a number of players who can cause the Cottagers problems in the final third.

Only two of the last 16 meetings between these two teams in all competitions have ended all square, but we can see the spoils being shared in this weekend's contest.

Liverpool vs. Nott'm Forest

Saturday, 3pm

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Jack: Liverpool 1-1 Nott'm Forest

Sports Mole: Liverpool 2-0 Nott'm Forest

While it is still very early days in Slot's reign, it is difficult to highlight any weaknesses in this current Liverpool team, who should have no problems keeping low-scoring specialists Forest at bay.

The international break should not have disrupted the Reds' momentum too much, so we can only picture Slot's 100% record staying intact as Forest head home empty-handed.

Man City vs. Brentford

Saturday, 3pm

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Jack: Man City 5-1 Brentford

Sports Mole: Man City 3-1 Brentford

Brentford could cause Man City one or two problems in the final third through Mbeumo and Wissa, but it is difficult tn back against Guardiola's men outscoring their opponents on this occasion.

Also taking into consideration their exceptional unbeaten home record, the league-leading Citizens have our vote to kick-start September with maximum points and continue their perfect start to the new season.

Aston Villa vs. Everton

Saturday, 5.30pm

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Jack: Aston Villa 2-0 Everton

Sports Mole: Aston Villa 2-1 Everton

English football's most-played fixture will quite likely go Aston Villa's way once again, as Everton have been worryingly shaky at the back and can be vulnerable to pace.

Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins and co can open up the visitors' defence and post Villa's third league win from four, before embarking on an exciting European campaign.

Bournemouth vs. Chelsea

Saturday, 8pm

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Jack: Bournemouth 0-1 Chelsea

Sports Mole: Bournemouth 1-2 Chelsea

Chelsea playing away from home almost always means no clean sheet for the men in blue, who should not end their streak without a shut-out against a goal-happy Bournemouth crop, even if the two-week hiatus came at the worst time for Iraola's side.

In contrast, a fortnight's reset should have done the Blues the world of good, and we have faith in Maresca's wealth of attacking options to breach a youthful Cherries backline at least twice en route to victory.

Spurs vs. Arsenal

Sunday, 2pm

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Jack: Spurs 1-0 Arsenal

Sports Mole: Spurs 2-1 Arsenal

Merino-Rice-Odegaard would have been the perfect Arsenal midfield for Sunday's blockbuster derby, but the Gunners now face being overrun in the engine room while also losing Odegaard's invaluable ingenuity in the final third.

Arteta's troops can still expose Spurs' frailties at the back, but we cannot see a way for the visitors to earn the derby bragging rights with their current selection crisis; North London should be lilywhite this weekend.

Wolves vs. Newcastle

Sunday, 4.30pm

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Jack: Wolves 1-0 Newcastle

Sports Mole: Wolves 1-2 Newcastle

Each of the nine previous Premier League showdowns between Wolves and Newcastle at Molineux has seen both teams score, and we can see that streak stretching to 10 on Sunday, taking into account Wolves' lack of clean sheets and the Magpies facing the most shots in the Premier League so far this term (54).

The potential returns of Schar and Tonali will add a bit more backbone to the visitors' XI, though, and the irrepressible trio up front should do what they do best to fire Howe's side to a gritty victory.

Jack Jones Q&A

© Simon Sarin

How did you come to support your club and what are your favourite memories from your time as a fan?

Jack: My old man lived in Southampton (but is from Wales), took to me see Southampton when I was just a toddler, so they are my Premier League team. However, I then started going to see the Swans and they stole my heart. Winning the EFL Cup in 2013 at Wembley is by far my greatest personal football memory - it was the perfect day out.

Who have been your favourite five players for your club?

Jack: Lee Trundle, Alan Tate, Michu, Angel Rangel, Francis Benali

What's going on for you as an artist at the moment?

Jack: I'm just about to go on an in-store tour and release my first solo record...come and see me and say hello :)

Jack Jones releases his self-titled solo album on September 20th. Stream single 'Peaches Out Of Reach' now.

You can follow Jack Jones on Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter).

Scores are calculated as one point for a correct result and five points for a correct scoreline.

Gameweek 1: Everyone Says Hi's Nick Hodgson 13-14 Sports Mole

Gameweek 2: Make Friends' Max Lewin 15-4 Sports Mole

Gameweek 3: Kyle Starkey 16-13 Sports Mole

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North London derby day is almost upon us once again, as Tottenham Hotspur prepare to welcome Arsenal to their capital home in this weekend's Premier League main event on Sunday afternoon.

