Four reasons why Tottenham vs Arsenal is the biggest North London derby in years

North London derbies are rarely games that ever need any additional narrative added to them. 

Over the years, whatever the position or status of Tottenham and Arsenal, their meetings are often the highlights of a season and usually jam-packed with storylines both on and off the pitch. 

Yet, Sunday's latest encounter suddenly feels more full of drama and possible ramifications for both teams than perhaps ever before in the Premier League. 

But if somehow you still need convincing over the importance of this capital clash, here are four reasons why it could be the biggest North London derby we've seen in years. 

Arsenal wobble into concern 

Wednesday night's late collapse against Wolves has sent the alarm bells ringing at full volume at The Emirates.

Arsenal somehow let a two-goal lead slip to drop two vital points against the league's worst team and now face the possibility of their title chances not being in their own hands, with Manchester City potentially in the driving seat. 

It's a horrible sense of deja vu for the Gunners, who on four occasions have led City in recent seasons only for a title charge to fall apart in the last stages of the season. Many have already stated this season that Arsenal's biggest rivals would be Arsenal themself and it's almost become a self-fulfilling prophecy. 

A deeper look into the facts shows a worrying trend over the course of the past four campaigns, where in every year, Pep Guardiola's men have accumulated more points than the Gunners over the season's final twelve games. If that trend repeats itself in 2026, then we'll witness another Arsenal title implosion. 

The game against Spurs then presents almost a sliding doors moment in their season. Win, and it should galvanise Mikel Arteta's men going into the business end of the campaign and banish some thoughts of another wobble. However, drop more points against their biggest rivals and the meltdown may not be one they recover from. Carl Recine/Getty Images

Tudor's biggest baptism of fire 

Thankfully for Arsenal, all isn't well on the other side of North London, having decided to call time on Thomas Frank last week and replace him with the eyebrow-raising appointment of Igor Tudor. 

Tudor has carved out a reputation in Italy as a bit of a firefighter, and aided Juventus' cause last season by steering them back on course for Champions League qualification. However, things quickly went up in smoke in Turin when the Croatian was given the role permanently. 

He arrives in North London with no previous Premier League experience as a player or manager and has been handed a difficult task in turning round Spurs' dismal season, starting with their biggest game of the season. 

No Tottenham manager has made their debut in a North London derby - with Danny Rose being the only player to - but what effect will it have on his team come Sunday? 

Is he the right fit to get a performance out of his new side, much like Michael Carrick did in the Manchester derby when it was his first game in charge, or will Tottenham's problems rear their ugly heads once again amid another derby day defeat? 

Eze's hot reception 

One man to keep an eye on on Sunday is Eberechi Eze, if the England man starts for the Gunners. 

Eze could well have been turning out for the hosts if the summer window had gone differently, but ultimately the forward chose Arsenal above Tottenham when the Gunners came calling to usurp their rivals in the chase for last season's FA Cup winner. 

If that decision wasn't enough to light the torch paper ahead of a first appearance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium since that snub, then his hat-trick for Arsenal in the clash at The Emirates earlier this season should only spark a red-hot reception for the 28-year-old. 

The question is, will Eze start on Sunday? Ironically, since that treble in November, the playmaker has suffered a major dip in form and faced questions over whether he's up to the task at Arsenal. 

There might not be a better way to silence those critics than by hammering another nail in the coffin of Spurs' wretched season. 

The real fear of relegation 

One fallout from a possible defeat for Spurs is the very real possibility of the 'r' word. 

Tottenham are currently 16th in the table, five points off the bottom three, with trips to Anfield, Stamford Bridge and Villa Park among their final dozen games in 2025-26. 

With Wolves as good as gone and Burnley needing a miracle to stay up, it does leave only one relegation spot open, but given the form West Ham have shown in recent weeks - including a win over Spurs - there is genuine concern among supporters that their team are very much in a dogfight. 

A win over their nearest rivals and condemning them to further title woes would just be the morale-boosting victory the club needs to turn around their season...but lose and the 'r' word talk will only ramp up with intensity. 

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