Arsenal, still the only team with an unbeaten Premier League home record this season, are determined to put their recent cup disappointments behind them in Wednesday's highly anticipated North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates.
While the Gunners' FA Cup journey ended at the hands of defending champions Manchester United over the weekend, Tottenham managed to overcome Tamworth 3-0 in their own FA Cup tie, though they needed extra time to secure the win.
Arsenal’s recent performances at home have been far from reassuring. After their disheartening FA Cup exit to Manchester United, Mikel Arteta’s men are looking to recover from two poor attacking displays that have left their cup hopes hanging by a thread. Their loss to Newcastle United in the EFL Cup highlighted their lack of clinical edge, and they were unable to find the back of the net against 10-man Manchester United, who managed to keep their FA Cup defense alive.
Despite the setbacks, Arteta has backed his players to bounce back and avoid a third consecutive defeat—something they haven’t experienced since January 2024. A loss to Tottenham could leave them nine points behind Liverpool, depending on results, but Arsenal's recent home form gives them hope. They haven’t conceded in their last four Premier League home games, and with the confidence of a solid defensive record, they will look to maintain that streak against Spurs.
Tottenham, on the other hand, will head to the Emirates after a far from impressive performance in their FA Cup tie against Tamworth. While they eventually triumphed 3-0 after extra time, their struggles against lower-league opposition were concerning, especially given their high-profile victory over Liverpool in the EFL Cup earlier in the week. Despite a good tally of 42 goals, Spurs are still languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table, with just one point from their last 12 available.
Their defeat to Arsenal in September was another blow to their North London derby aspirations, and they will be wary of their historically poor record at the Emirates. Spurs have conceded in 25 consecutive Premier League games away to Arsenal, offering little optimism for their supporters heading into this match.
Arsenal will look to capitalize on this, despite their current struggles in front of goal. The Gunners are still favorites to take all three points, especially given their solid defensive form at home. As they aim to bounce back from their recent setbacks, this derby could be the perfect opportunity for Arsenal to reclaim their momentum and keep their Premier League title hopes alive.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Just as he seemed to be settling back into his groove in North London, disaster struck for Gabriel Jesus once again. The Brazilian forward suffered another knee injury in the loss to Manchester United, with fears that he may have ruptured his ACL.
Although the official diagnosis hasn’t been confirmed yet, Jesus is definitely ruled out for the upcoming derby, along with several other key players. Ethan Nwaneri is sidelined with a muscle issue, Bukayo Saka is out with a hamstring injury, and Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu are both dealing with knee problems. Riccardo Calafiori is also a major doubt after missing the FA Cup defeat due to a muscular injury.
After 120 minutes of exhausting and ultimately fruitless efforts on Sunday, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Mikel Arteta make several changes to his lineup for Wednesday’s crucial derby. However, with limited options, he may have no choice but to persist with Kai Havertz up front, despite the player’s struggles in front of goal.
As for Tottenham, Ange Postecoglou faces his own injury woes. Destiny Udogie, Ben Davies, Micky van de Ven, and Wilson Odobert are all out with hamstring injuries, while Cristian Romero is sidelined with a thigh issue. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario has an ankle problem, and Rodrigo Bentancur is still recovering from a head injury. To make matters worse, Timo Werner also picked up a hamstring injury in the FA Cup and has joined the list of absentees.
On a brighter note for Spurs, Richarlison has recovered from his hamstring issue and will be available, while goalkeeper Fraser Forster is also pushing to return after illness. Additionally, January signing Antonin Kinsky has impressed Postecoglou in his brief time at the club and is set to make his Premier League debut in the North London derby—a baptism of fire for the new arrival.
Like their hosts, Tottenham will likely make a few changes to their lineup. Key players like Son Heung-min, Dejan Kulusevski, Dominic Solanke, and EFL Cup hero Lucas Bergvall are expected to return to the fold for this vital match.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Tierney; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Sterling, Havertz, Trossard
Tottenham Hotspur possible starting lineup:
Kinsky; Porro, Gray, Dragusin, Spence; Bergvall, Sarr, Maddison; Kulusevski, Solanke, Son
EXPERT PREDICTION
Arsenal 1-0 Tottenham Hotspurs
The highly anticipated North London derby is always charged with intensity, but with both teams coming off two-hour FA Cup marathons after their midweek EFL Cup matches, this one might not showcase the highest quality of play.
Predicting which version of Spurs will turn up is a difficult task, especially after their struggles against Tamworth. Despite fielding a second-string attack, their performance was concerning and raises questions about their readiness for a tough derby.
Arsenal, while not exactly firing on all cylinders up front, still create plenty of chances. If they can take one of those opportunities on Wednesday, they could secure a much-needed derby win to lift their spirits and complete a morale-boosting double.
