Plenty sub-plots dey dominate di pre-match talk before Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur, especially fitness of both teams. For Spurs, Thomas Frank confirm eight boosts for him side in his pre-game press conference.
For Premier League leaders Arsenal, Mikel Arteta dey keep team news tight as usual, but dem fit miss eight men for di 198th North London derby. Most critical na Gabriel Magalhaes wey go dey out with hamstring injury.
Other players wey fit miss include Riccardo Calafiori, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Odegaard and Noni Madueke.
Arteta dey secretive, so status of five players remain unclear, and by 3.15pm kickoff, at least four fit dey on Arsenal team sheet. Arsenal go face “completely different game” if Gyokeres no play, and Gabriel absence dey huge for set-pieces.
Why Martin Zubimendi Get Crucial Role for Arsenal vs Tottenham
Summer signing Martin Zubimendi go experience him first North London derby on Sunday. Di Spain international fit frustrate Tottenham pressing machine well-well.
Zubimendi don complete second-most passes under pressure in 2025-26 PL season, only behind £100m valued Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest (445 passes under pressure vs Anderson 492).
Di 26-year-old no get same physical profile as Thomas Partey or Patrick Vieira, but na him dey make things tick for Arsenal, either as midfield screen or dropping deeper during build-up.
Schooled for San Sebastian, Euro 2024 winner dey very composed with ball. Zubimendi dey top 10 for touches this season with 801. Arteta shift from chaos to control don allow midfielder show his class when pressurised.
Gunners dey patient in middle third, wait make press trigger, then quick-thinking Zubimendi go help progress play. E get press-resistant qualities plus aerial skills—he dey top 5% for midfielders in big five European leagues for aerials won in last 365 days. Fans no forget how e beat Dan Burn in the air too.
Can Spurs Quench Arsenal Set-Piece Threat Without Gabriel?
Zubimendi aerial skills fit bring new threat, but Nicolas Jover go likely work overtime to find new dead-ball tactics since Gabriel injury. Gabriel na expert for six-yard box, recently adding new tricks to nod ball from back stick.
Tactics pay off for Viktor Gyokeres’ goals against Atletico Madrid and Burnley. All five of his direct contributions (2 goals, 3 assists) come from dead-ball situations.
Statistics show Tottenham fit handle Arsenal reduced set-piece threat—dem concede fewest goals from corners/free kicks in 2025-26 PL (only two so far). Arsenal go need make their 7.41 Expected Goals from set-pieces count.
But even open-play, Arsenal get fourth-highest non-set piece XG this season (10.7), only behind Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea. Spurs get just 6.71 XG from open play, lower than Everton, West Ham and Nottingham Forest.
Even with rejigged Arsenal backline like Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera, unless Mohammed Kudus perform magic, North London go remain red.