David Hytner’s match report has arrived, so I’ll leave you with that. Thanks for your company and emails; goodnight.
Post-match interviews
Aaron Ramsdale
I think we deserved the two goals, maybe more, in the first half. We played the way we wanted to, yeah.
[On his saves] Yeah that’s what I’m there to do. The manager also mentioned that we haven’t kept a clean sheet in the last few north London derbies, so that spurred me on a bit.
[On what happened at the end] The Spurs fans were given me some [stick] throughout the second half. I gave ‘em some back, and the people I did do it to [took it in the right spirit] And then a fan jumped over and gave me a l,ittle punch in the back.
That’s what happened, and it’s a shame as it’s just a game of football at the end of the day. Thankfully nothing too drastic happened. It’s a sour taste but I’m sure we’ll enjoy it when we’re back in the dressing-room.
Martin Odegaard
It’s about time [Arsenal won at Spurs]. We remember what happened here last year and we wanted to show how much we’ve improved. I think we did that today.
[On his basketball celebration] It’s something we talk about a lot among the team, that’s why we did it. Rambo tells me to shoot all the time, and finally I did it.
We’re in a good position, there’s no doubt about that, but we have to stay humble. There’s a lot we can still improve.
“In the last ten seconds Ramsdale collected the ball and laughed/silly grinned in Richarlison’s face …” says Mick Daly.
Ah, that would explain the first bit.
“Positives for Tottenham, why not?” says Peter McLeod. “Sure it was a tough game for him but I thought Sarr looked an excellent player. Ramsdale had to be v good and Son had to be bang out of form for him not to get at least one. Things change fast. Look at what happened here last May! When we start playing in first halves we’ll be a handful for anyone. I’ve defended Lloris for years and love him to bits, but the right replacement could be game-changing.”
I thought Sarr did okay in extremely tough circumstances, but they’re really missing Bentancur aren’t they?
Ramsdale went to collect his gear by one of the advertising boards, turned round and seemed to be kicked in the back by a Spurs fan. Actually I’m not sure whether the fan made contact but he certainly tried to kick either Ramsdale, Gabriel or a steward.
Ramsdale was raging for 30 seconds or so but he calmed down soon enough. I’m sure Spurs will be in trouble though. Before that, Richarlison shoved Ramsdale’s head, though I’m not sure what happened before that because the cameras were on a (perfectly civil) handshake between Arteta and Conte.
Arsenal go 8️⃣ points clear at the top of the table with a 2-0 North London derby win 🔝🔴
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 15, 2023
Tensions boil over as the full-time whistle blows at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium 😳 pic.twitter.com/iYppuJ6dyM
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Mikel Arteta and the Arsenal players have dragged Ramsdale and Xhaka down the other end, and now they are celebrating wildly in front of the away fans. I’m not sure what happened with Ramsdale but Gary Neville, on Sky Sports, suggested he was kicked by a Spurs fan.
Updated
It’s kicking off. Something happened between Richarlison and Ramsdale at the final whistle, and then Romero came over to get involved. Now there are around 20 players gathering near the Arsenal goal, and I think a fan has come on and kicked Ramsdale.
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Full time: Tottenham 0-2 Arsenal
Arsenal are – count ‘em, Stan – eight points clear after a win of two halves at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. In the first they demonstrated their attacking class, and could have led by more than Hugo Lloris’s daft own-goal and Martin Odegaard’s pinpoint 25-yarder. In the second they showed their defensive resilience and game management, although they needed Aaron Ramsdale to make one terrific save and a handful of good ones. He radiated calm authority. The first 15 minutes of the second half were fraught, with Spurs briefly rampant; the last 30 passed without too many alarms.
It’s Arsenal’s first win at Spurs, and their first league double over them since 2013-14. But what they really, really want is a first you-know-what since 2003-04.
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90+4 min: Double substitution for Arsenal Fabio Vieira and Emile Smith Rowe – how nice it is to see him back – replace Nketiah and Odegaard.
90+2 min “There’ll be pelters and plaudits for the respective managers, but if you swap the goalkeepers, you swap the scoreline (I’d suggest),” says Gary Naylor. “That’s why I’m always calling it the most important position on the pitch.
