It’s the most wonderful time of the year – no, not Christmas, it’s north London derby time!
Arsenal and Tottenham have provided us with some truly memorable Premier League clashes down the years; whether it be the 5-4 barnstormer in 2004 or Spurs’ phenomenal comeback in the 4-4 draw at the Emirates Stadium in 2008, you can always count on these two when it comes to value for money.
No north London derby passes without comment, but this one feels like it has a little extra edge. Not only do Spurs welcome back fans to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the fixture, but with Jose Mourinho’s men riding high in the Premier League, the Gunners will no doubt be desperate to curtail their neighbours’ title ambitions.
Let’s take a look at the starting XI that Mourinho should pick for this weekend’s derby.
Joe Hart looks set to make his Premier League debut for Spurs | Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Joe Hart (GK): Looks set to make his Premier League debut for the club with rumours regarding Hugo Lloris’ fitness continuing to circle. Hart didn’t cover himself in glory against LASK on Thursday evening and he’ll no doubt be keen to make amends.
Serge Aurier (RB): Having come in for much criticism last season, Serge Aurier has produced some fine displays at right-back this campaign. The Ivory Coast international now looks to be Mourinho’s first-choice right-back in the Premier League.
Toby Alderweireld (CB): Expected to undergo a late fitness test but should make the starting XI. Joe Rodon performed impressively in his absence, though a couple of lapses in concentration against Chelsea will no doubt see Mourinho opt for the more experienced Belgian if he proves his fitness.
Eric Dier (CB): Seemingly Spurs’ number one centre-back this season. Another defender who looks a completely different defender under Mourinho, showing far less vulnerability and erratic tendencies.
Sergio Reguilon (LB): Has been a stellar addition to the Tottenham backline and already looks to be an astute purchase. Plenty of quality and has the energy to help out at both ends of the pitch.
Ndombele is beginning to look a real force in the Tottenham midfield | DeFodi Images/Getty Images
Moussa Sissoko (CM): Adds strength and athleticism to the Tottenham midfield and could be a key man in the derby. Featured in eight of Spurs’ ten Premier League games this season.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (CM): Has settled into life at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium seamlessly. The kind of combative, physical player every good Mourinho side has had at its heart.
Tanguy Ndombele (CM): After a turbulent start to his Spurs career he’s really beginning to find his feet at the club. Powerful, athletic and brilliant technical ability, he could prove to be a great asset for the club.
Harry Kane should be fit for the clash | Julian Finney/Getty Images
Steven Bergwijn (RW): Stretched his legs with a 25 minute cameo against LASK and seems to be Mourinho’s preferred choice on the right in the Premier League.
Harry Kane (ST): Mourinho confirmed in midweek that he expects his star striker to be fit in time for the clash. If he scores on Sunday he’ll become the outright highest scorer in clashes between Spurs and Arsenal, surpassing Emmanuel Adebayor and Bobby Smith who currently sit joint with Kane on ten.
Son Heung-min (LW): Was a surprise inclusion in the Europa League squad in midweek, and perhaps even more surprisingly played 82 minutes against LASK. Will no doubt still be chosen from the off on Sunday as him and Kane look to run riot against yet another Premier League defence.
Liverpool will attempt to keep their phenomenal Premier League run at Anfield going when they host Wolves on Sunday night.
The Reds are undefeated in 64 games at Anfield and history favours them to extend that run against Wolves, a side they haven’t lost to in the league since 2010, while the return of up to 2,000 fans to the stadium adds to the motivation for a strong showing.
Here’s how Jurgen Klopp could line up his team on Sunday.
He’s back ? pic.twitter.com/7MqLTggGEL
— Andy Robertson (@andrewrobertso5) December 4, 2020
Caoimhín Kelleher (GK) – The Irish starlet was a surprise inclusion for the Champions League win over Ajax mid-week. His impressive display including late reflex save from a Klaas-Jan Huntelaar header means he’ll likely continue in goal with Alisson out.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (RB) – The right back returned to training on Friday and if he’s fit enough, he’ll start. Liverpool have missed his creativity from out wide.