Ange Postecoglou's side only managed to take one point from six on offer against their bitter rivals last season, and both teams have some wrongs to right from before the September international break.

Indeed, the Lilywhites suffered their first defeat of the season in a 2-1 loss to Newcastle United, leaving them 10th in the early-season rankings with a record of one win, one draw and one defeat in 2024-25 so far.

Meanwhile, Arsenal were denied a third win from three in a 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion, where they went down to 10 men early in the second half as Declan Rice was controversially sent off.

Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at the head-to-head record and previous meetings between Arsenal and Tottenham.

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Head-to-head record

Previous meetings: 209

Spurs wins: 67

Draws: 55

Arsenal wins: 87

Counting their inaugural fixtures in the late 19th century, way before they ever clashed in the top tier of English football, Tottenham and Arsenal have pitted their wits against each other on 209 occasions, and it is the men in red and white that boast the superior wins tally with 87.

Arsenal's latest success in this eagerly-anticipated fixture did not come without a gargantuan effort, as after taking a three-goal lead on rival turf thanks to Spurs' set-piece woes, the Gunners conceded twice late on but nevertheless clung on for a 3-2 victory in April 2024.

Thanks to their first-half surge - which Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and a Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg contributed to - Arsenal achieved something that they had never previously managed since the Premier League's inception in 1992, winning back-to-back top-flight games on Tottenham's turf.

In contrast, Spurs have come up trumps on 67 occasions, while 55 draws have also been played out between the two rivals, including a four-goal Emirates classic in September 2023, where Arsenal led twice but let their advantages slip both times.

The April 2024 win was enough for Arsenal to prolong their unbeaten run against Tottenham to four matches, having done the double over Spurs in the 2022-23 campaign, prior to which the Lilywhites' most recent NLD triumph came on home territory towards the end of 2021-22.

While five of Tottenham's last seven derbies with Arsenal have ended in defeat, the Lilywhites previously went five unbeaten against Sunday's visitors from December 2018 to December 2020, including two home Premier League wins in the COVID-19 era and an EFL Cup success in the 2018-19 season.

In terms of individual goalscoring records, Harry Kane is still the master of doing that against Arsenal as the 2023-24 Champions League quarter-finals proved, and the England captain is head and shoulders above his colleagues when it comes to NLD goals, netting 14 in the Spurs strip.

The highest outright scorer for Arsenal in this matchup is a revered Frenchman; not Thierry Henry, but Robert Pires with nine efforts, while Emmanuel Adebayor struck eight times for the Gunners before scoring twice for Tottenham after his bold decision to cross the divide.

Last 20 meetings

Apr 28, 2024: Spurs 2-3 Arsenal (Premier League)

Sep 24, 2023: Arsenal 2-2 Spurs (Premier League)

Jan 15, 2023: Spurs 0-2 Arsenal (Premier League)

Oct 01, 2022: Arsenal 3-1 Spurs (Premier League)

May 12, 2022: Spurs 3-0 Arsenal (Premier League)

Sep 26, 2021: Arsenal 3-1 Spurs (Premier League)

Mar 14, 2021: Arsenal 2-1 Spurs (Premier League)

Dec 06, 2020: Spurs 2-0 Arsenal (Premier League)

Jul 12, 2020: Spurs 2-1 Arsenal (Premier League)

Sep 01, 2019: Arsenal 2-2 Spurs (Premier League)

Mar 02, 2019: Spurs 1-1 Arsenal (Premier League)

Dec 02, 2018: Arsenal 4-2 Spurs (Premier League)

Feb 10, 2018: Spurs 1-0 Arsenal (Premier League)

Nov 18, 2017: Arsenal 2-0 Spurs (Premier League)

Apr 30, 2017: Spurs 2-0 Arsenal (Premier League)

Nov 06, 2016: Arsenal 1-1 Spurs (Premier League)

Mar 05, 2016: Spurs 2-2 Arsenal (Premier League)

Nov 08, 2015: Arsenal 1-1 Spurs (Premier League)

Sep 23, 2015: Spurs 1-2 Arsenal (League Cup Round Three)

Feb 7, 2015: Spurs 2-1 Arsenal (Premier League)

Last 10 Premier League meetings

Apr 28, 2024: Spurs 2-3 Arsenal (Premier League)

Sep 24, 2023: Arsenal 2-2 Spurs (Premier League)

Jan 15, 2023: Spurs 0-2 Arsenal (Premier League)

Oct 01, 2022: Arsenal 3-1 Spurs (Premier League)

May 12, 2022: Spurs 3-0 Arsenal (Premier League)

Sep 26, 2021: Arsenal 3-1 Spurs (Premier League)

Mar 14, 2021: Arsenal 2-1 Spurs (Premier League)

Dec 06, 2020: Spurs 2-0 Arsenal (Premier League)

Jul 12, 2020: Spurs 2-1 Arsenal (Premier League)

Sep 01, 2019: Arsenal 2-2 Spurs (Premier League)No Data Analysis info

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was quintessentially tight-lipped when asked whether Martin Odegaard could feature in Sunday's North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur.