Gary Neville has just made a not dissimilar point on Sky actually.
90+1 min Gabriel is booked for timewasting.
90+1 min Five minutes of added time. This is done.
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90 min Son plays in the overlapping Perisic, who thinks he’s offside (perhaps wrongly) and allows the ball to run through to Ramsdale. That was a bit strange.
89 min Nketiah wastes a bit of time near the corner flag. Bissouma hooks his leg round to make a good challenge – but then kicks the ball against Dier and out of play. It’s been that kind of day for Spurs.
89 min: Double substitution for Spurs Ben Davies and Bryan Gil replace Lenglet and Kulusevski.
88 min Kulusevski’s deflected long-range shot is well held by Ramsdale with a few Spurs players sniffing around.
87 min The free-kick is a fair way to the left of centre, though not prohibitively so. Son steps up… and slaps it into the wall.
Updated
87 min “Where’s Saka?” says Steve Kearney. “Have you mentioned him in the second half?”
Look, it’s not that kind of half. Actually, it was Saka’s dodgy pass to Nketiah that led to this upcoming free-kick.
86 min Lenglet is fouled right on the edge of the area by Nketiah.
85 min: Arsenal substitution Takehiro Tomiyasu replaces Oleksandr Zinchenko, who takes the longest possible route off the field. The Spurs players aren’t impressed.
84 min When the corner is only half cleared, Kulusevski gets to the byline in the area and slides a low cross that is kicked away at the near post by Ramsdale.
Updated
84 min: Chance for Son! Kane rolls Gabriel cleverly, breaks down the right and cuts the ball back to Son at the near post. He takes a touch and hits a shot that deflects over the crossbar.
Updated
83 min Son’s curling free-kick from the right is punched away decisively by the diving Ramsdale. He has quietly had a really impressive game, and moments later he makes another save from Richarlison’s low shot across goal. It was a comfortable stop.
80 min Arsenal have managed the second half pretty well. They’re young but not naive, and they have used one or two of the time-killing tricks that irked them so much when employed by Newcastle a couple of weeks ago.
79 min Xhaka wallops it a few yards over the bar. Arsenal bring on Kieran Tierney for Gabriel Martinelli.
77 min Odegaard is fouled right on the edge of the area by Romero, whose noggin has long gone. This is a really good chance for Xhaka or Odegaard.
Updated
77 min I think Spurs have shot their bolt. They needed to score during that dominant spell at the start of the second half.
75 min: Double substitution for Spurs Yves Bissouma and Ivan Perisic replace Pape Sarr and Ryan Sessegnon. Sarr had a difficult full debut, mainly because he and Hojbjerg were outnumbered in midfield.
74 min Actually, Dier wasn’t booked – it was Lenglet for cleaning somebody out. Dier did give the referee a mouthful though.
Updated
73 min Nketiah has another shot blocked. Spurs may have run their race; at the moment Arsenal, though not as dominant in the first half, look very comfortable.
72 min Eric Dier is booked for giving the referee a mouthful.
71 min: Spurs substitution Matt Doherty is replaced by Richarlison, which means a switch to 4-2-4. Romero is playing right-back against his BFF Martinelli.
71 min “Son’s been absolute muck this season,” says Yash Gupta, only he didn’t say ‘muck’. Forget GOAT debate, he’s well past his best. He brings the whole play down. Even out of position on the left Gil would be an improvement.”
I have a theory that’s Son’s form is more important to Spurs than Kane, mainly because he’s less consistent. It was the same in Mourinho’s final season – when Son was playing well, they were top of the league, then he lost form completely and Mourinho was gone by April.
Updated
70 min Martinelli is booked for fouling Sarr.
70 min: Chance for Arsenal! Eddie Nketiah almost seals it on the break. Xhaka played him through with an excellent pass, but Nketiah’s errant first touch took him slightly away from goal and Lloris came out to block the shot with his chest.
Updated
68 min Martinelli controls a bouncing ball with his back, a bit of showboating that doesn’t impress the nearby Romero one iota. He’s on a yellow card, so he can’t do to Martinelli what Brennan Johnson did to Richarlison earlier in the season.
