Tottenham v Arsenal LIVE: Premier League team news and line-ups as Jorginho captains Gunners

Spurs are hoping to respond after a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle in what has been an indifferent start to the 2024/25 campaign with one win, one draw and one defeat from their three matches so far.

The derby is a crucial fixture every season and Tottenham have a slight advantage given they are playing at home and Arsenal are undergoing something of an injury crisis but Postecoglou believes the Gunners will be a ‘tough nut to crack’.

“We want to be a club that can challenge everyone, that’s what we are trying to aim to become.” said the Tottenham boss in his pre-match press conference on Friday.

“To do that, you’ve got to perform at a certain level, at a consistent basis, the squad’s strong enough to do that. We’ve started the season fairly solidly, from a performance perspective. The results haven’t reflected that but I think we’re in a good place to push on from last year and improve on all areas. There’s no reason why we can’t [challenge] this year.”

For the home side, there are four changes to the side that lost against Newcastle last time out.

In defence, Micky van de Ven comes in for Radu Dragusin, while in midfield, Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma drop out for Bentancur and Kulusevski.

Wilson Odobert is replaced by Brennan Johnson in attack, with Kulusevski dropping back into midfield as Dominic Solanke returns.

Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Gabriel, Saliba, Timber; Partey, Jorginho, Havertz; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli.

Subs: Neto, Kiwior, Kacurri, Heaven, Lewis-Skelly, Sterling, Nwaneri, Jesus, Kabia.

Tottenham XI: Vicario; Porro, Romero, van de Ven, Udogie; Kulusevski, Bentancur, Maddison; Johnson, Solanke, Son.

Subs: Forster, Spence, Davies, Dragusin, Gray, Sarr, Bergvall, Odobert, Werner.

The big question today is how Arsenal set up without Declan Rice and likely without their captain, Martin Odegaard.

Jorginho will likely come into midfield to ease the loss of Rice, and he would probably start alongside Thomas Partey.

Odegaard is arguably a bigger loss though, with the Gunners captain also acting as their main creative spark. One interesting option – especially if Gabriel Jesus is fit – could be dropping Havertz into Odegaard’s role, or in a more attacking role as a traditional ‘10’ – where the German started his career for Bayer Leverkusen.

Alternatively, Leandro Trossard could play the advanced midfield role, or even start up top if Havertz was moved back. An even more surprising move would be if Arteta were to have faith in 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, who has long been rated as one of the most promising prospects at the club.

Additionally, it will be interesting to see if we get the first glimpses of Raheem Sterling in an Arsenal shirt today.

Line-ups are expected at around 12.45pm.

Spurs have won one, drawn one and lost one in their first three games this season, so it is a mixed start for a side that promised much in Postecoglou’s first season in charge.

But, like last season, Spurs have played well for the most part but have had lapses in concentration and quality that have cost them.

A disappointing draw in their opener away at Leicester was followed by a thrilling 4-0 win over Everton, but Spurs then slipped to a 2-1 defeat to Newcastle before the international break.

Today will be their toughest test so far, but it would certainly be a marker to their rivals if Spurs could grab a win.

However, it would pose more questions around the side and Postecoglou, mainly regarding why their form is so up-and-down for prolonged periods despite having a squad that boasts plenty of quality.

Postecoglou is yet to beat Mikel Arteta, with Spurs having drawn and lost to Arsenal last season.

The two teams drew 2-2 at the Emirates just under a year ago, before a 3-2 thriller went Arsenal’s way in April at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

“I don’t feel any more pressure because there was pressure in that (Man City) game. I want to win every game,” Postecoglou said.

“I don’t care who we are playing. Let’s go out and play each other. I would want to beat you!

“I really would hate to think there are players in the dressing room who want to win this game more than any others.

“Or prepare differently or try harder in this game than any other, because that’s not the way forward. We understand the significance of it because if we do win, our supporters will be over the moon.

“I understand that if we don’t win, they are going to be devastated, but if we prepare this game differently than any other, then I’m disappointed because I want to win every time. That’s the only way you can be successful.

“I make no apologies for that. I’m not going to prepare any different for this game than I did against Newcastle or I will against Coventry.

“I want to win all the time and I want our club to win all the time. And if you do that then, yeah, if you beat your rivals in a big derby game then everyone gets excited and everyone feels great, but I want more than that.”

Ange Postecoglou understands the significance of Sunday’s visit of Arsenal, but would be disappointed if his Tottenham players wanted to win this match more than next week’s trip to Coventry.

Spurs have failed to taste success in any of the last four north London derby fixtures, with Mikel Arteta able to turn the Gunners into Premier League title contenders in recent years.

Postecoglou largely enjoyed a positive debut campaign in England but found himself at odds with sections of the Spurs fanbase in May when Manchester City visited N17.

City made the trip to Tottenham on May 14 with home supporters conflicted, given a positive result for Spurs would have put Arsenal in the driving seat to win the title, but the visitors ran out narrow 2-0 winners.

Nevertheless, Postecoglou wants his squad to go into every match with the same desire.