Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal – Premier League – Preview, Team News and Updates

Just three weeks into the Premier League season, and we’ve already seen some unforgettable moments. But hold tight, because this Sunday, the stage is set for the biggest clash of them all — the North London Derby!

When Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur go head-to-head, it’s not just a match, it’s a spectacle. These two giants of English football have a history steeped in fierce rivalry. Every derby delivers — bone-crunching tackles, heated battles, stunning goals, and an electric atmosphere you can feel through the screen. This isn’t just any game, it’s football at its most thrilling, unpredictable, and unforgettable. 

Arsenal head into the North London Derby riding high after a strong start to the season. With 7 points from their first three matches, their latest being a 1-1 draw against Brighton, the Gunners are looking solid. Meanwhile, Spurs have struggled to turn performances into points. Despite playing well in all three of their games, they’ve only managed to pick up 4 points. On paper, Arsenal may have the edge, but in a derby, form rarely matters. So, who will seize the moment and take the bragging rights in North London? 

Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal – Match Preview 

The start to the 2024/25 season isn’t what many Tottenham fans expected. After a grueling preseason in the hot and humid South Korea, Spurs players looked fit and ready for the new season. However, an underwhelming 1-1 draw against the newly promoted Leicester City revealed some glaring weaknesses within the Spurs team. But Spurs looked to have dusted off those early season cobwebs with a commanding 4-0 win over a struggling Everton side. 

Many fans felt that the Everton victory would be the catalyst for a blistering early season form, akin to last season. However, a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Newcastle United brought them down to Earth. The Magpies have become a bit of a bogey team for Tottenham in recent years, particularly at St James’ Park, where Spurs have been thrashed 6-0 in 2023 and 4-0 in 2024. While Spurs did dominate Newcastle for the majority of the match, their defensive frailties were laid bare by a ruthless Newcastle side. As a result of that defeat, Spurs occupy the 10th spot, with just four points. This isn’t where Tottenham want to be, and Ange Postecoglou’s men need to start picking up wins fast, or fan frustrations could start to boil over. What better way to get back to winning ways than a home win against Arsenal. 

While Spurs have struggled, Arsenal have looked like title contenders this early in the season. They started their 2024/25 season with a professional 2-0 win over Wolves. Goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka ensured that the Gunners started their season on a positive note. They followed their opening day victory with another professional display, defeating Aston Villa 2-0 at Villa Park. However, Mikel Arteta’s men dropped their first points of the campaign, when Brighton secured a 1-1 draw at Emirates Stadium just before the international break. 

After their stumble against Brighton, Arsenal know they can’t afford to drop any more points if they’re serious about challenging Manchester City for the title. That’s why a win against their bitter rivals Tottenham is crucial. And they’ve got history on their side — the Gunners have claimed victory in their last two trips to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with a commanding 2-0 win in 2023 and a thrilling 3-2 triumph in 2024. A third straight win on enemy turf would send a clear message to their title rivals. 

Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal – Team News and Updates 

Tottenham’s attacking struggles against Newcastle weren’t helped by the absence of their top strikers, Dominic Solanke and Richarlison. While Richarlison is confirmed to miss out again, there’s hope that Solanke could be fit in time to return. The Lilywhites were also given a scare during the international break when Yves Bissouma picked up a knock, but Ange Postecoglou remains hopeful that Micky van de Ven’s knee issue will settle down in time for the derby.  

Should Bissouma not recover in time, Rodrigo Bentancur might step in to anchor the midfield, though he's facing a possible lengthy ban due to an FA charge over his recent comments about South Koreans. Meanwhile, Son Heung-min will be looking to make his mark against Arsenal for the ninth time — only three players have scored more in the history of the North London Derby. 

Despite Tottenham's injury concerns, Arsenal's situation seems more severe. Along with Declan Rice’s suspension and Mikel Merino’s shoulder injury, captain Martin Odegaard sprained his ankle while on international duty with Norway and is expected to be sidelined for at least three weeks. Arteta’s suggestion that Odegaard might still play could be a bit of mind games. 

Odegaard’s absence could see Kai Havertz drop into midfield alongside Jorginho, while Gabriel Jesus’ groin injury might open the door for either Leandro Trossard or a potential debut for Raheem Sterling to lead the line. Though Jesus is back in training, his availability remains uncertain. On top of that, Kieran Tierney (hamstring) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) are out, and Riccardo Calafiori injured his calf while on international duty with Italy, though he wasn’t expected to feature in the derby anyway. 

Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal – Kick-Off Time and Date 

The game is scheduled to take place on 15th September 2024 (Sunday) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The match will kick off at 6:30 PM (Indian Standard Time).    

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