66 min Son threads a little pass into Kane in the area. He tries to roll Gabriel, who reads it well and blocks Kane’s eventual shot on the turn.
64 min Arsenal may have weathered the Spurs storm; life has been a lot more peaceful for their defence in the last few minutes. Time for Richarlison to come on and cause some mayhem.
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63 min “There’s something Ozymandian about the GOAT debate,” says Niall Mullen, “as though the fairly recent pastime about which we obsess will ring out forever through time and space. Besides they probably haven’t even been born yet.”
What a great word. I’ll be shoehorning that into articles for the rest of my days, which I suppose kind of proves your point.
61 min Kulusevski stands up a deep cross that is volleyed whence it came by Sessegnon. He was going for goal but the height made it a really difficult ball to hit.
60 min If Spurs score now – and they deserve to on the balance of play in the second half – all bets are off.
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59 min “Was not previously familiar with Sparklehorse,” says Joe Pearson. “Kind of remind me of House of Freaks, who were coincidentally also from Richmond.”
Mark Linkous (aka Sparklehorse) was the tortured geniuses’ tortured genius. There’s a really lovely documentary about his life that was finally released last year.
58 min Xhaka is down after a late sliding challenge from Romero, who has already been booked. He could easily have been given a second yellow for that. There wasn’t much contact but that’s not really relevant, so I don’t know why I said it.
58 min: Chance for Arsenal. Nketiah slips Sarr on the edge of the area but slides his shot too close to Lloris.
57 min “Some options for COW,” says Alistair Reece. “Clearly Other Worldly. And erm, that’s all I got.”
56 min Kulusevski cuts inside Zinchenko on the right edge of the area and curls a speculative cross-shot that goes a few yards wide of the far post. Spurs are really pressing now, and Ramsdale has started to take more time over goalkicks.
55 min Kulusevski is keen to take a quick throw, and Arteta throws the ball away from him. That’s the kind of thing that often leads to it kicking off on the touchline. Not this time.
54 min Sarr is booked for a foul on Martinelli.
52 min: Great save from Ramsdale! Spurs are suddenly all over Arsenal. Sessegnon plays the ball infield to Kane and keeps running. Kane’s return pass is perfectly weighted, allowing Sessegnon to slide a low shot on the run that Ramsdale saves brilliantly with his outstretched left foot. It was going in the bottom corner; Ramsdale’s touch diverted it just past the far post.
Updated
50 min: Good save from Ramsdale! Spurs might be stirring. Kulusevski rolls Xhaka and plays the ball into Kane on the edge of the area. He zips outside Gabriel and hammers a shot across goal that is pushed behind by the diving Ramsdale.
Updated
49 min That’s better from Spurs. Doherty feeds the ball into Kane, who cushions a volley off to Kulusevski. He runs at Gabriel, cuts into the area from the right and curls a decent effort across goal that goes a few yards over the bar.
48 min If I was Conte I’d send Richarlison on to pick a fight. The only way they can back in this game is by dragging Arsenal out of their bubble. At the moment it’s the same as the first half, lots of easy Arsenal possession.
Updated
47 min “Having fought through the Jimmy Anderson Wars, I agree with you about GOAT culture,” says Samuel Cardwell. “Can’t we appreciate greatness without worrying about greatestness? Bale was a marvellous player and produced some of the most exciting football I’ve ever seen.”
I agree, but I know that when I’m bored before Happy Valley tonight, I’ll WhatsApp three words to some poor sod: Kane or Greaves?
46 min Spurs begin the second half, with no changes on either side.
“This game absolutely encapsulates Hugo Lloris’s career,” says Stephen Carr. “A great save, a bonkers error, rubbish with his feet and an anonymous presence in his area.”
The state of this
"OH MY WORD!" 😲
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 15, 2023
Only the post denies Thomas Partey a wonder goal! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/RPZS2NTDvK
“The biggest asterisk on Arsenal’s position is that because of the scheduling this year, they have only played two of the six possible games against the other top four teams, and have failed to register a win in them,” says Vibhanshu Bisht. “Add to that their tendency to throw away title chances as late as March, City’s ability to string together winning streaks of 983 matches, and the ever-improving form of Man United, and I would not dare to make a prophecy till at least April.”