Joel Matip (CB) – The German-born star has had to shoulder much of the responsibility at the heart of the defence with Joe Gomez and Virgil Van Dijk missing with injury.
Fabinho (CB) – The Brazilian has proved more than capable as an emergency centre-back and his transition from midfield to defence has been seamless, thus far.
Andrew Robertson (LB) – The Scotland captain has been a near ever-present for Liverpool this season amid other injury worries. He may get some rest in the coming weeks.
Curtis Jones (CM) – Deserves to start having scored the winner in his side’s 1-0 win over Ajax mid-week. The 19-year-old has grown into a midfield role and looks part of the furniture at Anfield already.
Jordan Henderson (CM) – Though still a slight doubt with the knock he picked up against Ajax, club captain Henderson seems likely to start against Wolves and provide drive and balance from the centre of the park.
Roberto Firmino (AM) – After some questioning of his performances, Firmino has impressed in recent weeks, most notably in the win over Leicester in which he scored. Still, he offers much more than just goals and Klopp is more than happy with that, it seems.
Jota has been sensational for the Reds ever since his switch from the Molineux | Michael Regan/Getty Images
Sadio Mané (RW) – Mane had a brilliant header ruled out against Brighton but looked threatening throughout. He may be switched to the right to accommodate the the other forwards in a 4-2-3-1.
Mohamed Salah (ST) – Unlucky not to be on the scoresheet at the Amex last week, Salah remains Liverpool’s most potent threat in attack and will start from the off as he bids to add to his eight Premier League goals this season.
Diogo Jota (LW) – Arguably the signing of the summer, Jota has cemented a place in the starting XI and has the chance to score against his former employers on Sunday in his first game with fans since joining Liverpool.
UEFA have announced the launch of their third European club competition, called the UEFA Europa Conference League, to be held alongside the Champions League and Europa League.
The new competition will start for the 2021/22 season and offers more clubs from countries that might get knocked out of the Champions League and Europa League in the qualifying rounds, the chance to play in a European group stage.
UEFA explain that the competition will see clubs from 34 different member associations represented in the group stage of at least one competition, which is over 60% of the continent.
No clubs will qualify directly for the Europa Conference League group stage. Instead, the 32 entrants will be made up of 17 teams from the Europa Conference League main path, five from the Europa Conference League champions path and 10 losers from the Europa League playoff round.
As well as creating more European places for typically weaker national leagues, the sixth best teams from the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A and Bundesliga will enter the Europa Conference League main path at the playoff round.
National cup winners from countries that don’t have a cup win spot in the Europa League – including Switzerland, Croatia, Greece and Serbia – will enter the Europa Conference League main path in the first or second qualifying round, depending on each nation’s coefficient ranking.
The 32 teams that qualify for the group stage will be split into eight groups of four. Each club will play twice each against the others in its group and the eight group winners will automatically advance to the last 16.
The eight group runners-up will go into a knockout playoff round against third-ranked teams from the Europa League. It gives teams in the secondary competition more to play for if they cannot progress, knowing they can still keep their European season alive as long as they don’t finish last.
From there, it is a typical two-legged knockout competition, mimicking the usual format through last 16, quarter-final and semi-final stages, until the one-off final at a neutral venue.
Matches will take place at the same time as the Europa League | Fran Santiago/Getty Images
The Europa Conference League will take place during the season alongside the Champions League and Europa League competitions. Games will be on Thursdays, just as in the Europa League.
The group stage will take place at the same time as the other competitions between September and December, with the competition resuming for knockout rounds from February onwards.
The first final will be held in Albania’s capital, Tirana, on 25 May 2022.
