Sports Mole

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.

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

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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.

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

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be forced to field a hotchpotch midfield for Sunday's North London derby away to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

As well as Declan Rice's controversial suspension and Mikel Merino's freak shoulder injury, the Gunners have now lost influential captain Martin Odegaard to an ankle sprain, which is expected to sideline him for at least three weeks.

Arteta refused to rule Odegaard out on Friday, but he is set to be working with a second-choice engine room for Sunday's fiery battle, which will no doubt be anchored by Thomas Partey and also feature the experienced Jorginho.

Kai Havertz is seemingly the most likely candidate to play the Odegaard role this weekend, although that may hinge on Gabriel Jesus recovering from a groin injury in time to spearhead the attack, which is thought to be possible.

The Brazilian would start in between Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka - a potential stand-in captain - if that is the case, although Leandro Trossard and debutant Raheem Sterling are alternative attacking options.

Arsenal's injury concerns are not limited to the engine room, as Riccardo Calafiori hurt his calf on international duty, while Kieran Tierney (hamstring) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) are also sidelined.

However, Arteta will still be able to put out a first-choice backline, as David Raya is shielded by William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Jurrien Timber and Ben White.

Arsenal possible starting lineup:

Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Havertz, Partey, Jorginho; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli

> Click here to see how Tottenham could line up for the North London derby

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou is still sweating over the fitness of both of his strikers for Sunday's Premier League North London derby at home to Arsenal.

The Lilywhites were without both Dominic Solanke (ankle) and Richarlison (unspecified) for their 2-1 loss to Newcastle United two weekends ago, and the latter will not return for another couple of weeks.

However, there is slight hope that £65m man Solanke will be able to make his North London derby debut from the first whistle, which would lead to a rejig in the final third for the hosts.

James Maddison and Son Heung-min - who has scored eight times against Arsenal in the past - are shoo-ins, leaving Dejan Kulusevski and Wilson Odobert to battle for the final offensive spot, a head-to-head that the more experienced former may win.

Spurs suffered a scare over the fitness of Yves Bissouma during the international break, but Postecoglou has a ready-made replacement in the shape of Rodrigo Bentancur, who could now partner Pape Sarr in the middle.

There is more optimism over the fitness of Micky van de Ven, whose knee problem is expected to settle down in time for him to displace Radu Dragusin alongside Cristian Romero.

Van de Ven's comeback would allow Postecoglou to put out a first-choice backline, as Destiny Udogie and Pedro Porro also form part of Guglielmo Vicario's four-man barrier.

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:

Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Sarr, Bentancur; Kulusevski, Maddison, Son; Solanke

> Click here to see how Arsenal could line up for the North London derby

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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.

Match preview

The St James' Park curse continues to haunt Tottenham, who have at least managed to reduce their margin of defeat on Newcastle's turf each season, from 6-1 in 2022-23, 4-0 in 2023-24 to a narrow 2-1 loss in the third gameweek of the 2024-25 campaign.

Strikes from Harvey Barnes and Alexander Isak either side of a Dan Burn own goal condemned Postecoglou's charges to their first defeat of the Premier League season, one in which a familiar tale in front of goal arose for Tottenham, who were once again punished for not making the most of their dominance.

A 4-0 thumping of Everton had seemingly dusted off the cobwebs from gameweek one, where Tottenham's wastefulness on the road cost them in their draw with Leicester City, but a lack of ruthlessness is still prevalent in the Spurs ranks if their Newcastle exploits are anything to go by.

Lying smack-bang in the middle of the table in 10th place, Tottenham will also endeavour to end a particular pattern of home results in the Premier League, having followed a win-loss sequence since the beginning of April.

Having crushed Everton in their first home contest of the season, the omens are not exactly promising for Postecoglou's side if that streak is to continue this weekend, but the Lilywhites could arguably not be facing Arsenal at a more opportune time.

When Brighton defender Joel Veltman took a wild swipe at Declan Rice in Arsenal's showdown with Brighton, the vast majority of supporters inside the stadium expected the Dutchman to receive punishment. Instead, the Emirates crowd were left aghast when Chris Kavanagh sent the equally bewildered Rice for an early bath.

Already on a yellow card, Rice lightly tapping the ball away from Veltman as he was lining up a free kick triggered the Englishman's second yellow, allowing the Seagulls to fight back through Joao Pedro after Kai Havertz's delicate first-half lob.