Yes, all fair points. City often play silly buggers for a month or so in the middle of the season before deciding it’s time to win absolutely everything. I think the key will be how Arsenal – the players, managers and fans – deal with their first blip. That’s if they have one.
“Completely agree with you on the utter tediousness of GOATness (which imo affects Basketball the most),” says Saurya Chakraborty. “I reckon Bale (and a few others) belong in the SHEEP tier (sometimes heroic, extremely exceptional players). PS- I spent an embarrassingly long time trying to get something to fit with COW and got bugger all.”
That’s okay, I’ll just play some Sparklehorse instead.
Half-time reading
Half time: Tottenham Hotspur 0-2 Arsenal
It’s men against boys, and the boys are winning. Arsenal’s young team are having a day out at the White Hart Lane Stadium, and they totally dominated the first half. Hugo Lloris’s peculiar own goal put Spurs ahead, Thomas Partey hit the post with a monstrous volley and then Martin Odegaard found the bottom corner from 25 yards.
Spurs had a couple of chances, one for Son at 0-0 and one for Kane at 0-2, but they have been painfully outplayed.
45+3 min The resulting corner was headed away to the edge of the area, where Hojbjerg chest-volleyed well wide. Then he fell over Saliba, long after the ball had gone, and for a second it looked like the referee had given Spurs a penalty. Turns out he hadn’t, and that’s half-time.
45+3 min: Good save from Ramsdale! Hojbjerg’s cross from the right is flicked towards goal by the head of Kane, in front of the near post, and Ramsdale shovels it round the near post.
Updated
45+1 min Sessegnon is booked for a hack at Saka.
44 min “Hi Rob,” says Peter Oh. “When exactly did ‘Oh, Arsenal!’ become ‘Ooh, Arsenal!’?”
I’m going to say 4.31pm on 9 October 2022.
43 min This is the league table as things stand. Eight points.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 18 | 28 | 47 |
| 2 | Man City | 18 | 28 | 39 |
| 3 | Newcastle | 19 | 22 | 38 |
| 4 | Man Utd | 18 | 8 | 38 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 19 | 10 | 33 |
42 min Odegaard’s free-kick hits the wall.
41 min Saka, who has been unplayable in the first half, is fouled just outside the area by Lenglet. The free-kick is a fair way to the right of centre, though Odegaard might fancy a shot.
40 min This is such an Odegaard goal – the urgency, the purpose, the technique, and most of all the precision.
What a finish this is! 💥
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 15, 2023
Take a bow, Martin Ødegaard 🔥 pic.twitter.com/d4qZMhCoVm
39 min Gary Neville is imploring Arsenal to kill Spurs off now, before half-time, and you can understand why. Spurs were hammered in similar style in the first half at home to Liverpool, yet almost earned a draw with a rousing second-half performance. They could conceivably come back from 2-0 after an audience with Antonio Conte; they’re not coming back from 3-0.
Updated
Arsenal have been sensationally good so far. Partey gave the ball to Saka in space just past the halfway line. He made ground and slid a square pass to find Odegaard in space, 25 yards from goal. His first touch was perfect, teeing himself up for a precise daisy-cutter that beat Lloris and nestled in the bottom-right corner. That’s a lovely goal.
Updated
GOAL! Tottenham 0-2 Arsenal (Odegaard 36)
The first goal was freakish; the second is a cracker!
Updated
35 min Romero is booked for tripping Martinelli. He’s a bit unfortunate, in that he slipped, though his momentum was such that would probably have fouled Martinelli anyway.
34 min A loose ball from Partey is nicked by Sarr, but he wins it back and then Sarr goes through Xhaka in an attempt to turn over the turnover turnover. Xhaka high-fives Partey.
33 min “Hmmmmm,” says Jeremy Boyce. “Was Bale the greatest of all? Where exactly would he fit on the John-Charles-o-meter? Ahead of Ivor Allchurch? Mickey Thomas? John Hartson? Fair do-s, he was a great talent, but a great player, who always gave his all, to every cause, club or country ? And as regards his sojourn in Spain, JC was a true pioneer and giant at Juventus, leaving no questions about his golf club memberships behind, he did all his talking on the pitch.”
