Today’s north London derby promises to be a momentous occasion in the seasons of both Spurs and the Gunners, with the race for the top four and the Premier League title hotting up as the end of the year looms large.
Arsenal sit a point above Manchester City, who have a game in hand and play Nottingham Forest later this afternoon. Mikel Arteta has said he is relishing his selection headaches after his team responded to a damaging defeat to Aston Villa by winning back-to-back games, and a possible return for Jurrien Timber is on the cards.
Spurs will welcome Pedro Porro and Richarlison back to their squad as they look to claw back ground on fourth-placed Aston Villa, who sit seven points ahead in the final Champions League spot having played three games more. Follow Tottenham vs Arsenal LIVE via Standard Sport’s match blog, featuring expert analysis from our reporters at the ground!
Tottenham vs Arsenal updates
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Kick-off time: 2pm BST | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
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How to watch: Sky Sports
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Tottenham team news: Duo to return, Udogie out
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Arsenal team news: Timber could feature after injury
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Score prediction
Key derby factors: Thomas Partey pushing to start
12:05 , Marc Mayo
Thomas Partey started only a second game this year in the thrashing of Chelsea, and his progressive passing and dynamism helped Arsenal to a five-goal stroll.
His performance leaves Arteta with a decision to make, with Jorginho Arsenal’s other option to partner Declan Rice in midfield.
The Italian is an experienced head who helps Arsenal to control big games, but he may not be suited to a chaotic end-to-end derby.
It is unclear if Partey is ready to start another game so quickly following his hamstring injury.
North London derby: Countdown to kick-off
12:00 , Marc Mayo
We are now only two hours away from Tottenham and Arsenal facing off!
Team news is due at 1pm BST.
Arsenal warned Tottenham are their only hope
11:52 , Marc Mayo
The Premier League title race increasingly appears to be a straight showdown between Arsenal and Manchester City, but it is Tottenham who will have a decisive say, according to Jamie Redknapp.
Pep Guardiola’s side have a game in hand, which is a potentially tricky test away to Tottenham in the final week of the season.
“Tottenham have a massive part to play don’t they?” Redknapp said.
“They’ve obviously going to play Arsenal on Sunday which is going to be a huge game. We’ve only got to look at [Liverpool’s defeat to Everton]… with derby matches anything is possible.”
Key derby factors: Dejan Kulusevski or Brennan Johnson?
11:42 , Marc Mayo
Mikel Arteta’s decision at left-back is made even harder because it is not clear who Ange Postecoglou will start on the right of Spurs’ front three.
Brennan Johnson has started the last three games after turning the tide against Luton last month, but Spurs looked desperately short of guile and a player capable of holding up the ball in the 4-0 defeat at Newcastle.
Dejan Kulusevski could therefore return to the XI on Sunday, which would leave Johnson as a potentially dangerous impact sub.
Postecoglou also faces a decision over whether to recall Richarlison if he is fit enough and move Heung-min Son to the left.
Tottenham ponder new plan to stop Bukayo Saka
11:35 , Marc Mayo
By the time Tottenham host Arsenal in Sunday’s crunch north London derby, Mikel Arteta’s side will have played four times since their rivals’ last fixture — the 4-0 defeat at Newcastle on April 13.
So there is a certain irony that Spurs have still managed to pick up more injuries than Arsenal in the past fortnight, after news over the weekend that Destiny Udogie will miss the rest of the season following surgery on his left quadriceps.
Udogie will be a real miss against an Arsenal side who tend to funnel their attacks down the right, through Ben White and Bukayo Saka.
Udogie was outstanding in the reverse fixture in September, maturely handling Saka as Arsenal twice threw away leads to draw 2-2.
When Udogie was booked after just 15 minutes for a shove on the England winger, it looked like he could face a torrid afternoon, but he barely put another foot wrong, showing Saka down the line at every opportunity and helping to frustrate Arsenal’s most dangerous player.
Nihal Arthanayake column
11:26 , Marc Mayo
TV and radio presenter, and Spurs fan, Nihal Arthanayake has penned his latest Standard Sport column ahead of the north London derby.
He discusses just how important it would be to Tottenham supporters if they can upset Arsenal’s title chances.
Key derby factors: Arsenal’s left-back worry
11:15 , Marc Mayo
Left-back has quickly become Arsenal’s Achilles heel.
Jakub Kiwior’s limitations in the role were exposed in Bayern Munich’s 2-2 draw in London, when he was hooked at half-time. Oleksandr Zinchenko can invert into midfield but did not fare much better than Kiwior in the home defeat by Aston Villa.
Takehiro Tomiyasu is Mikel Arteta’s steadiest option, but the question is whether he is fit enough to start twice in a week after Tuesday’s demolition of Chelsea?
Latest odds
11:07 , Marc Mayo
Tottenham: 17/5
Draw: 16/5
Arsenal: 8/11
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
North London derby score prediction
10:59 , Marc Mayo
Spurs will solely miss Udogie, and a possible Porro absence is equally as damaging, against an Arsenal side brimming with confidence and gunning for the title.
Ange Postecoglou almost had the Gunners’ number in the reverse fixture, drawing 2-2 at the Emirates, but this is a completely different test in the season run-in and Spurs will need the likes of James Maddison to rediscover his form to have a chance of taking points off the league leaders.
Arsenal to win, 3-1.
Our prediction for the Arsenal line-up
10:52 , Marc Mayo
Predicted Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu; Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Trossard
Early Arsenal team news
10:40 , Marc Mayo
Arsenal came through the thumping win over Chelsea unscathed, meaning Jurrien Timber is their only injury concern.
The centre-back made his comeback for the Under-21s in midweek, and scored, and Mikel Arteta has confirmed that he may return in the derby.
Mikel Arteta could yet make changes and Jorginho is one of those hoping to coming into the side in place of fellow midfielder Thomas Partey.
Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli are also contenders to get the nod on the left flank ahead of Leandro Trossard.
“It’s a good headache! You feel for the players because you see how much they want it, how much everyone wants to start and contribute to the team in the right way,” said Arteta.
“It’s always difficult, it’s part of the job, but as well they’re fully ready to come on the pitch however we need them to try to help us to win matches. Their spirit is very good.”
How we expect Tottenham to line up
10:30 , Marc Mayo
Predicted Spurs XI (4-2-3-1): Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Davies; Bissouma, Sarr; Kulusevski, Maddison, Werner; Son
Early Tottenham team news
10:23 , Marc Mayo
Tottenham are without left-back Destiny Udogie but will have Pedro Porro available. Ben Davies is set to replace Udogie.
Up front, Richarlison is fit again after three weeks out of action, and his involvement could push Heung-min Son to the wing where he should be joined by Brennan Johnson, Spurs’ most in-form forward.
Oliver Skipp is unavailable after picking up a knock in training.
How to watch the north London derby
10:15 , Marc Mayo
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra HDR with coverage beginning at 1pm BST ahead of a 2pm kick-off.
Live stream: Subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app.
Tottenham vs Arsenal LIVE!
09:59 , Marc Mayo
Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s live coverage of Tottenham vs Arsenal.
What a north London derby we have in store for you today.
The Gunners are going for the Premier League title and realistically need to win every game to have a serious hope of dethroning Manchester City, and Spurs fans would love to be the ones to end their chances.
Tottenham have plenty to fight for themselves with fourth place and a spot in the Champions League very much open to them, if they can claw back Aston Villa’s advantage with a few games in hand.
Kick-off comes at 2pm BST from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and we’ll have both Simon Collings and Dan Kilpatrick at the ground to deliver their expert analysis later on.
Stay tuned for all the derby build-up, team news, match action and reaction!
