The North London Derby never fails to deliver drama, and this weekend's installment promises even higher stakes than usual. As Tottenham Hotspur welcome their bitter rivals Arsenal to their home ground, both clubs find themselves at critical junctures in their respective campaigns. The Gunners arrive as league leaders, seeking to maintain their slender advantage at the summit, while Spurs desperately need a turnaround in fortunes under new leadership.
This comprehensive guide covers everything supporters need to know about the highly anticipated Premier League showdown, from broadcast information and streaming alternatives to detailed team news and tactical analysis.
Match Schedule and Venue Details
The Tottenham vs Arsenal fixture is scheduled for Sunday, February 22, 2026, with kick-off set for 11:30 AM Eastern Time (4:30 PM Greenwich Mean Time). The match will take place at Tottenham's state-of-the-art stadium, where the home side has struggled to find consistent form throughout the season.
How to Watch: Live Stream and Television Coverage
For viewers in the United States, the match will be available through several platforms. FuboTV offers comprehensive Premier League coverage and provides a free trial for new subscribers, making it an attractive option for cord-cutters. The service includes multiple sports channels that regularly broadcast English top-flight matches.
International viewers may encounter geographical restrictions when attempting to access their preferred streaming services. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) provides an effective solution for bypassing these limitations. By establishing a secure, encrypted connection and virtually relocating your IP address to a country where the match is being broadcast, you can access your home streaming services from anywhere in the world. Reputable VPN providers like ExpressVPN offer specialized servers optimized for sports streaming, ensuring minimal buffering and high-quality video playback.
For those seeking step-by-step guidance on configuring a VPN for sports viewing, numerous online tutorials provide detailed instructions. Alternatively, consulting reviews of the best VPNs for streaming can help identify the most suitable option for your specific needs and budget.
Tottenham's Situation: New Era Under Igor Tudor
Tottenham enters this derby in desperate need of inspiration. The club's home form has been particularly alarming, with only ten points collected at their own stadium this campaign—the third-worst record in the entire division. This statistic represents a shocking underperformance for a club of Spurs' stature and resources.
The appointment of Igor Tudor as manager introduces a fascinating subplot to this derby. The Croatian tactician, formerly of Juventus, takes charge of his first match at the helm, and supporters will be hoping for an immediate "new manager bounce." Tudor's reputation for organized, disciplined teams could be exactly what Tottenham requires to address their defensive frailties and mental fragility.
However, the new boss faces a staggering injury crisis that has decimated his squad. The treatment room currently houses Wilson Odobert, Ben Davies, Destiny Udogie, Pedro Porro, Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison, Lucas Bergvall, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Mohammed Kudus. Additionally, defensive linchpin Cristian Romero is unavailable due to suspension, further compounding Tudor's selection headaches.
This extensive absentee list forces Tottenham to field a makeshift lineup, testing the depth of their squad and the adaptability of their new manager's tactical system. The derby represents a baptism of fire for Tudor, who must quickly instill his philosophy while navigating these personnel limitations.
Arsenal's Perspective: Title Hopes Under Threat
While Arsenal's position at the top of the table appears enviable, recent performances have exposed vulnerabilities that could derail their championship aspirations. The Gunners have developed an concerning habit of dropping points on their travels, with frustrating draws against Nottingham Forest, Brentford, and most recently, bottom-placed Wolves.
This pattern of conceding late goals and failing to convert dominance into victories has narrowed the margin for error considerably. Manchester City's relentless pursuit means any further slip-ups could prove catastrophic. If City defeats Newcastle on Saturday evening, Arsenal's lead would shrink to just two points before they even kick off against Tottenham, intensifying the pressure on Mikel Arteta's squad.
Injury concerns compound Arsenal's challenges. Mikel Merino has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a broken foot, depriving the team of a valuable midfield option. More worryingly, captain Martin Odegaard and influential attacker Kai Havertz are major doubts after missing the 2-2 draw at Wolves. Their potential absence would force Arteta to reshuffle his attacking unit and rely on squad players to deliver in the most pressurized fixture of the season.
Tactical Battle: What to Expect
The derby presents a fascinating tactical contrast. Arsenal will likely dominate possession, utilizing their intricate passing patterns and positional rotation to create overloads in wide areas. Arteta's side excels at building from the back and controlling tempo, but their recent struggles suggest a need for greater clinical edge in the final third.
Tottenham, under Tudor's guidance, may adopt a more pragmatic approach. With key creative players unavailable, Spurs could prioritize defensive solidity and look to exploit Arsenal's occasional susceptibility to counter-attacks. The home side's ability to remain compact and disciplined will be crucial, as will their efficiency in transition moments.
Set pieces could prove decisive, given Arsenal's aerial threat and Tottenham's defensive instability. Both managers will have invested significant training time into organizing their defensive and offensive set-piece routines, recognizing that one moment of brilliance or lapse in concentration could swing the derby.
Recent Head-to-Head Record
Historical precedent favors the visitors overwhelmingly. Arsenal enters this match unbeaten in the last seven Premier League encounters between the sides, having won six of those fixtures. Particularly concerning for Tottenham supporters is Arsenal's perfect record on their last three visits to Spurs' stadium in the top flight.
This dominance has psychological implications, potentially affecting player confidence and tactical approach. However, derbies often defy form and statistics, with passion and intensity frequently producing unexpected results. Tottenham will be desperate to end this run of inferiority, especially with a new manager seeking to make an immediate impression.
Key Players to Watch
Despite Arsenal's injury concerns, Bukayo Saka remains the primary creative and goal-scoring threat. His ability to beat defenders one-on-one and deliver quality in the final third makes him the player Tottenham must neutralize. For Spurs, Son Heung-min carries the goal-scoring burden and will look to exploit any spaces behind Arsenal's high defensive line.
The midfield battle could be equally influential. Declan Rice provides Arsenal with defensive stability and progressive passing, while Tottenham's makeshift midfield must find a way to disrupt his rhythm and protect their vulnerable backline.
Conclusion and Prediction
This North London Derby represents far more than local bragging rights. For Arsenal, it's a test of their title credentials and mental resilience under pressure. For Tottenham, it's an opportunity to reset their season and provide a foundation for Tudor's rebuilding project.
The combination of Tottenham's injury crisis and Arsenal's superior quality suggests the visitors should secure victory, but derbies rarely follow scripts. If Tudor can quickly organize his depleted squad and Arsenal's attacking players continue their profligate form, an upset remains possible.
Ultimately, expect a tightly contested affair with moments of individual brilliance potentially deciding the outcome. Arsenal's greater consistency and depth likely give them the edge, but Tottenham's desperation for a positive result under new management ensures this will be a fiercely competitive encounter.