Is it me (and I’ve been as guilty as anyone, so I’m not having a dig) or are these ‘greatest ever’ debates getting increasingly boring? Maybe it’s because Twitter has made us all* so tediously strident; what was one a celebration has become a competition. STOP GOAT CULTURE, is what I’m saying.
* Okay, most of us. Not you, of course I didn’t mean you.
31 min Spurs can’t get out. Long way to go, but at the moment they’re being quietly humiliated. They desperately need a third man in midfield, but Conte’s system doesn’t really allow for that.
Updated
29 min Saka wriggles away from Hojbjerg, making room for a shot, but then slips in the act of shooting. Spurs can’t handle him. In the last few months, Saka has played at a scarily high level – to my admittedly slightly dodgy eyes, he’s the player that most people think Phil Foden is.
28 min Sessegnon slips Saka neatly on the left, but he’s well challenged by the covering defender – Nketiah, of all people.
27 min “I’m back if you’ll have me,” says Joe Pearson. “The feed has frozen (apparently around the world)! Aagh!”
Really? How bizarre. I’m getting it just fine in Bruton.
26 min Arsenal have been fantastic so far – so relaxed, confident and stylish. With every passing game, they look a little more like the real deal.
25 min “Arsenal don’t have to worry about Man City,” says Jeff Sachs. “City are finished for the season; Pep’s interview yesterday said it all. His tiki-taka doesn’t fool anyone anymore and it does not result in goals.”
I’ll keep this email in storage, just in case.
24 min: Partey almost destroys the post! Did Lloris touch this? I think he did you know.
Er, no he didn’t. After another desperate Spurs clearance the ball dropped out of the sky towards Partey, on the edge of the D, and he twisted his body to whistle a spectacular volley that beat the flying Lloris and thumped the top of the right post. That would have been a helluva goal.
Updated
23 min Saka’s deep corner is brilliantly headed away by Doherty, under all sorts of pressure from Saliba (I think).
22 min: Good save from Lloris! Saka lays the ball back to Odegaard, in all sorts of space 25 yards out. He pushes the ball infield and hammers a dipping shot that Lloris, diving low to his left, paws round the post. That’s a really good save because I think he saw it late.
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22 min “I know that Lloris has pulled off some amazing saves with all kinds of bodily contortions,” says Charles Antaki, “but managing to push the ball behind you into your own goal, while facing forwards, might well be a first. Arsenal fans will be celebrating him on all kinds of social media.”
I’d love to have seen Spurs supporter (and Spurs hater) Roy Keane’s coupon when it happened.
Arsenal strike first in the North London derby and it's a moment Hugo Lloris will want to forget! 😯 pic.twitter.com/VvKBUX4BdN
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 15, 2023
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20 min After good play from Saka, Nketiah’s low cross is desperately cleared in the six-yard box, I think by Dier. Arsenal look so dangerous when they attack down the Spurs left.
18 min: Big save from Ramsdale! Dier pings a long pass to Sessegnon, who chases his own errant first touch across the line of the penalty area. Then he turns and plays a really cute reverse pass behind the Arsenal defence. Kulusevski leaves it, knowing he’s offside, and Son comes from deep to hook a first-time shot back across goal. Ramsdale is quickly out and spreads himself to make an excellent stop.
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18 min The bad news for Spurs is that they’re behind. The good news for Spurs is that they’re behind, so they can start playing now. And if they go 2-0 down, they’ll be feral.
17 min “Thanks, Chris Paraskevas, for invoking Gareth Bale’s name,” writes Matt Dony. “I’ve spent the last week thinking of little else other than the whole he leaves in the landscape of Welsh football. I genuinely don’t know what will happen. As a youngster in a Spurs shirt, he did things that barely seemed possible. In a Madrid shirt, he did more, scored more goals, created more goals, than many revisionists will admit.
“Yes, he’d obviously declined, but his influence and presence for Wales were huge. Even as the most expensive player in the world, he made playing for Wales look and feel like a kickabout at Pontcanna Fields. A group of mates, taking on the world. The tremendous strength of that team was its togetherness. The atmosphere seemed amazing. And Bale was an enormous part of that, in personality as much as ability. The greatest Welshman I’ve ever seen play the game, likely the greatest ever. And it’s over. No, you’re crying!”