The Gunners captain sustained what appeared to be a nasty ankle sprain in Norway's Nations League win over Austria earlier this week, and he was seen on crutches as he boarded a flight back to the UK.

While the midfielder is not believed to have suffered any fracture, Norway's team doctor has admitted that Odegaard could take around three weeks to recover from his sprain, which would rule him out of the derby and upcoming matches with Atalanta BC in the Champions League and Manchester City in the top flight.

Arteta has always been one to keep his cards close to his chest when it comes to injury news, especially before a blockbuster game, and the 42-year-old adopted a similar approach in Friday's press conference.

Asked whether Odegaard could be involved against Tottenham, the Spaniard replied: "We need some more tests so let's see what happens in the next day or so, this afternoon probably, and see what happens with the extent of the injury and how quickly we can get him back.

Arteta refuses to rule "super positive" Odegaard out of North London derby

"He is super positive about everything, we know Martin, he wants to be there every single day, but we have to wait and see. With 48 hours until the game, players could always become available, but let's see what happens."

While Arteta did not give anything away regarding Odegaard's fitness, the Spaniard confirmed that Gabriel Jesus - who has missed Arsenal's last two games with a groin injury - was back in training and is on course to be fit for Sunday's game.

"Gabby was out [training]. He has got another session tomorrow. If everything goes well he will be ready to be selected in the squad, which is great news for us," Arteta replied.

However, the Arsenal boss is unsure if the freak calf injury that Riccardo Calafiori sustained on Italy duty will settle down in time, adding: "It's another one that we have to wait for another day or so."

Mikel Merino (shoulder), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) and Kieran Tierney (hamstring) complete Arsenal's list of injury-related absentees for the derby, while Declan Rice is suspended after his controversial sending-off against Brighton & Hove Albion.

What could Arsenal's midfield look like against Tottenham?

Even when it is seemingly set in stone that Odegaard will not be available for the North London derby, Arteta still refused to give too much away, but it would be a huge surprise to see the Scandinavian involved.

Jesus's anticipated return will offer the Spaniard a straightforward solution, though, as if the Brazilian is given the green light to start up front, Kai Havertz could drop back into midfield to play the Odegaard role.

Arteta's only other like-for-like replacement in the number 10 position is 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, and the Spaniard stressed in his press conference that he would have no qualms about throwing in a young player if they are ready.

However, the teenager has only ever made two appearances in the top flight, - one at a record-breaking 15 years and 181 days old - and he should not be expected to make his first start in the competition away to Tottenham.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that Dominic Solanke and Micky van de Ven are both on track to be fit for Sunday's North London derby against Arsenal.

Solanke - who became Spurs' most expensive signing of all time when he joined in a £65m deal from Bournemouth this summer - has been out of the reckoning since hurting his ankle on his debut against Leicester City.

Meanwhile, Dutch defender Van de Ven was absent from the recent 2-1 loss to Newcastle United with a league injury, which also prevented him from linking up with the Netherlands squad during the international break.

However, there was optimism that both Solanke and Van de Ven would be able to shake off their issues in time for the visit of Arsenal, and Postecoglou has now confirmed that should be the case for the pair.

Speaking to the official Tottenham website, Postecoglou said: "It's fairly positive. Micky's good, he's trained all the way through the international break and it was good for him to stay with us to build him back up so he's ready to go.

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Postecoglou shares Yves Bissouma, Richarlison updates ahead of Arsenal game

"Dom's improved as well and trained the back half of this week. We still have two days to go with those guys so hopefully they get through training ok and are available."

While both Van de Ven and Solanke are on course to return this weekend, Spurs were dealt a fresh injury concern over the international break, as Yves Bissouma picked up a knock while playing for Mali against Eswatini in World Cup qualifying.

The ex-Brighton & Hove Albion man has not been ruled out of the visit of Arsenal just yet, though, and Postecoglou is keeping his fingers crossed that he will recover in time for the derby.

"We had the last of the boys in late yesterday so we'll have a look at them today and everyone's reporting all well except for Biss. He's got a bit of an issue, but we'll have a look at him over the next couple of days and see how it settles," Postecoglou added.

