The first north London derby of the 2024/25 Premier League season is set to take place on Sunday afternoon, with Tottenham hosting Arsenal. Spurs have had a disappointing start to the season, dropping points in their opening game against Leicester City and suffering a defeat against Newcastle United. Although they secured their first win with a 4-0 victory over Everton, they have yet to find their rhythm under manager Ange Postecoglou.
On the other hand, Arsenal started the season convincingly with back-to-back 2-0 victories over Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa. However, they stumbled in their last match against Brighton & Hove Albion, resulting in a dramatic 1-1 draw after Declan Rice received a red card.
This derby holds more than just three points for both teams as bragging rights are at stake. Last season’s encounters between these two sides were high-scoring thrill rides, with a 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium and a tense 3-2 victory for Arsenal at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
In terms of team news, Dominic Solanke remains doubtful for Tottenham due to an ankle injury that has kept him out of their last two matches. Richarlison will also be absent due to a muscle injury sustained before the Newcastle defeat. As for Arsenal, Declan Rice is suspended following his red card against Brighton and Martin Odegaard is sidelined with an ankle injury.
Both teams have additional players on the injury list but are expected to field strong lineups for this highly anticipated clash. With significant injury concerns on both sides and tactical reshuffles likely due to key absences in midfield, it’s difficult to predict an outcome. However, fans can expect an exciting and chaotic encounter between these fierce rivals.