As Arsenal and Mikel Arteta were left to lament Rice's highly controversial sending-off - which came after Pedro escaped a booking for kicking the ball away in the first half - the Brighton faithful were bouncing all the way home after denying the Gunners a third win from three matches in 2024-25.

Saturday's visitors therefore occupy fourth place in the Premier League table at present, two points worse off than Manchester City and Liverpool ahead of their games on Saturday, but Gooners at least received one piece of good news this week with Arteta's new contract signing.

Solace can also be taken from their last two Premier League wins away to Spurs in 2023 and 2024, but they have never triumphed against the Lilywhites in three straight road matches in the Premier League era and head to their rivals' home without arguably their first-choice midfield.

Tottenham Hotspur Premier League form:

Arsenal Premier League form:

Team News

Tottenham's offensive efforts against Newcastle were not helped by the absences of their two main strikers in Dominic Solanke and Richarlison, but only the latter is guaranteed to miss out; there is a good chance that Solanke will be available.

The Lilywhites were handed a scare over the fitness of Yves Bissouma during the international break after the Mali midfielder suffered a heavy knock, but Postecoglou is keeping his fingers crossed that Micky van de Ven's knee issue will settle down in time for the weekend.

Bissouma's blow means that Rodrigo Bentancur - who is at risk of a lengthy ban after being charged by the FA over his comments about South Koreans - could be tasked with anchoring the Tottenham midfield, while Son Heung-min is out to make the net ripple against Arsenal for the ninth time; only three players have ever scored more in the history of the NLD.

Tottenham's one midfield concern pales in comparison to Arsenal's crisis, though, as alongside Rice's suspension and Mikel Merino's shoulder injury, captain Martin Odegaard sprained his ankle while on Norway duty and apparently faces at least three weeks on the sidelines; Arteta's suggestion that he could be fit may have just been mind games.

Odegaard's absence will likely force Arteta to drop Havertz into a three-man midfield also reinforced by Jorginho, although if Gabriel Jesus is not back from a groin issue in time for the derby, either Leandro Trossard or potential debutant Raheem Sterling could lead the line; the Brazilian is training again, though.

Kieran Tierney (hamstring) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) are definite absentees too, while Riccardo Calafiori hurt his calf in a bizarre incident while playing for Italy but would not have made his first Premier League start here either way.

Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:

Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Sarr, Bentancur; Kulusevski, Maddison, Son; Solanke

Arsenal possible starting lineup:

Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Havertz, Partey, Jorginho; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli

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.

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

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Not long after it was reported that Raheem Sterling's proposed deadline day move to Arsenal was a non-starter, the Gunners pulled off the marquee loan signing of the ostracised Chelsea attacker in the early hours of the morning of August 31.

Having been brutally ejected from Chelsea's senior squad by new manager Enzo Maresca, Sterling was handed a Premier League lifeline by former Manchester City assistant Mikel Arteta, who saved him from a few months out in the cold.

The 29-year-old was in attendance at the Emirates to watch Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion on the same day that his move was announced, having not been registered in time to make his debut in the clash with the Seagulls.

Sterling watched on as his former Chelsea teammate Kai Havertz opened the scoring in delightful fashion, but Declan Rice's controversial red card preceded an equaliser from Joao Pedro, who was not booked for a similar incident that earned Rice his second yellow.

Rice's misdemeanour means that the £105m midfielder is now suspended for this weekend's North London derby away to Tottenham Hotspur, where Sterling could play his first game for Arteta's side, and the ramifications of Rice's red could extend to the Chelsea loanee.

Why Sterling might be the solution to Rice and Odegaard blows

In an ideal world, Arteta would have simply swapped the banned Rice out for another new signing in Mikel Merino, the Euro 2024-winning Spaniard who excelled in the number eight role for Real Sociedad.

However, the 28-year-old suffered a bizarre injury in his first training session with the Gunners, fracturing a bone in his shoulder after Gabriel Magalhaes fell on him, which could keep him out until late October in the worst-case scenario.

Arteta will therefore be forced into a critical rethink, and the Arsenal boss has not been shy to move Havertz into midfield when the need arises, in spite of the fact that the German is far better suited to the number nine role.

Havertz did play in the engine room a couple of times in pre-season, though, suggesting that Arteta feels he can still do a job there, and his tall frame would mimic that of both Rice and Merino to offer a physical presence in the middle of the park.

With Martin Odegaard also guaranteed to miss the North London derby and likely a few matches afterwards due to the ankle sprain he suffered while playing for Norway, Arteta may feel that he has no choice but to drop the German deeper.