Should Bissouma return as well, Spurs' only absentees for the Arsenal showdown would be Richarlison - still recovering from a training injury - and Will Lankshear, with Postecoglou adding: "Richy's still got a bit of work to do, alongside Will Lankshear who is still in rehab."

What changes could Postecoglou make against Arsenal?

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With neither Solanke nor Richarlison available against Newcastle, Postecoglou fielded a front three of Wilson Odobert, Dejan Kulusevski and Son Heung-min at St James' Park, but a fit Solanke will almost certainly return to the XI.

As Son is also an attacking stalwart and boasts eight goals against Arsenal, either Kulusevski or Odobert would likely be forced to cede their spots, and the latter's inexperience may prove costly.

Bissouma's knock could lead to a recall for Rodrigo Bentancur, even though the Uruguay international could be slapped with a lengthy ban for a racially insensitive comment he made about South Koreans earlier this year.

Van de Ven's expected return should also see Radu Dragusin drop back down to the bench, in what will likely be the third and final change made by Postecoglou for the derby.

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Arsenal put their unbeaten record on the line at the home of their biggest rivals on Sunday afternoon, reuniting with North London derby foes Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

The Gunners went into the international break on the back of taking seven points from their first nine in 2024-25, most recently being held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by Brighton & Hove Albion at the Emirates.

Before Joao Pedro's equaliser and Declan Rice's controversial sending-off, Kai Havertz had broken the deadlock thanks to a sublime assist from Bukayo Saka, who has now set up a goal in each of his first three matches this season.

The England international - who turned 23 during the international break - also has one strike to his name this term against Wolverhampton Wanderers, and haunting Spurs was his speciality last season.

Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Saka has fared against Tottenham in the past.

Bukayo Saka record vs. Tottenham Hotspur

© Imago

Played: 9

Won: 5

Drawn: 1

Lost: 3

Goals: 3

Assists: 2

Still in the embryonic stages of his Arsenal career - even though he is now one of the longest-serving players in Mikel Arteta's squad - Saka is set to make his 10th appearance against Tottenham this weekend, and his first nine fixtures have produced a mixed bag of results.

Indeed, Saka has been on the winning side in five of his first nine matches against Tottenham, all of which have come in the Premier League, while also suffering three defeats and being involved in one stalemate.

That solitary draw came at the Emirates Stadium in the 2023-24 campaign, where Saka dispatched a penalty following a Cristian Romero handball, but Son Heung-min's double stole a point for the Lilywhites in a 2-2 thriller.

Later that season, Saka repeated his goalscoring trick against Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with Arsenal's second in an enthralling 3-2 success, meaning that he could join an exclusive club of Arsenal players this weekend.

Should the 23-year-old make the net bulge against Ange Postecoglou's team this weekend, he will become just the third Gunners player to score in at least three consecutive North London derbies after Robert Pires and Emmanuel Adebayor.

During Arsenal's 2-0 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in January 2023, which memorably descended into chaos at full time, Saka also had a hand in Arsenal's first goal, as his cross was diverted into the Spurs net by Hugo Lloris.

The winger failed to directly contribute to a goal in five of his first six appearances against Tottenham, though, the one outlier being Arsenal's 3-1 win at the Emirates in September 2021, where he set up Emile Smith Rowe before bagging one of his own.

In total, Saka has three goals and two assists under his belt from his nine Premier League clashes against the Lilywhites, and since being booked on his North London derby debut, he has not picked up a single yellow or red card in this fiery fixture.

Read more on Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal

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Premier League football returns in style this weekend, with one of the red-letter days of the English football calendar headlining the weekend as Tottenham Hotspur welcome Arsenal for the North London derby.

The 210th edition of the famous fixture takes place on Sunday afternoon, and both sides will be looking to return to winning ways after setbacks immediately prior to the international break.

Arsenal saw their 100% start ended by Brighton & Hove Albion, while Spurs were beaten 2-1 by Newcastle United to leave them on four points from their opening three games.

Victory in what usually lives up to the billing of one of the most entertaining fixtures in the Premier League would be the perfect way to put those results behind them, though, and both teams will enter the derby optimistic of claiming all three points alongside the bragging rights which come with it.

But who do our team think will win? Here, the Sports Mole reporters give their predictions for the mouth-watering showdown.

Barney Corkhill - Draw

Arsenal have definitely had Tottenham's number in recent years, winning five of the last seven North London derbies, but with some notable absentees they may struggle to keep up their dominance this time around.

As always with this fixture, I expect a hugely entertaining contest with plenty of goals - only one of the last seven games has seen fewer than three goals scored, and you have to go back six years for the last time there was only one goal.

