North London derbies are never quiet, but today’s meeting between Arsenal and Tottenham at the Emirates feels especially sharp. With kick-off at 16:30 UK, Arsenal start the day as Premier League leaders with a small cushion at the top of the table, with Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice carrying much of the expectation, while Spurs arrive as dangerous outsiders with a strong away record and nothing to lose.
For both Mikel Arteta and Thomas Frank, the teamsheet may prove as decisive as any touchline adjustment. Our predicted Arsenal vs Tottenham lineups today will tell us exactly how brave, how cautious, and how ambitious each manager is prepared to be in the biggest fixture of their season so far.
If you want a wider story on why this derby is dominating timelines today, you can also read our earlier feature: North London Derby 23 November 2025: Why It’s Trending Everywhere.
Predicted Lineups: How Arsenal and Spurs Could Start
Most outlets expect both sides to mirror each other in a 4-2-3-1, but with very different personalities. Arsenal’s setup is built on control and pressure, while Spurs lean into pace, transitions and what Frank himself has described this week as “controlled chaos” in big games.
Predicted Arsenal XI
Formation: 4-2-3-1
- GK: David Raya
- Defence: Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Cristhian Mosquera, Riccardo Calafiori
- Midfield double pivot: Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice
- Attacking three: Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, Leandro Trossard
- Centre-forward: Mikel Merino
Injuries to Gabriel Magalhães and several forwards have forced Arteta to lean heavily on summer signings such as Mosquera, Calafiori, Zubimendi and Eze, but Arsenal’s recent results suggest the new spine is already bedding in well, with long unbeaten runs and one of the best defensive records in the division.
Predicted Tottenham XI
Formation: 4-2-3-1
- GK: Guglielmo Vicario
- Defence: Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Djed Spence
- Midfield double pivot: João Palhinha, Rodrigo Bentancur
- Attacking three: Mohammed Kudus, Pape Matar Sarr, Xavi Simons
- Centre-forward: Richarlison
Tottenham travel across North London with a reputation this season for being awkward, aggressive and extremely effective on the road. Their mix of ball-winners, high-energy pressers and clever technicians between the lines means Arsenal will not be allowed to settle on the ball for long spells.
Arsenal’s Selection Dilemmas and Game Plan
Zubimendi & Rice: Double Pivot or Rice on the Front Foot?
The first big decision for Arteta is how to use Declan Rice alongside Martin Zubimendi. In tougher away matches, Rice has often sat deeper, screening the back four and cleaning up transitions. At home in a derby, the temptation is to push him a little higher, allowing Zubimendi to dictate from the base while Rice steps forward to lock Tottenham in.
If Arsenal get that balance right, they can control second balls around the halfway line and keep Spurs pinned, forcing Richarlison and the wingers to spend long stretches chasing instead of counter-attacking.
Full-Backs: Timber and Calafiori as Tactical Weapons
With Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori, Arsenal have two defenders comfortable stepping into midfield. Expect one to invert alongside Zubimendi to form a back three in possession, while the other pushes on to pin Spurs’ wide players. That asymmetry is crucial: it can drag Spurs’ press out of shape or open passing lanes into Saka and Eze between the lines.
Eberechi Eze Between the Lines
Arsenal’s decision to use Eberechi Eze as the central playmaker gives them a very different look compared with the classic Martin Ødegaard profile. Eze loves carrying the ball through pressure, committing defenders and drawing fouls around the box. Against a physical Spurs double pivot, his ability to roll out of tight spaces could be the difference between a sterile 70% possession and genuinely dangerous territory around Vicario’s penalty area.
Mikel Merino as a False Nine
With orthodox strikers missing, using Mikel Merino up front turns Arsenal’s attack into more of a fluid front four. Merino can drop towards midfield to overload the centre, freeing Saka and Trossard to attack inside channels, while late runs from Eze threaten the space that centre-backs leave when they step out to challenge him.
Tottenham’s Selection Dilemmas and Game Plan
Palhinha & Bentancur: Spoiling Arsenal’s Rhythm
João Palhinha and Rodrigo Bentancur give Spurs a powerful core capable of disrupting Arsenal’s slick combinations. Palhinha’s ball-winning is among the best in the league, while Bentancur brings composure and vertical passing. Their job will be simple in theory, brutal in practice: step into passing lanes towards Eze, snap into duels with Rice, and make sure Arsenal’s half-spaces never feel comfortable.
Romero & van de Ven vs Runners in Behind
Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven are the foundation of Spurs’ high defensive line. If the timing is right, they can compress the pitch and keep Arsenal cramped in front of them. If the line drops too deep, or if the offside trap fails once, Saka and Trossard will have the kind of space they dream of in derbies.