The full 2021/22 schedule is as follows:
First qualifying round:8/15 July Second qualifying round:22/29 July Third qualifying round: 5/12 August Play-offs: 19/26 August Group stage:16 September, 30 September, 21 October, 4 November, 25 November, 9 December Knockout round play-offs: 17/24 February Round of 16: 10/17 March Quarter-finals:7/14 April Semi-finals: 28 April/5 May Final: 25 May
The Europa League group stage will be cut from 48 to 32 | LARS BARON/Getty Images
The introduction of the Europa Conference League will see the existing Europa League group stage reduced from 48 teams to 32 teams, thereby bringing it more in line with the Champions League and creating a more even spread across all three competitions.
As well as a European trophy, the incentive to win the Europa Conference League is automatic qualification for the following season’s Europa League group stage, unless the club in question has already qualified for the Champions League via their national league.
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Arsenal and Tottenham enjoy one of the fiercest, most hotly contested and entertaining rivalries in the top flight, and the north London derby is a headline act on any Premier League fixture list.
The pair have gone toe to toe over 200 times since their first ever meeting back in 1896, throwing up a selection of classic clashes that vary in degrees of enjoyment depending on the fanbase that you belong to.
Here, 90min dips into the archives to take a look at the very best from over the years.
Get the story and photos from @Arsenal’s 1971 title-sealing win at Tottenham http://t.co/acHY62fN08 #ArsenalHistory pic.twitter.com/TQnXHGJZAc
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 4, 2014
As all-time classics that the neutral could not take their eyes off go, we’ve not kicked off with a classic, admittedly.
But in terms of importance, there’s few north London derbies that will better this crucial final day of the season clash.
Arsenal travelled to Spurs knowing a win or a goalless draw would seal the Division One title for the first time in 18 years – but defeat or a score draw would see the trophy head to Leeds.
A nail-biting encounter ensued, and with the game still goalless after 88 minutes, Ray Kennedy popped up to head home the winner and clinch the league title in their rivals’ backyard. A pretty bleak experience for Spurs fans and one they would not want to see repeated. More on that later.
On This Day 1987: Arsenal beat Sp*rs 2-1 in League Cup SF replay, thanks to Ian Allinson & David Rocastle’s goals. pic.twitter.com/dH6cQFoydZ
— Michael Gooner (@MickTheGooner) March 4, 2016
With League Cup penalty shootouts still a futuristic concept in 1987, Arsenal had forced a third leg of their semi final clash after coming from 2-0 down on aggregate to draw 2-2.
Spurs led once again in the third leg through a Clive Allen goal just after the hour mark, but Arsenal left it late to stage another comeback.
Substitute Ian Allinson levelled the scores eight minutes from time, before his deflected effort fell into the path of David Rocastle, who slotted home a 90th minute winner to send the Gunners into the final.
Gazza scored an iconic free kick in the 1991 FA Cup semi final | Simon Bruty/Getty Images
The 1991 FA Cup semi final is famed for one of the competition’s all-time great goals courtesy of Paul Gascoigne.
The eccentric midfielder had undergone a hernia operation the month before, but the game was just five minutes old when he planted a stunning 30-yard free kick in David Seaman’s top left hand corner.
Gary Lineker grabbed a brace to send Spurs into the final – and they would go on to lift the famous trophy with victory over Nottingham Forest.
Robbie Keane netted as Spurs dismantled Arsenal | CARL DE SOUZA/Getty Images
Both north London sides were in the midst of a silverware drought when Arsenal travelled to White Hart Lane for the second leg of their League Cup semi final clash in 2008.
A 1-1 draw at the Emirates a fortnight earlier left the tie tantalisingly poised, but Spurs turned in an electric performance to power themselves into the final at the expense of Arsenal’s fringe XI.
It was just the second time Spurs had beaten Arsenal since Arsene Wenger’s arrival in 1996, Jermaine Jenas played out of his skin and Nicklas Bendtner netted an absolute bullet header of an own goal. Can’t ask for much more from a derby, can you?
