Baptism by fire – Tudor makes Tottenham debut in North London derby

One of the most heavily anticipated fixtures in the Premier League calendar pits Tottenham Hotspur against Arsenal in the latest edition of the iconic North London derby.

Sunday’s showdown at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium marks the beginning of a new era for Spurs, as new manager Igor Tudor makes his touchline debut in English football.

A 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle United proved to be the end of the road for former boss Thomas Frank, who was sacked in the aftermath of Tottenham’s eighth consecutive winless league outing (D4, L4).

It is now up to Tudor to pick up the slack and to inspire Spurs to their first top-flight victory of 2026, though the task at hand can hardly be more complicated than this.

There is no better way for the former Juventus coach to kick off his tenure than by beating Arsenal on home turf, which would additionally hinder the Gunners’ title quest.

In addition to claiming bragging rights, it would also end Spurs’ longest run without a top-flight win at the start of a calendar year since 1994.

Back-to-back draws against Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers have significantly hampered Arsenal’s title chances, allowing second-placed Manchester City to whittle down the gap to only five points.

With the Cityzens also boasting a game in hand, Mikel Arteta’s side must treat every fixture between now and the end of the season as a must-win, especially considering City’s formidable run of form.

Despite those setbacks, the title-bidding Gunners will be looking to maintain their dominance over Tottenham when the two sides renew hostilities on Sunday.

One-sided affair

Arsenal put Spurs to the sword in November’s reverse fixture, securing a dominant 4-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium while claiming their fourth consecutive league win in this match-up.

Completing another league double over their fiercest rivals would see the Gunners win five North London derbies on the trot for the first time since 1989.

However, Spurs will be desperate to turn the tables on Arteta’s side here and avoid losing four successive home meetings against the Gunners for the first time since 1955.

Tottenham’s last home league triumph in this fixture dates back to May 2022, but they have since lost all three clashes against Arsenal here, failing to score on two occasions.

Fallen fortress

One of Tudor’s principal assignments is to rebuild Tottenham’s home fortress brick by brick after Frank dismantled what was once a reliable stronghold.

Spurs won just two home league games under the ex-Brentford tactician all season (D4, L7) and are winless in their last five such games (D2, L3) since beating the Bees at the beginning of December.

It would be unwise to count Tottenham out in another London derby, particularly since Tudor has won his first game in charge in five of his previous six managerial roles.

A fast start would be a step in the right direction, but Spurs have found themselves behind at half-time in a league-high seven home matches this Premier League season.

Trouble in paradise

Arsenal seemed on the verge of ending their two-decade Premier League title drought, but a series of underwhelming performances has compromised their lofty ambitions.

Only two victories from their last seven league outings (D4, L1) have dampened spirits at the Emirates, leaving the visitors under mounting pressure as they aim to fend off Man City in the title race.

Leaving the comforts of the Emirates could pose another challenge for the Gunners, who have shared the spoils in three of their last four away league matches (W1, D3).

However, Arteta’s side can take heart from their imperious form in Premier League London derbies, having lost just one of their last 24 such fixtures (W17, D6).