There is only one solution for The Arsenal. There is only one result that is acceptable. There is only one way that I go to bed tonight happy.

Arsenal is picking up all three points in the North London Derby.

I’ve woken up feeling achy, with a headache, which means I think I’m coming down with something. I really don’t want this feeling to be compounded by further disappointment as Arsenal find themselves even closer to Man City.

I’ve said it before, and I’ve been saying it for many seasons, but I hate this fixture. Every year. No matter how good/shocking we are, this fixture is always tough; it is always a horrible experience, and I’m going to hate basically all of it until the final whistle ,and if we’ve won it.

So this is my plea to those Arsenal players today:

Win. And win well. You have millions of Arsenal fans all over the globe investing themselves emotionally into you, providing us with the joy we all dream of so much come 6.30 pm tonight.

The analysis has been done. The tactics have been drawn out by Arteta and his coaching staff. The players have had their training sessions pre-game. Now it is about going out there, with that cannon on the chest, and doing the business.

I believe in this Arsenal team. I am behind these players. I think they can win today.

We have a better team. We are top of the league for a reason. Those players need to look at themselves in the mirror and look at how great they are. At how hard they’ve worked. At why they have been sat so high in the Premier League up until this point. It isn’t a coincidence; it’s because you are all brilliant, and as a fanbase, we love you. So take that love, take that support, take that collective demand and use it to fuel you to victory. The Scum have a huge injury list. They have circa 14 first-teamers fit. They are yet to win in 2026. So use that Arsenal, use a potential frailty in their mentality to start fast, quieten the crowd, make them lose their belief, because they are going to be making that stadium very loud today from kick off. They have a new manager, a guy who will instantly give their fans a boost and hope for a new manager bounce, but we have to quash that as soon as possible.

Our team will be, I think, this one that lines up from the start:

Raya

Timber   –   Saliba   –   Gabriel   –   Calafiori

Zubimendi

Odegaard   –   Rice

Saka   –   Gyokeres   –   Trossard

Personally, I’d go with White instead of Timber after the Dutch international’s second-half performance (clearly brought on by extreme fatigue), as well as Trossard for Marrtinelli after the Brazilian’s disasterclass against Wolves. Hincapie was great, but I think somebody like Calafiori popping up in those inside channels when we are on the attack is the sort of thing that will unsettle a makeshift Tottenham back line. If they go with the same side that lost to Newcastle at home a week-and-a-half ago, then it will be the young midfielder Archie Gray in at right back. He’s been apparently quite good, but if you’re Leo Trossard and you’re getting help from the likes of Calafiori in that area of the pitch, you’re surely hoping that they should get the better of their opponents.

Where the game might be won is that midfield battle. The Scum will go with Sarr, they will go with Gallagher, they will go with Paulinha, and maybe Simons too. That midfield is workman-like. They will chase everything, they will hassle, they will harry, so we need to be able to move the ball quickly in the middle of the park to ensure that they are just running around without any structure. They will be intense in this game; we need to box clever in this game. They are going to move the ball from back-tofront quickly, I think. So we need to be ready for that, particularly if there is space behind. If they do, then perhaps there’s an option for Martinelli from the bench, but I don’t think you can start him based on his previous performance, and also because we don’t know what Tudor is going to do. When the first 15 – 30 minutes have unfolded, we’ll know what this Tottenham team is like.

I have watched a couple of tactical videos from neutrals and their fans, and the message they have is clear:

We need to have a go at Arsenal, we can’t sit deep in a low block like so many teams. We need to press them.

Providing we don’t go into panic stations like the second half against Wolves, that’s going to give us chances in behind if that is how the crowd and the manager demand his team drive forward.

I really hope this game is open from a Tottenham perspective. If it is, then it will be about our forward line delivering in a critical game, so we need some of those players to step up. Get chances, take your chances, win the game.

Please.

I’m not really sure what else there is to say at this point. The talking has been done for everyone. Now it is time to go out and do your talking on the pitch. With the football.

Come on, Arsenal – I believe in you.

As I’m not feeling too well, I won’t be on the Same Old Arsenal podcast after the game, but if you want an instant reaction, you can see Amanda, James, and Mervyn, who will be giving their thoughts. I’ll be back tomorrow for a debrief/post-mortem.

Catch you guys then. Fingers crossed, people.