Beautifully put. I’d love to feel that kind of patriotism, just for one day. And if any of you haven’t read it, Elis James’ tribute is a gem.
Partey clipped a lovely pass down the right to find Saka in space. He moved into the area and teased Sessegnon before zipping outside him towards the byline. Then Saka hit a right-footed cross that took a slight deflection off Sessegnon and was fumbled into his own net by Lloris. It came at him quickly, and there was a deflection, but that’s still a bad mistake I’m afraid.
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GOAL! Spurs 0-1 Arsenal (Lloris og 15)
Arsenal take the lead with a bizarre goal!
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12 min Partey is exceedingly fortunate to avoid a yellow card for a deliberate handball that stops a Spurs break. That’s weird refereeing from Craig Pawson, because he gave a free-kick.
11 min Odegaard flips a decent free-kick that is headed over from 10 yards by Partey. A half chance.
10 min Arsenal are starting to pin Spurs back. Nketiah is fouled 30 yards from goal, to the left of centre, and Odegaard is over the ball…
9 min Martinelli charges into the area at dizzying speed and goes over after a challenge from Romero (I think). Nobody really appeals for a penalty.
7 min: Chance for Arsenal! Spurs get in an almighty pickle trying to play the ball out of their own penalty area. Lloris dithers, then Lenglet kicks the ball straight at Odegaard. It rebounds to Martinelli, who hooks it over his shoulder and across the area. Romero slips, which allows Nketiah a clear shot at goal from about eight yards. He hits the dropping ball with his left foot, not that cleanly in truth, and Lloris spreads himself to make a really good stop. That was a great chance.
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6 min “I think Arsenal might win today which would of course give a painful amount of hope,” says Andrew Hurley. “I think it’s almost impossible to win the league with only seven players trusted for the six midfielder and forward roles, and running out of legs in March for Saka, Martinelli et al a distinct possibility. Smith-Rowe could make a big difference but they need two more players, one in particular to cover Partey, whose value is so underestimated by the media.”
Not by this one-man media! I’ve been obsessed with him for years. If you were in the Champions League I’d agree with you about Arsenal running out of steam. It could still happen but the Europa League reduces the risk. I’d be more worried about Arteta blowing up if it gets tight. The way to win it – like, duh – is to keep City at arm’s length. In a strange way I think you’re more likely to win it by 10 points than by one or two.
4 min After a patient build-up from Arsenal, Martinelli wriggles between Kulusevski and Doherty and pokes a shot that is blocked.
3 min “Good evening Rob,” writes Jones Manoah. “An expectant Gooner from Nairobi. Seeing my beloved Arsenal were ‘bullied’ by Chelsea today, here’s hoping they boss it here just to show Mudryk what he’s missing out on.”
2 min Spurs play confidently through the Arsenal press, with Son finding Sessegnon in space on the left. His cross is blocked.
2 min No tactical surprises – Spurs are playing 5-2-3, Arsenal 4-1-2-3.
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1 min “Was in London back in 2013,” writes Chris Paraskevas. “Bumped into a travelling group of Greek Spurs fans who were down for the derby that weekend. I joined their group. Two of us didn’t have tickets but were allowed in to a nearby pub after pleading our case. Spurs fans are fierce and the area around White Hart Lane was surprisingly rough aesthetically. But I had an incredible experience - Bale scored the winner and the riot police moved everyone on, eventually. Great memories! (From an energised Newcastle fan in Sydney.)”
1 min Eddie Nketiah gets the north London derby under way.
“Good morning from Pittsburgh!” says Eric Peterson. “ This is the earliest all season that I’ve sat my backside down in front of the TV and waited through the pregame hullabaloo for the kickoff. Arsenal are good at burying teams in the first half hour. Spurs are good at not showing up until they (a) fall behind, (b) come out for the second half, or (c) both. Not a fixture for which to be fashionably late.”
Yes that’s an excellent point. Arsenal actually started really positively in May, too, before the whole thing unravelled.
