Tottenham vs Arsenal predicted XIs: Team news and probable line-ups
The big Premier League game of the weekend comes from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday as Spurs host bitter rivals Arsenal in the north London derby.
The blockbuster clash will take place at 2pm UK time with Arsenal, who have made an unbeaten start to the season, considered the favourites to claim three points.
Predicted XIs:
Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bentancur, Bissouma; Kulusevski, Maddison, Son; Odebert.
Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Timber; Havertz, Jorginho, Partey; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli.
Tottenham have made a moderate start to the campaign, drawing with promoted Leicester on the opening weekend and losing to Newcastle last time out, though they did put four past Everton in their only home fixture.
Arsenal, meanwhile, picked up where they left off last term with 2-0 wins at home to Wolves and away at Aston Villa, but Mikel Arteta’s men went on to drop points in their most recent outing as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton at the Emirates.
With that in mind, both teams are playing with something to prove, though motivation is unlikely to be an issue in a fixture that means so much to both clubs as well as both sets of supporters.
Mikel Arteta understands the North London derby’s significance as a player and manager. Although he oversaw defeats in his first two attempts as Gunners boss, his team has dominated the fixture over the last two seasons.
Arsenal won at home and away in the 2022/23 season, claiming four points last season. They won 3-2 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium despite a late rally from the hosts, who almost salvaged a point after being 3-0 down at half-time.
Given Manchester City and Liverpool’s red-hot starts to the season, Arsenal can ill afford to drop points, although Arteta will have to contend with two big-name absentees on Sunday in the form of Martin Ødegaard and Declan Rice.
BetMGM sign-up offer: Get £40 in bonuses when you bet £10
Not signed up to BetMGM yet? Here's how eligible readers* can take advantage of their welcome offer:
- Open an account at BetMGM using this link.
- Select the Sports Welcome Offer.
- Get the offer from the ‘My Offers’ page.
- Deposit and place a £10 bet at odds of 1/1 (2.0) or greater.
- When it settles, unlock £40 in bonuses
New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10+ at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets: 1 x £10 Acca, 1 x £10 Horse Racing, 1 x £10 Football, 1 x £10 Bet Builder. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. T&Cs apply.
Tottenham vs Arsenal Team News
Tottenham have several injury concerns heading into the North London derby. However, Ange Postecoglou is hopeful that Micky van der Ven will be fit to partner Cristian Romero at centre-back.
Like Van de Ven, Dominic Solanke was unavailable for the trip to Newcastle. He may return, although fellow summer signing Wilson Odobert may again lead the line, with Richarlison expected to miss out.
Yves Bissouma sustained a knock while on international duty for Mali last week, but the midfielder is expected to be fit.
Meanwhile, the Gunners will have to contend without the suspended Partey and captain Ødegaard, who limped out of Norway’s Nations League win over Austria on Monday.
Arteta is set to field Jorginho alongside Thomas Partey in midfield, and he could opt to drop Kai Havertz into the three, with Leandro Trossard moved to a central attacking role.
Ricardo Calafiori was also injured while representing Italy but should be fit. However, Mikel Merino, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Kieran Tierney are absent, and Gabriel Jesus struggles with a groin problem.
