All eyes turn to the Emirates Stadium this Sunday as Tottenham Hotspur prepare for their first North London Derby under manager Thomas Frank. The stakes couldn't be higher for this fierce local rivalry, with Spurs travelling to face an Arsenal side that currently holds an eight-point advantage over them in the table.
Form Guide and Manager's Mindset
Despite the points gap, Tottenham will draw confidence from their impressive away form this season. Thomas Frank's side remain unbeaten on their travels in the league, though they face a significant challenge against an Arsenal team that has also maintained an unbeaten record at home. One of these impressive streaks is likely to end when the teams meet at 16:30 GMT.
Frank made his feelings clear about the occasion during his weekly press conference, stating: "I always say the next game is the most important game, I always have said that, but I'm very, very, very aware there's two games in a year that's even more important and this is the first of them. We're ready, we're up for it, we're looking forward to it and we'll do everything we can to win."
Team News and Selection Headaches
The Tottenham medical team has delivered largely positive news ahead of this crucial fixture. Frank confirmed that Pape Matar Sarr, Lucas Bergvall and Randal Kolo Muani are all "available" for selection after participating in training despite recent injury concerns.
There remains optimism surrounding Mohammed Kudus, though his availability hasn't been officially confirmed. The Ghanaian attacker has been sidelined for two matches but could make a timely return for this derby clash.
In defence, Spurs are likely to field an unchanged back five with no new injury concerns reported. Guglielmo Vicario and Micky van de Ven have been in exceptional form heading into the international break, providing stability at the back.
Midfield and Attack: Frank's Big Decisions
The return of Sarr and Bergvall presents Frank with welcome selection dilemmas in midfield. The manager must choose whether to start one of the young midfielders alongside Joao Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur in what promises to be an intense derby atmosphere.
Pape Matar Sarr could get the nod to retain his place in the starting eleven, though this might come at the expense of Xavi Simons. The Dutch midfielder has experienced inconsistent form since arriving in north London, and Frank may opt for a more conservative 4-3-3 formation to provide additional midfield solidity in this tough away fixture.
In attack, the main question revolves around Mohammed Kudus' match fitness. Given the significant impact the former West Ham player has made since his move across London, Frank will be desperate to include Kudus if he receives medical clearance.
Randal Kolo Muani returns to contention but has yet to score for his new club despite starting the last three matches. This could open the door for Richarlison to return to his preferred central role, fresh from scoring what appeared to be a late winner against Manchester United before the international break. Wilson Odobert also presents a strong option after making a noticeable impact as a half-time substitute in the 2-2 draw with United.
Tottenham predicted starting XI (4-3-3): Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Spence; Bentancur, Palhinha, Sarr; Kudus, Richarlison, Odobert.
