Igor will have the fans behind him on Sunday (4.30pm - SKY), and will already know what a monster game he has for his debut. He has been appointed not to beat Arsenal, but to keep us in the Premier League. He is, of course, massively hampered by the continuing absence of 12 first teamers, including two of our three first choice centre-backs. I do not believe anyone is returning this week, although Pedro Porro and Richarlison are said to be closest to fitness.
Igor favours a 3-5-2, but may have to adjust for this game. The team might read:- Vicario; Dragusin, Palhinha, Van de Ven (Capt.); Gray, Sarr, Gallagher, Spence; Xavi; Kolo Muani, Solanke. Tudor has worked with Kolo Muani before. The coach will seek to have Spurs on the front foot.
Arsenal have beaten us in 7 of our last 9 meetings. Our last win was the momentous 3-0 in May 2022 under Antonio Conte. Arsenal have now won four consecutive Premier League games against us for the first time. Last season they achieved their fifth Premier League double over Spurs. We achieved that feat just once in the 92/93 season.
Bournemouth achieved something last season that Spurs have not managed since that 1992-93 season - a league double over Arsenal. "The Cherries" won 2-0 at home in October 2024 and 2-1 away in May 2025. In May, Arsenal were preparing for a crucial Champions League second leg against PSG, but still fielded their strongest available side.
In our 4-1 defeat in November, Ebere Eze scored the fourth hat-trick in competitive matches between Arsenal and Spurs, after Ted Drake (Arsenal, October 1934), Terry Dyson (Spurs, August 1961) and Alan Sunderland (Arsenal, December 1978).
Eze hasn't scored a goal since his hat-trick against Spurs in November and was substituted at half time in Arsenal's 1-1 draw at Brentford when his stats were - 0 shots, 0 dribbles, and 0 key passes. Eze did play the full game in Arsenal's 4-0 FA Cup win over Wigan last week and had two assists.
List of defeats by three goals to Arsenal in Premier League era:-
We have yet to win a Premier League game in 2026. Our last win was at Crystal Palace on December 28th and the last home win was against Brentford in early December. Wouldn't it be marvellous if we won on Sunday? I'll be there to cheer us on, but I don't think it will go our way. Dele Alli will be a morale-boosting half-time guest.
Did you know? (1) Arsenal's chairman during their successful 1930s period was Samuel Hill-Wood, whose family owned cotton mills in the Derbyshire town of Glossop. Hill-Wood had been Glossop's chairman when they enjoyed one solitary season in Division One in the 1899-1900 season. Peter Hill-Wood, who died in 2018 was the grandson of Samuel. Peter, and his father Denis had also been chairmen of Arsenal.
Did you know? (2) Arsenal are one of two clubs known to have played Spurs at all four of their home venues - Northumberland Park, White Hart Lane, Wembley and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The other team is Southampton.
Peter Bankes is refereeing Spurs for the 17th time. This will be his first North London Derby. His previous Spurs games this season were our away win against Manchester City, and the 2-2 draw at Burnley last month.
. Spurs record in London Derby League matches since 1997
Top of page | Index to 2025-26 Match Reports |Last season's match|
|Read the full report of the corresponding fixture from last season here||