Arsenal vs Tottenham: Premier League Pick & Prediction, November 23, 2025
The Premier League returns from the last international break of the calendar year with a fiercely anticipated North London derby as leaders Arsenal host rivals Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, November 23rd. Mikel Arteta’s side remain four points clear at the top despite navigating a demanding early-season injury list, while Thomas Frank’s men sit in the congested top-five mix and travel across the capital aiming to protect the league’s only unbeaten away record.
With both squads stretched and both managers under pressure to set the tone for a gruelling winter fixture programme, the latest edition of the North London derby promises high tension, tactical intrigue, and perhaps season-shaping consequences.
Head-to-Head Record (H2H: Arsenal vs Tottenham)
Arsenal hold a dominant recent edge in this rivalry, arriving unbeaten in the last six Premier League North London derbies, winning five of them and scoring at least twice in every home meeting since 2015. Their dominance at the Emirates is remarkable: Tottenham have managed just one league victory away to Arsenal in the last 32 attempts, a dramatic 3-2 comeback in November 2010 inspired by Rafael van der Vaart.
Arsenal’s current form and home pedigree give them a psychological advantage heading into Sunday. Still, derbies rarely follow logic, and Tottenham’s unbeaten away streak means the Gunners cannot afford complacency.
Arsenal: Current Form and Team News
The Gunners enter the derby in exceptional form, having lost only once all season – to Liverpool in August – and producing 12 wins and two draws across their last 14 matches in all competitions. They have built their current form on extraordinary defensive consistency, conceding just three goals across their last 11 games in all competitions and allowing opponents an average of only 1.9 shots on target per match in Premier League games this season, the lowest rate ever measured in the competition’s history.
Arsenal’s 2–2 draw at Sunderland prior to the international break came as an unwelcome slip, yet their home form remains quite formidable, with four clean sheets from five Emirates games so far.
Team news, however, remains a major storyline. Arsenal are awaiting late assessments on several key players. Captain Martin Odegaard, out for six weeks, has returned to full training and is in contention to feature in what would be a significant creative boost. Riccardo Calafiori is also expected to be available despite Italy-related concerns.
On the other hand, Gabriel Magalhaes’s thigh injury suffered on Brazil duty is a major blow to Arsenal’s defensive structure, while Viktor Gyokeres, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, and Noni Madueke remain doubtful or unavailable.
All in all, the Arsenal boss may have to once again prioritize control and stability over attacking flair, especially given the demanding fixture run that lies ahead, including a challenging Champions League clash against Bayern Munich next week.
Tottenham Hotspur: Current Form and Team News
Tottenham travel across North London in far less comfortable form than earlier in the season. After a superb start under Thomas Frank, Spurs have won just one of their last four league matches – a 3-0 win at Goodison Park four weeks ago – and dropped points late against Manchester United before the international break. Their broader record in London derbies is also a concern, with only one victory in their last six such fixtures. Yet Spurs do bring one impressive credential: they are the only Premier League team yet to lose away from home this season, collecting 13 points (4-1-0 record) from five road games.
Frank’s biggest obstacle is an injury crisis that shows no sign of easing. Dominic Solanke, Randal Kolo Muani, Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Yves Bissouma, Ben Davies, Kota Takai, and Radu Drăgușin are all sidelined, while Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Bergvall face late fitness tests.
Brennan Johnson’s excellent form for Wales strengthens his case for a starting role, while youngsters such as Xavi Simons, Wilson Odobert and Mathys Tel may be called upon to compensate for attacking absences. With somehow limited resources, Spurs may adopt a more pragmatic, counter-attacking approach at the Emirates.
Tactical Duel: Mikel Arteta vs Thomas Frank
Mikel Arteta and Thomas Frank know each other well from their Premier League encounters during Frank’s Brentford era, and this is expected to be a highly tactical affair. Arteta’s approach will revolve around controlled possession, structured rest defence, and territorial dominance, especially given Gabriel’s absence. Expect the Gunners to use inverted full-backs, overloads in midfield, and sustained pressure designed to lock Spurs deep in their half.
Frank, by contrast, has historically been adept at frustrating Arsenal. In nine meetings between the two managers, Arteta won six, but four of those victories came by just a single goal – a testament to Frank’s organisational skill when he was managing Brentford. Spurs are likely to sit in a compact mid-block, absorb pressure, and rely on pace in transition to exploit gaps left by Arsenal’s advancing full-backs (if any).
Considering the injury concerns on both sides and the tactical tendencies of each manager, this North London battle is more likely to be tight, tense, and strategic rather than an end-to-end spectacle. But anything can happen, actually, especially if Spurs score.
Possible Starting Lineups of Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur
Arsenal: David Raya – Jurriën Timber, William Saliba, Piero Hincapie, Riccardo Calafiori – Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, Eberechi Eze – Bukayo Saka, Mikel Merino, Leandro Trossard. (4-3-3)
Tottenham Hotspur: Guglielmo Vicario – Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Destiny Udogie – Rodrigo Bentancur, Joao Palhinha – Brennan Johnson, Xavi Simons, Mohammed Kudus – Richarlison. (4-2-3-1)
Arsenal vs Tottenham Betting Odds and Prediction
According to the latest betting odds on EveryGame’s website, Arsenal are -250 favorites to secure another derby victory, while Tottenham are +650 underdogs, reflecting both their injury-ravaged squad and their historically poor record at the Emirates. The draw is available at +360, an option not without merit given Spurs’ unbeaten away form and Frank’s ability to engineer tight contests against elite opposition.
Arsenal’s defensive solidity, home advantage, and anticipated returning key figures give them a clear edge, but Tottenham’s transitional threat, especially through Brennan Johnson, Richarlison and the creativity of summer signings Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus (if fit), suggests they may still find a way to score. With both teams missing influential players, the game may lean more toward tactical chess than open chaos.
The Gunners should have enough control and depth to edge a narrow derby, but Spurs’ counter-punching profile makes them capable of contributing on the scoresheet.