Arsenal will host Tottenham for the first north London derby of the Premier League season this afternoon.
Spurs got off to a flying start early on while Mikel Arteta’s Gunners had the opposite as the lost their first three.
However, Tottenham have lost their last two and Arsenal are looking to build on their first two wins of the season as they clamber up the table.
Mikel Arteta’s job is still on the line before the international break and he’ll know the pressure is still on.
Nuno Espirito Santo has worries in his attack having only scored three the entire season.
Harry Kane’s goal against Wolves in the midweek cup fixture might help the cause.
This fixture is renowned for its fiery nature and the action-packed football that comes with it.
Arsenal v Tottenham: Date and time
Arsenal will host Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium TODAY, on Sunday, September 26.
The Premier League fixture will kick off at 4:30pm.
Arsenal v Tottenham: TV channel and live stream
The derby will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League with live coverage starting from 4pm.
Sky Sports customers can live stream this via the app using their mobile, tablet or computer devices.
If not, you can purchase a Sky Sports Day Pass from NowTV for £9.99.
Updates will be live on talkSPORT throughout the afternoon while talkSPORT.com will also be running a live blog to follow the action.
Arsenal v Tottenham: Team news
Arsenal XI: Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney, Partey, Xhaka, Saka, Odegaard, Smith Rowe, Aubameyang.
Subs: Leno, Holding, Cedric, Tavares, Lokonga, Maitland-Niles, Martinelli, Pepe, Lacazette.
Tottenham X: Lloris, Tanganga, Dier, Sanchez, Reguilon, Hojbjerg, Dele, Ndombele, Lucas, Son, Kane.
Subs: Gollini, Royal, Davies, Romero, Rodon, Skipp, Lo Celso, Bryan, Scarlett
What’s been said?
The two managers spoke to the media ahead of the game on Sunday.
Arteta said: “Hopefully everybody is available. We have one more session ahead of the game, but everyone is feeling good.
“It’s the most special game of the season at home. We know how much it means.”
“I will make sure they understand what it means.”
Arteta also revealed how Xhaka has been since returning from contracting COVID-19: “He came back and he was flying.”
Nuno said: “It’s not another game it’s a different game, it’s a special game for us, a special game for our fans.
“It’s going to be a tough match, but no doubts it’s a different game.
He added: “We have a session tomorrow to prepare it and then we’re going to make the decisions.
“We have Lucas [Moura] back also so good news, lets try to make and prepare on the game.
“Like I said it’s a different game and we must feel it.”
Arsenal v Tottenham: Match facts
- Arsenal beat Spurs 2-1 in this exact fixture in March – they’ve not won consecutive league games against Tottenham since doing the double over their rivals in the 2013-14 campaign.
- Tottenham have won just one of their last 28 away league games against Arsenal (D11 L16), coming from behind to win 3-2 in November 2010.
- Since consecutive 0-0 draws at Highbury in 1997-98 and 1998-99, Arsenal have scored at least once in each of their last 22 Premier League home games against Spurs.
- After losing their first three league games by an aggregate score of 9-0 this season, Arsenal have won both of their last two by a 1-0 scoreline. They last won three in a row without conceding in July 2020, while they last had three consecutive 1-0 victories in August 2008.
- After winning their first three league games all 1-0 this season, Tottenham have lost 3-0 in both of their last two, with both matches being London derbies. Spurs have never lost three consecutive league games by 3+ goals in their entire history.
- Coming into this weekend’s games, Arsenal have used the most different players (26) and had the most starting XI changes (16) in the Premier League this season. The Gunners also have the youngest average starting XI so far in the top-flight this term (24y 328d).
- Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette has been involved in six goals in his eight Premier League appearances against Tottenham. He’s scored in each of his last three against Spurs at the Emirates – no Arsenal player has ever scored in four consecutive home league games against Tottenham.
- Just one of the last 10 Tottenham managers (to take charge in a north London derby) has won their first top-flight meeting against Arsenal (D5 L4), though it was José Mourinho in July 2020. Nuno Espírito Santo will be the 10th different individual Spurs manager whose first north London derby came away from home, with just one of the previous nine emerging victorious (Peter Shreeve in January 1985, otherwise D5 L3).
- Both of Arsenal’s Premier League games with Aaron Ramsdale in goal this season have finished 1-0. The only keepers to record a clean sheet in each of their first three Premier League starts for the Gunners are Alex Manninger and David Ospina.
- Spurs’ Harry Kane is the all-time highest goalscorer in competitive meetings between Arsenal and Tottenham, with 11 goals. He failed to score against Arsenal in their last meeting in March, but has never gone without a goal against the Gunners in back-to-back games.