Havertz moving into midfield would leave the striker spot vacant, and while Gabriel Jesus would normally be the first port of call, the Brazil international is nursing a groin injury and is not guaranteed to be fit for the trip to Tottenham.

As a result, Sterling - who has looked sharp in training since joining up with the Gunners - is a genuine option in the number nine position, and he is no stranger to such a role, playing 62 matches and scoring 25 goals up front according to Transfermarkt.

Whether Tottenham's Micky van de Ven recovers from his own knee injury in time for the derby remains to be seen, but should the lightning-fast Dutchman be fit, Arsenal could certainly use an injection of Sterling's pace.

What other options does Arteta have?

Havertz moving into midfield and Sterling starting up front is just one possible solution of many; Arteta could also persist with Havertz in the number nine slot and just introduce Jorginho and one wild card option as Rice and Odegaard's replacements.

Teenage duo Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly represent those wild card options who could plug any midfield gaps, but the youngsters are only emergency solutions, while Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli can also act as makeshift strikers.

Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly interested in signing Monaco defender Vanderson.

The 23-year-old has impressed in Ligue 1 since making the switch from South American side Gremio during the January transfer window of 2022.

Vanderson quickly cemented his place in the first XI at Stade Louis II, featuring in 39 competitive matches during his first full campaign in Europe, including two in the Champions League.

When fit, the right-back was the first-choice option for Monaco in Ligue 1 during 2023-24, starting on 20 occasions and providing four goal contributions in the process.

The defender also possesses relative international pedigree, having earned two caps for five-time World Cup winners Brazil across the course of 2023.

© Imago

Man United, Tottenham, Chelsea want Vanderson?

According to CaughtOffside, a trio of Premier League heavyweights are eyeing up moves for Monaco's Vanderson ahead of the January transfer window.

The report claims that Man United, Chelsea and Tottenham are all interested in securing the services of the 23-year-old defender in the near future.

It is understood that Enzo Maresca's Blues hold a strong interest in Vanderson, who is approaching his three-year anniversary at Monaco.

As well as the West Londoners, it is believed that that both the Red Devils and Spurs are monitoring the progress of the right-back with a keen eye.

With a host of Premier League vultures circling, Monaco are supposedly aiming to pocket at least €35m (£29.5m) from the sale of Vanderson.

© Reuters

Do Man United, Chelsea, Tottenham need Vanderson?

A regular on the Ligue 1 and continental scenes for Monaco, Vanderson has proven his credential as a capable top-flight right-back in recent years.

Also on the fringes of Selecao selection, the 23-year-old arguably has the potential to develop into a world-class full-back at a Premier League giant.

That being said, it is not immediately obvious whether Vanderson would be an clear upgrade on any of the potential suitor's current options in that position.

Tottenham Hotspur's Rodrigo Bentancur could be facing a lengthy ban as the midfielder has been charged by the Football Association for using a racial slur about teammate Son Heung-min.

Bentancur issued an apology in June after he appeared to suggest that all South Korean people "look the same" in an interview with a Uruguayan TV station.

Asked by a presenter, prior to Uruguay's Copa America campaign, if he could obtain a shirt from Son, whom the journalist referred to as "the Korean one", Bentancur replied: "Sonny's? It could be Sonny's cousin too as they all look the same."

Bentancur's ill-judged comments understandably drew widespread criticism online and the 27-year-old has since been handed an FA charge.

A statement from the FA said: "Rodrigo Bentancur has been charged with an alleged breach of FA Rule E3 for misconduct in relation to a media interview.

"It's alleged that the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder has breached FA Rule E3.1 as he acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words and/or brought the game into disrepute.

© Imago

Bentancur cleared to face Arsenal, but ban could follow

"It's further alleged that this constitutes an "aggravated breach" which is defined in FA Rule E3.2, as it included a reference, whether express or implied, to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin."

According to talkSPORT, all 'aggravated breaches' that are a first offence bring a recommended match-based sanction of six to 12 matches.

Bentancur, who has until Thursday, September 19 to respond to his FA charge, will then have the opportunity to accept or deny any other punishments received.

The FA's decision to charge Bentancur comes just a few days before Tottenham travel to the Emirates Stadium for the North London derby against Arsenal in the Premier League, but the midfielder has been cleared to play in this fixture.

Bentancur and Son have been teammates at Tottenham since the former moved to North London in January 2022 after a four-and-half year spell in Italy with Juventus.

Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly viewed as the frontrunners in the race to sign Lecce defender Patrick Dorgu.

Having made the switch from Nordsjaelland in 2022, the 19-year-old has quickly established himself as one of Lecce's most important players.

