The Premier League returns on Saturday with us hosting Tottenham, with both sides looking to seize the north London bragging rights and claim top spot in the Premier League table.
Just a point separates us at the division’s summit from our local rivals sitting in third, but Spurs will be conscious of their poor record on our turf, having won just once in their last 29 league visits.
However it’ll be a tough test as Antonio Conte brings his unbeaten side to Emirates Stadium for the first time since taking the helm back in November 2021 – a ground he never won at during his Chelsea tenure.
Starp-shooting Spurs’ impressive start
They have found things tougher on their travels, with two draws this campaign in London derbies – a controversial 2-2 draw against Chelsea before they were held 1-1 at West Ham United, while they lost in Portugal to Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League thanks to two late goals.
Out of their summer recruits, only Ivan Perisic has featured in every game so far, with Conte gradually easing the likes of Richarlison, Clement Lenglet and Yves Bissouma into his team.
What the managers say
“Last season in the last three games they were four points up from us so it means we are talking about a really good team that we did a really good job to overcome them in the last three games.
“At the same time, I know the quality of this team. I know they are working with Arteta for many years, they are really well organized and Arteta is a really good coach. He is young but he can have in front of him a great career.”
Arteta on Tottenham: [I’m impressed] not only the start but the journey they have been on since Antonio joined and how things have changed and the team that he’s building.
“They have a very clear identity in the way they are playing and it’s been really impressive. We know that both teams expect a really tough match tomorrow.” – read every word from Mikel’s pre-match press conference
Team news
We will be hoping that Kieran Tierney is available for selection after he was forced to withdraw from Scotland’s squad prematurely after suffering a head injury against the Republic of Ireland on Saturday.
Thomas Partey and Takehiro Tomiyasu also returned from international duty earlier than expected, but there was better news in that Martin Odegaard played in both of Norway’s fixtures after missing our last game against Brentford.
An update on Oleksandr Zinchenko (calf) is awaited, Mohamed Elneny’s hamstring injury looks set to keep him out for a while longer, while Emile Smith Rowe has undergone groin surgery that will keep him out of action until December.
Spurs are sweating on the availability of goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who pulled out of France’s squad with a thigh injury and Conte admits it’ll be touch-and-go as to whether he makes it in time, as well as Dejan Kulusevski who picked up a hamstring issue playing for Sweden.
Ben Davies missed the win against Leicester and Wales’ subsequent matches with a hairline fracture to a bone just underneath his knee, while Lucas Moura hasn’t played since injuring his calf in early August.
Facts and stats
As well as being the highest-scorer in north London derby history with 13 goals, Harry Kane has scored more Premier League goals against us than any other player.
Son has been directly involved in six goals in his last five games against us (4 goals, 2 assists). Just one of these has been at the Emirates, however, netting in the 3-1 loss last season.
Spurs have lost two of their last three league meetings with us, as many as they had in their previous 13 (W5 D6).
We are unbeaten in our last 11 games against Tottenham at the Emirates since a 3-2 loss in November 2010.
This is the first Premier League meeting north London derby with one of the sides tops of the league since December 2007, when we won 2-1 at the Emirates. If Tottenham wins, it will be the first time in top-flight history that either side has beaten the other to replace them at the top of the table.
We haven’t kept a clean sheet in any of our last eight Premier League home games, but we have won our last six in a row at the Emirates. Only Liverpool has ever had a longer run of consecutive Premier League home wins while conceding each time (8 between August-December 2019).
Only once have Spurs remained unbeaten in their first eight games of a Premier League campaign, doing so in 2016/17.
Read five more obscure facts from the history of the north London derby
Match officials
We have won 25 of the 42 games Taylor has taken charge of, losing just six, however, we have won neither of the two NLDs he has overseen which both took place at Wembley in 2017/18 and 2018/19.
- Referee: Anthony Taylor
- Assistant Referee 1: Gary Beswick
- Assistant Referee 2: Lee Betts
- Fourth Official: Robert Jones
- Video Assistant Referee: Jarred Gillett
- Additional Video Assistant Referee: Timothy Wood
Recent meetings at the Emirates
We are looking to claim a third-straight home win against our rivals for the first time since 2013, following last season’s 3-1 win when goals from Emile Smith Rowe, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bukayo Saka sealed a famous victory.
The season before, goals from Martin Odegaard and Alexandre Lacazette helped complete a comeback 2-1 win, while in September 2019 we overturned a two-goal deficit to grab a point and deny Spurs a first win at Emirates Stadium since November 2010.
Watch more classic action from this fixture – including magic from Bergkamp and Henry – with our playlist
Breakdown Live
William Gallas and Jen Beattie will be joining Nicole Holliday and Adrian Clarke’s pitchside pre-match, and we’ll also analyze the keys to a potential victory with a host of celebrity guests popping by to say hello.
We’ll also look back at Arsenal Women’s comprehensive victory over Spurs last weekend, celebrate our No More Red campaign, and discuss the impact it’s had.
Then there will be live commentary from 12.30 pm, and half-time analysis – ensuring you get a flavor of derby day wherever in the world you’re watching!