Spurs completed a superb comeback in 2011 | ADRIAN DENNIS/Getty Images
Arsenal were firmly in the Premier League title race when they visited White Hart Lane with six games of the season remaining of the 2010/11 season, but blew a two goal lead as Spurs stepped up their bid for a Champions League spot.
Theo Walcott saw his early goal cancelled out by Rafael van der Vaart, before strikes from Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie gave the Gunners a two goal cushion heading into the break.
But Tom Huddlestone scored on the stroke of half time and Van der Vaart equalised from the penalty spot in the second period as the spoils were shared in a pulsating 90 minutes.
Tottenham recorded a famous comeback victory | Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
The 2010/11 season served up two stunning north London derbies, as Spurs staged their first of two remarkable comebacks to record their maiden win at the Emirates.
Arsenal were comfortably the better side in the first 45 and opened up a 2-0 half time lead thanks to goals from Nasri and Marouane Chamakh.
But Spurs came out all guns blazing in the second period and a cool Gareth Bale finish and a Van der Vaart spot kick saw them level with 23 minutes remaining following a bizarre Cesc Fabregas handball. Younes Kaboul completed the comeback five minutes from time as he headed home Van der Vaart’s free kick.
Arsenal clinched the title at Tottenham for a second time | Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Remember when we mentioned clinching the league title on your rivals home soil? Probably a unique, once in a lifetime occasion, right?
Unbeaten Arsenal needed a draw to be crowned Premier League champions when they travelled to White Hart Lane in April 2004, and the Gunners raced into a two goal lead through Patrick Vieira and Robert Pires.
However, Spurs fought back, with Jamie Redknapp on target before Robbie Keane netted a late equaliser from the spot. But they left it too late to find a third in an attempt to become the first team to inflict a league defeat on their rivals. Arsenal were crowned Premier League champions and would go on to finish the season unbeaten.
Arsenal ran out 3-2 winners in 1988 | Simon Bruty/Getty Images
The 1988 north London derby served up five goals in the space of 12 breathless first-half minutes. Imagine if you’d nipped out to the toilet and there’d been a queue.
Chris Waddle quickly cancelled out Nigel Winterburn’s opener, before goals from Brian Marwood and Alan Smith saw Arsenal open up a two goal lead.
Gazza then opened up his Spurs account, losing his right boot in a challenged on the edge of the area as he raced through on goal and poking past John Lukic at the second time of asking via his floppy, white right sock.
Pires hit the winner in 2004 | Ian Walton/Getty Images
Tottenham’s 2003/04 Premier League clash with Arsenal was a modest 1-1 at half time.
Thierry Henry had cancelled out Noureddine Naybet’s volley in first half stoppage time, before a chaotic 45 minutes ensued.
Lauren and Patrick Vieira put the Gunners 3-1 ahead on the hour mark, Jermain Defoe halved the deficit one minute later, before Freddie Ljungberg restored the two goal cushion. A Ledley King header pulled Spurs back into contention once more with 16 minutes remaining, Robert Pires then netted Arsenal’s fifth, before Freddie Kanoute made it 5-4 in the 88th minute.
Seven goals in 33 pulsating second half minutes. And not even good enough for top spot.
Bentley opened the scoring with a worldie | Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Fittingly, Hot n Cold by Katy Perry entered the top 10 in the UK charts in the same week that Arsenal and Tottenham played out one of the most chaotic, unpredictable and glorious matches in Premier League history. Up then down indeed, Katy.
Tottenham had led through David Bentley’s iconic, long range volley, before Mikael Silvestre headed home an Arsenal equaliser.
William Gallas gave Arsenal the lead inside the first two minutes of the second half, before Emmanuel Adebayor, Darren Bent and Robin van Persie all found the net in the space of six minutes.
Arsenal’s 4-2 lead remained intact until the 89th minute when Jenas curled home a fabulous goal, and Aaron Lennon poked home in the fourth minute of stoppage time to dramatically rescue an unlikely point.
The Women’s Super League returns this weekend following the latest international break, with the title race and relegation battle both delicately poised ahead of the next set of fixtures.