Despite his age, Dorgu has already made 38 appearances for the Serie A outfit, contributing two goals and one assist from the left side.

While the youngster found himself in and out of the team during 2023-24, he has since made three starts in Italy's top flight this season.

Dorgu's rise has already led to him being called up to the Denmark senior squad with his first two caps being earned in the recent UEFA Nations League victories over Switzerland and Serbia.

© Imago

Premier League interest growing in Dorgu

He marked his debut with a goal in the first of those games, Lecce hoping that Dorgu will now be able to kick on once he has served a suspension for a recent red card.

Nevertheless, despite possessing a contract until 2027, it remains unclear whether his long-term future will be at I Giallorossi or a bigger club.

According to La Gazetta dello Sport, Chelsea and Spurs have moved into pole position to secure a deal for the prospect.

The report suggests that Dorgu's valuation could now be in the region of €40m (£33.78m) given the speed of his progression on the domestic and international front.

Lecce had previously set an asking price of €30m, it viewed as a natural move to increase that based on his emergence for Denmark.

Although club officials are ready to present Dorgu with a new contract, the player's representatives may plausibly insist on a release clause for that to come to fruition.

© Imago

Who would be best fit for Dorgu?

With Chelsea having omitted England international Ben Chilwell from their plans, it is clear that they are prepared to place faith in Marc Cucurella and Renato Veiga at left-back.

From Spurs' perspective, they have Destiny Udogie, Ben Davies and Sergio Reguilon as their options, but the long-term future of the latter duo is far from certain.

Manchester United have previously been linked with a move for Dorgu with Erik ten Hag desperate to strengthen in that area courtesy of the long-term fitness issues of Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.

However, the Red Devils may not be in a position to spend the aforementioned fee on a player with limited experience after their splurge on fresh talent in the summer.

Arsenal will put their unbeaten 2024-25 Premier League streak on the line on Sunday afternoon, when they make the short trip across the capital to meet Tottenham Hotspur in the first North London derby of the season.

Mikel Arteta's men have accrued seven points from their opening nine matches of the season, although they lost their 100% record in a frustrating 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion before the international break.

That stalemate means that the Gunners trail Liverpool and Manchester City by two points at this early stage, and Arteta is working around a midfield selection crisis for Sunday's battle.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up all of Arsenal's latest injury and suspension news ahead of their clash with Spurs, who went down 2-1 to Newcastle United in gameweek three.

Martin Odegaard

Status: Out

Type of injury: Ankle

Possible return date: October 1 (vs. Paris Saint-Germain)

Victim of a nasty ankle sprain during Norway's Nations League showdown with Austria, captain Martin Odegaard is expected to spend three weeks minimum on the sidelines, leaving Arsenal without their skipper for the derby and a few games beyond.

Riccardo Calafiori

Status: Minor doubt

Type of injury: Calf

Possible return date: September 15 (vs. Tottenham)

Arsenal's second casualty of the international break, Riccardo Calafiori sustained a bizarre calf injury when France's Ousmane Dembele unintentionally whacked him after being tackled himself. The ex-Bologna man withdrew from the Azzurri squad a day later, but that was thought to have been more precautionary than anything else, and he could make the cut here.

Mikel Merino

Status: Out

Type of injury: Shoulder

Possible return date: Unknown

Speaking of freak injuries, Mikel Merino fractured his shoulder in his first Arsenal training session after feeling the full force of Gabriel Magalhaes landing on him, and it will be a few weeks before he is considered for a debut.

Gabriel Jesus

Status: Minor doubt

Type of injury: Groin

Possible return date: September 15 (vs. Tottenham Hotspur)

Fitness problems have reared their ugly head once again for Gabriel Jesus, who has missed the last two matches with a groin injury, but Arsenal are keeping their fingers crossed that he will shake off the issue in time for Sunday.

Takehiro Tomiyasu

Status: Out

Type of injury: Knee

Possible return date: Unknown

The equally luckless Takehiro Tomiyasu has been in the treatment room with a knee problem since the start of pre-season, and as he is still yet to return to training, there is no timeframe on his return.

Kieran Tierney

Status: Out

Type of injury: Hamstring

Possible return date: Unknown

Likewise, Kieran Tierney - who was expected to leave in the summer - is still recovering from the hamstring problem he picked up at the Euros, and it is not clear when he might be back in action.

ARSENAL'S SUSPENSION LIST

Declan Rice

Return date: September 19 (vs. Atalanta BC)