North London Derby Overshadowed by Arsenal Injury Crisis
The first North London Derby of the season is set for a fiery encounter at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon, with Arsenal hosting Tottenham in a crucial Premier League clash. The Gunners enter the match sitting proudly at the top of the table, but their preparations have been severely disrupted by a spate of injuries sustained during the international break.
Gunners Grapple with Defensive Headache
The most significant blow for Mikel Arteta's side is the confirmed absence of key defender Gabriel Magalhaes. The Brazilian centre-back limped out of his country's friendly against Senegal and has been diagnosed with a muscle injury in his right thigh. This is expected to rule him out of action for at least a month, a major setback given his threat from set-pieces, having contributed two goals and three assists this season.
His likely replacement is summer signing Cristhian Mosquera, who impressed when called upon earlier in the campaign. Piero Hincapié is another option for Arteta at the back.
The injury concerns do not end there for the league leaders. Riccardo Calafiori missed Italy's international fixtures and had not returned to training as of Friday, casting serious doubt on his availability. Furthermore, the club is still awaiting a full update on the fitness of striker Viktor Gyokeres, who was forced off against Burnley at the start of November.
There was some hope that Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke, and Gabriel Martinelli could be in contention to return, but Arteta remained characteristically coy in his pre-match press conference. In a further disappointment, Kai Havertz has suffered a minor relapse in his recovery from a knee problem and is not expected back until towards the end of the year.
Spurs Receive Timely Fitness Boosts
While Tottenham have their own injury list, including Dominic Solanke, Archie Gray, and James Maddison, manager Thomas Frank delivered several positive updates on Friday.
Lucas Bergvall is available again after missing two games due to concussion protocols. More good news came regarding Pape Matar Sarr, who was forced off while playing for Senegal at the Emirates but has been passed fit, as has Mohammed Kudus.
Forward Randal Kolo Muani, who suffered a jaw injury against Manchester United, will wear a protective mask but has trained and is available for selection.
Predicted Lineups and How to Watch
With Gabriel absent, Mosquera is predicted to slot directly into the Arsenal defence. Any lingering doubt over Calafiori's fitness could see Myles Lewis-Skelly given an opportunity.
For Spurs, the return of Sarr, Bergvall, and Muani is a significant boost, and all three are expected to feature in the starting eleven.
The match kicks off at 4:30pm on Sunday, 23 November 2025. Fans in the UK can watch the action live on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event, with streaming available via the Sky Go app and NOW TV.