There have been a couple of managerial changes in recent weeks, while fans will also be back at a handful of games in limited numbers.
Read on for everything you need to know about this weekend’s games…
Aston Villa vs Manchester United
Tobin Heath has made a big impact at Man Utd | Visionhaus/Getty Images
What Time Is Kick Off? 12.30 (GMT) Where Is it Played? Bescot Stadium TV Channel/Live Stream? FA Player
Manchester United will stay top if they beat newly promoted Aston Villa in Saturday’s early kick-off and will be confident after taking four points from their last two games against WSL heavyweights Arsenal and Manchester City.
Villa have come a long way since the last time this fixture was played, with United winning 12-0 in the west Midlands on the opening day of the Women’s Championship season in 2018/19.
Prediction: Aston Villa 1-3 Manchester United
Chelsea vs West Ham
Chelsea will expect to comfortably beat West Ham | Catherine Ivill/Getty Images
What Time Is Kick Off? 12.30 (GMT) Where Is it Played? Kingsmeadow TV Channel/Live Stream? FA Player
Without a permanent successor to former head coach Matt Beard, West Ham face a Chelsea side that includes some of the best attacking players in the world.
The Hammers shipped nine goals against a rampant Arsenal earlier this season and have lost five of their seven WSL games so far. This doesn’t seem the game for a sudden burst into life.
Prediction: Chelsea 5-0 West Ham
Arsenal vs Birmingham
Arsenal should get back to winning ways | Catherine Ivill/Getty Images
What Time Is Kick Off? 14.00 (GMT) Where Is it Played? Meadow Park TV Channel/Live Stream? FA Player
Birmingham have impressively punched above their weight this season, winning three of their last four games – including a first ever top flight second city derby against Aston Villa.
Arsenal, on the other hand, have dropped points in their last two games, albeit against Manchester United and Chelsea. But they have beaten ‘the rest’ in every other league fixture this season and would expect to return to winning ways in this one.
Prediction: Arsenal 3-1 Birmingham
Reading vs Bristol City
Reading will have too much for Bristol City | Warren Little/Getty Images
What Time Is Kick Off? 14.00 (GMT) Where Is it Played? Madejski Stadium TV Channel/Live Stream? FA Player
Bristol City are having a rough time of it in 2020/21 and look increasingly destined to be playing in the Championship next season.
They travel to Reading, who are a decent team but whose main issue is scoring goals, having failed to get more than one in a WSL game since the second week of the season. But that could all change against a Bristol side who have leaked an average of five per game.
Prediction: Reading 4-1 Bristol City
Tottenham vs Brighton
Alex Morgan is seeking her first Tottenham goal | Naomi Baker/Getty Images
What Time Is Kick Off? 14.00 (GMT) Where Is it Played? The Hive Stadium TV Channel/Live Stream? FA Player
With Rehanne Skinner replacing joint long-serving coaches Karen Hills and Juan Amoros, it is the start new era for Tottenham, and fans and players alike are hoping it yields a first win.
USWNT icon Alex Morgan is still awaiting her first goal after an understandably slow start to her Spurs career, but Brighton won’t be a pushover. The Seagulls are goal-shy, but they can be resolute and have held Manchester City and Everton to draws.
Prediction: Tottenham 1-1 Brighton
Everton vs Manchester City
Manchester City have disappointed this season | Visionhaus/Getty Images
What Time Is Kick Off? 14.30 (GMT) Where Is it Played? Walton Hall Park TV Channel/Live Stream? BT Sport
If Everton want to get on level terms with the big WSL clubs, this is precisely the type of game they need to perform in. So far, it has been beyond them, having done well against ‘the rest’, but losing 4-0 against Chelsea only recently – a game that got away from them late on.
Manchester City will be disappointed with their results this season, especially after their summer transfer arrivals, and threw away a 2-0 goal in the Manchester derby last time out.
Prediction: Everton 2-3 Manchester City
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