However, ultimately I expect the spoils to be shared; I think if you offered fans of both clubs a draw before the game, many would take it, and while both teams have legitimate reasons for optimism heading into the match, I am backing an open, end-to-end 2-2 draw.

Matt Law - Draw

Tottenham have made an underwhelming start to the season, but they were excellent at home to Everton, and a similar performance in this match should earn them at least a point.

Arsenal were solid in their first two matches, but they were far from their best against Brighton last time out, and the absence of Declan Rice will be a big one; Martin Odegaard is also set to miss out with an ankle issue, so it is tough to back the Gunners this weekend.

Tottenham beat Arsenal 3-0 at home in the Premier League at the end of the 2021-22 campaign, and it would certainly not be a shock to see a Spurs win on Sunday.

If Arsenal had their best side available, I would be backing a narrow away victory, but taking everything into consideration, I have had to settle on a low-scoring draw.

Ben Knapton - Tottenham

With Martin Odegaard's ankle injury ruling him out of the derby, Arsenal will be without their first-choice midfield entirely, most likely forcing Arteta to pair Thomas Partey with Jorginho and move Havertz a little deeper.

Unless Partey drops a rare 10/10, Arsenal's midfield could easily be overrun, and Arteta was already struggling for depth without this latest injury crisis.

The Gunners can still bully their rivals from set pieces, but with a depleted squad in a hostile atmosphere, Arsenal will likely come out second best on this occasion.

Jonathan O'Shea - Arsenal

Not only have Arsenal outperformed Tottenham over the past few years, but they also hold a clear psychological edge over their North London rivals.

Despite facing a few absences, the Gunners should take maximum points once again, so Spurs will have to wait a while longer to topple their old foes.

Joel Lefevre - Arsenal

Being without Declan Rice through suspension is not ideal, however, I still don't see the Gunners dropping points against Tottenham this weekend. Arsenal possess more attacking pieces than Tottenham who should trouble the Spurs backline.

They also have a motivated Raheem Sterling keen to show he's still capable of contributing at this level and with a solid track record for scoring versus Spurs, netting eight times against them.

I believe Mikel Arteta's men have learned how to stay sharp consistently throughout a long season, which will serve them well this weekend. I expect another close game between these two, with Arsenal's depth carrying them to victory.

Carter White - Draw

Unbeaten in their last four clashes with Tottenham - dropping points on just the single occasion - Mikel Arteta's Arsenal would have been supremely confident of recording another North London derby success before their recent midfield availability crisis.

Declan Rice's suspension and Martin Odegaard's ankle concern mean that the Gunners could be without two of their most influential players, whilst summer arrival Mikel Merino remains sidelined due to an unfortunate shoulder injury.

On the contrary, Spurs could welcome Micky van de Ven and Dominic Solanke back to their XI after they both missed the defeat to Newcastle United, massively bolstering a side who have dominated all three of their league matches so far this season, albeit earning only four points in the process.

Combining all of those factors, I suspect there will be an opportunity for Ange Postecoglou's troops to pounce on the frailties of Arsenal on Sunday, leading to an exciting share of the spoils at a raucous Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Lewis Nolan - Draw

With Arsenal's first-choice midfield likely to be unavailable for selection, Tottenham should look to take advantage of the Gunners' vulnerability in the centre of the pitch, but Mikel Arteta could find some success against Ange Postecoglou's team if Arsenal prioritise creating counter-attacking opportunities.

Andrew Delaney - Arsenal

Even though form often goes out the window when it comes to big derbies, Arsenal are a class above Tottenham at present and going away to their rivals has not been a daunting task considering they've won on their last two visits.

Martin Odegaard's injury on Monday is a concern, and they will be without Declan Rice, but Mikel Arteta's side should still have enough firepower to expose an often leaky Spurs defence.

Spurs have been punished for not taking their chances so far this season, and Arsenal will not let them off the hook in that regard either.

Nathan Hunter - Tottenham

With Arsenal missing key players in Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard, I can imagine Mikel Arteta will be more inclined to prevent this game being played at Tottenham's tempo and might look to stifle the home side rather than taking the game to Spurs in the way his side did last season.

Even though Tottenham have endured a stuttering start to the season, I have a feeling that they might be catching Arsenal at a good time here.

Babafemi Busari - Arsenal

I believe Arsenal should still be able to edge this game despite the injuries that now mean they are lighter than ideal in midfield for such a big game.

The Gunners have shown they can get wins against their noisy neighbours in less than ideal circumstances so I'd say a 2-1 Arsenal win.

Read more on Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal

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Click here to read our full preview for Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal

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