The North London Derby is always a big deal, and this Sunday, Arsenal will face Tottenham in one of the most exciting matches of the Premier League season. Even though Manchester City might have closed the gap at the top of the table by the time this game kicks off, it probably won’t matter too much to Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, and his team.
Right now, it’s all about what Arsenal themselves do. If they keep winning, they stay on top, and other teams have to chase them. If they stop winning, that’s when the pressure starts.
Arsenal in Derby Form
Arsenal has been on fire in the North London derby. In the last six Premier League games against Tottenham, Arsenal has won five and drawn one. They’ve scored 13 goals and only let in six. That’s pretty impressive!
Even more, Arsenal has won the last three league matches against Spurs. This is their longest winning streak against Tottenham since the 1980s! The red and white fans in North London are loving it, while Spurs fans have had a much harder time cheering in their own derbies. In the last ten years, Tottenham has only won five league derbies.
Arsenal is also really strong at home against Spurs. They’ve only lost once in the last 32 league games at the Emirates Stadium (a 3-2 loss in 2010). And here’s a cool fact: Arsenal has scored in every one of their last 26 Premier League home games against Tottenham. That’s the longest home scoring streak against a single opponent in the league’s history!
In the last eight matches against Spurs at the Emirates, Arsenal has scored at least two goals each time. If they do it again this weekend, it would tie their record for scoring at least twice in consecutive games against the same team, which they set with Leicester City between 1997 and 2016.
Spurs Often Helping Arsenal
Tottenham hasn’t exactly made things easy for themselves either. In four of the last five North London derbies, a Spurs player accidentally scored an own goal. Ouch!
This season, Tottenham has been better away from home under their manager, Thomas Frank. They might hope to use that to stop Arsenal from pulling away at the top of the table. But Tottenham has been inconsistent recently. They’ve lost three of their last seven matches and only won three of their last ten. Meanwhile, Arsenal is on fire—they haven’t lost in their last 14 games across all competitions.
Defense has been particularly strong this season. So far in 2025/26, they’ve faced 20 fewer shots than any other team in the Premier League, had 10 fewer shots on target against them, and only conceded five goals in 11 matches. That makes it really tough for Tottenham to break through.
Because of this, Spurs might play more defensively. They could use a back-five formation, like they did against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup, to sit back, absorb Arsenal’s attacks, and then try to counterattack. That game against PSG was a good example—they almost won despite being the underdogs.
Injuries Could Affect the Game
Injuries might play a big role in this derby. Arsenal will be without Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Jesus, and Kai Havertz. There are also some players who might or might not play, depending on late fitness tests: Martin Odegaard, Noni Madueke, Riccardo Calafiori, Gabriel Martinelli, and Viktor Gyokeres.
Gabriel’s absence could be especially noticeable. He hasn’t missed a single minute this season until now. To give some perspective, Arsenal has won 61.5% of league games when Gabriel plays, but only 40% without him. Gabriel is also a huge threat on set pieces, and Arsenal is dominating in that area. Half of their goals this season (10 goals excluding penalties) have come from set pieces—the most in the Premier League.
Tottenham is also good at set pieces—they rank third in the league with six goals scored that way. Tottenham has scored 19 goals in the league this season, which is very close to 20. Only Chelsea (21) and Manchester City (23) have scored more. If Spurs can get their injured players back, like Randal Kolo Muani, Dejan Kulusevski, or James Maddison, it could make the game much more competitive.
Currently, Spurs are checking the fitness of several players who might play a part: Cristian Romero, Pape Matar Sarr, Dominic Solanke, Ben Davies, Radu Dragusin, Yves Bissouma, Archie Gray, Kota Takai, Lucas Bergvall, and Mo Kudus. Mo Kudus could be a big miss because he has created the most chances for Spurs this season (15) and taken the second-most shots (17) after Richarlison (19).
Stats and Fun Facts About the North London Derby
Arsenal has won 5 of the last 6 Premier League meetings vs Spurs. ✅
Spurs have only won 5 league derbies in the last 10 years. ❌
Arsenal has scored in 26 straight EPL home games against Tottenham. ✅
Arsenal’s defense has conceded only 5 goals in 11 Premier League games this season. ✅
Spurs have scored 19 goals this season; Arsenal has 20. ⚡
These stats show that Arsenal is currently in a really strong position. But the derby is always unpredictable, and Tottenham could still cause some problems if they get their key players fit and manage to take advantage of Arsenal’s injuries.
Why This Match Matters
The North London Derby is more than just three points. It’s about pride, bragging rights, and momentum for the rest of the season. For Arsenal, winning keeps them on top of the league and continues their record against their rivals. For Tottenham, a win could boost confidence, close the gap at the top, and stop Arsenal from running away with the Premier League.
Even though Arsenal has been dominant, the game will be exciting because derbies are never easy. Both teams know each other really well, and players are extra motivated. Expect fast attacks, strong defense, and possibly some set-piece goals.
If continues their scoring streak, they could extend their record and continue dominating Spurs at the Emirates. But Tottenham has shown they can be dangerous, especially if injured stars aren’t 100% fit.
What Fans Should Watch
How Arsenal manages without Gabriel Magalhaes and Gabriel Jesus.
Whether Spurs can use a counterattack strategy like they did against PSG.
Set-piece opportunities for both sides, since both are strong in this area.
Key players returning from injury and how they impact the game.
In the end, this North London Derby could be another memorable chapter in the rivalry. Has the stats, form, and home advantage, but Tottenham has the motivation and talent to fight back. Fans can expect a high-energy game, and with both teams scoring regularly, it might just be another goal-filled derby.