Kudus, Sarr and Xavi Simons: Intelligent Chaos
Behind Richarlison, Spurs have built a band of high-ceiling playmakers in Mohammed Kudus, Pape Matar Sarr and Xavi Simons. Expect them to rotate constantly, drifting infield to overload Arsenal’s double pivot, then exploding wide to drag full-backs away from their starting zones. Their movement is the heart of the “controlled chaos” Frank has spoken about in the build-up, with transitions and broken play seen as opportunities rather than problems.
Richarlison as the Relentless Focal Point
Richarlison gives Spurs a centre-forward who never stops bumping centre-backs, contesting crosses and attacking the near post. Even if Spurs spend long periods without the ball, one accurate cross from Porro or Simons can still force a mistake from a reshuffled Arsenal back line.
The Tactical Battle: Control vs Controlled Chaos
Playing Out vs the High Press
Arsenal’s willingness to build from the back through Raya, Saliba, Mosquera and their inverting full-back will be tested by Spurs’ front four press. If Arsenal consistently escape the first wave, they will find huge spaces behind Tottenham’s midfield. If they misplace early passes, Spurs will suddenly be shooting from the edge of the box with the away end roaring them on.
Width, Overloads and Half-Spaces
On paper, both sides line up with wingers who like to drive inside: Saka and Trossard for Arsenal, Kudus and Simons for Spurs. The question is whose full-backs can support them best. Timber and Calafiori overlapping or underlapping at the right moments could pin Spurs deep; likewise, Porro’s attacking instincts can quickly flip the game if Arsenal leave space behind Trossard.
Set Pieces as a Derby Decider
With so many creative players missing through injury, both managers know that corners and wide free-kicks might decide the evening. Arsenal’s delivery from Eze, Saka or Trossard gives them multiple angles, while Spurs will look for Palhinha, Romero and van de Ven attacking the aerial zones around the six-yard box. In a tight derby where emotions run high, one blocked run or lost marker can be the difference between euphoria and another “what if”.
Five Key Battles to Watch
- Bukayo Saka vs Djed Spence – Arsenal’s talismanic winger against a full-back who relishes one-v-one duels. If Saka wins this flank, Spurs’ entire structure tilts.
- Eberechi Eze vs João Palhinha – Dribbler vs destroyer. Can Eze find pockets and turn, or will Palhinha smother him before he faces the back four?
- Leandro Trossard vs Pedro Porro – Trossard’s tendency to drift inside may clash with Porro’s urge to bomb forward. Whoever times their runs better could create overloads or huge counters.
- William Saliba & Cristhian Mosquera vs Richarlison – Arsenal’s centre-back pairing must deal with aerial bombardment, near-post darts and constant physical contact.
- Arteta vs Frank on the touchline – The managers’ in-game tweaks on 60–70 minutes may matter just as much as the original lineups, especially once legs tire and spaces open up.
Bench Impact and Second-Half Strategy
In a season of condensed schedules and long injury lists, the derby may be decided by players who do not start. Arsenal can change the tempo with fresh wide options or an extra attacking midfielder from the bench, especially if they are chasing a late winner in front of the Clock End. Spurs, meanwhile, have the ability to add even more running and direct threat through the likes of Brennan Johnson, Mathys Tel or other forwards returning from knocks, depending on who is fit enough to make the squad.
Both coaches may treat the first hour as a chess match and the final half-hour as a sprint, saving their most aggressive changes for a moment when the opposition structure is already fraying.
What a Result Would Mean
If Arsenal Win
A home victory would underline Arsenal’s status as genuine title favourites, proving they can manage an injury crisis, beat a dangerous rival and still control the rhythm of a high-pressure occasion. It would also extend a strong run at the Emirates and send a message to Manchester City and Chelsea that the Gunners are not wobbling.
If Tottenham Win
For Spurs, a win at the Emirates would be far more than three points. It would validate Frank’s approach, boost belief in a reshaped squad and potentially ignite their own Champions League push. Breaking Arsenal’s unbeaten streak in such a hostile environment would also reset the psychology of future derbies.
If It’s a Draw
A draw would feel different in each dressing room. Arsenal would be frustrated at dropping points at home, but might accept it as a damage-limitation result in the context of injuries and a busy schedule. Spurs, depending on the performance, could leave encouraged that they matched the league leaders away – or quietly regret not being more ruthless when Arsenal wobbled.
However the lineups shake out, one thing is certain: by the time the floodlights are fully biting at the Emirates, North London will once again feel like the centre of the football world.