Here come the players. The atmosphere sounds good – not quite as lively as it was for the evening game last season, but still pretty hostile.
Updated
A reminder of the teams
Tottenham Hotspur (5-2-3) Lloris; Doherty, Romero, Dier, Lenglet, Sessegnon; Sarr, Hojbjerg; Kulusevski, Kane, Son.
Substitutes: Forster, Royal, Sanchez, Davies, Perisic, Skipp, Bissouma, Gil, Richarlison.
Arsenal (4-1-2-3) Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey; Odegaard, Xhaka; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli.
Substitutes: Turner, Tierney, Tomiyasu, Holding, Lokonga, Smith Rowe, Vieira, Smith, Marquinhos.
Referee Craig Pawson.
Antonio Conte on Pape Sarr’s inclusion
He’s a young player, a good prospect, and he deserves this chance.
Mikel Arteta speaks
[Discipline] is a key element of every derby. Both teams have been a man down in the last two derbies, and it will be crucial. We’ve prepared well and we want this – a lot.
Dejan Kulusevski’s pre-match chat
I think are we ready to play and now we need to show it. We need to enjoy it – attack, do everything together, have fun.
Remember When (part 2)
A reminder of the return game in October, when Arsenal deservedly beat Spurs 3-1.
Remember When (part 1)
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The 2pm games have just finished, and these are the final scores.
Chelsea 1-0 Crystal Palace
Newcastle 1-0 Fulham
That means Spurs are now five points behind Newcastle and Manchester United in the race for a Champions League place, though they have a game in hand on Newcastle. Arsenal are still five points clear of Manchester City with today’s game in hand.
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And Chelsea, who introduced the Arsenal target Mykhailo Mudryk at half-time, are leading Crystal Palace 1-0 at Stamford Bridge.
There have been fun and games in the second half at St James’ Park. John Brewin is watching that one.
No, you’re the favourite
Team news
Dejan Kulusevski returns from injury for Spurs, but there’s still no Rodrigo Bentancur. That means Pape Sarr will make his full Premier League debut in midfield, having been preferred to Oliver Skipp and the weirdly disappointing Yves Bissouma. In all there are three changes from the 4-0 win at Crystal Palace 11 days ago: Kulusevski, Sarr and Ryan Sessegnon replace Bryan Gil, Skipp and Ivan Perisic. Richarlison is also back among the substitutes.
Arsenal are unchanged from their last league game, the frustrating 0-0 draw at home to Newcastle.
Tottenham Hotspur (5-2-3) Lloris; Doherty, Romero, Dier, Lenglet, Sessegnon; Sarr, Hojbjerg; Kulusevski, Kane, Son.
Substitutes: Forster, Royal, Sanchez, Davies, Perisic, Skipp, Bissouma, Gil, Richarlison.
Arsenal (4-1-2-3) Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey; Odegaard, Xhaka; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli.
Substitutes: Turner, Tierney, Tomiyasu, Holding, Lokonga, Smith Rowe, Vieira, Smith, Marquinhos.
Referee Craig Pawson.
Updated
Preamble
Age is what you make it. Spurs are one of the oldest teams in the Premier League; Arsenal are the youngest. When they last met at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in May, Spurs were too mature, too streetwise, too much for an emotionally ragged Arsenal. But this season Arsenal have been fresher, hungrier and more vibrant, most notably when they hammered Spurs 3-1 at the Emirates in October.
The contrast in age profile – and style of play - are among the reasons why today’s north London derby is more mouthwatering than most. Another is that Harry Kane is one away from joining Jimmy Greaves as Spurs’ all-time leading goalscorer. But the big reason is the context: Arsenal have the chance to go eight points clear of an unfocussed Manchester City, while also denting Spurs’ hopes of reaching the Champions League and keeping Antonio Conte.
Spurs started the season excellently, in terms of results if not always performances, but they’ve lost their way since that trip to the Emirates in October. Going into that game they had 17 points from seven games; since then they’ve taken 16 from 11. And their home form has gone to seed, with three defeats in the last four games.
For richer and poorer, nothing changes the mood in north London quite like the result of the derby. Defeat in October blew Spurs off course; a win today could get their season back on track.
Kick off 4.30pm
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