The pressure is on for Tottenham's new manager as he faces a crucial derby with a depleted squad!
It's a significant moment for Tottenham Hotspur as Igor Tudor takes the helm for his very first match, and what a debut it will be – a fierce north London derby against Arsenal! This is Tudor's inaugural Premier League fixture since stepping in to lead the team, who are currently sitting in a challenging 16th place. The club made a change last week, parting ways with Thomas Frank, and now Tudor, a former Juventus boss, has the immense task of turning their fortunes around.
But here's where it gets tricky: Tudor's debut comes at a time when Arsenal, under Mikel Arteta, are in strong contention for the title and desperately need a win, especially after Manchester City's victory on Saturday night. To add to the pressure, Tottenham will be without a staggering 11 players for this crucial encounter. This is their chance to snag their first Premier League win of 2026, a statistic that highlights their current struggles.
And this is the part most people miss: Dominic Solanke, a key striker, is relegated to the bench. He's been battling a throat infection this week and has been undergoing treatment with antibiotics. This means Randal Kolo Muani will spearhead the attack. Kolo Muani has a history with Tudor, having impressed significantly under him during the latter part of last season at Juventus, so he'll be looking to make an immediate impact. Adding to the attacking options, Richarlison also makes a return to the bench after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Tudor seems to be opting for his preferred three-at-the-back formation. We can expect to see Joao Palhinha lining up alongside Radu Dragusin – who actually played under Tudor when he was an assistant to Andrea Pirlo at Juventus – and Micky van de Ven. In the midfield, Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr are set to start, with Xavi Simons and Conor Gallagher playing as the attacking midfielders, suggesting a potential 3-4-2-1 setup.
There's also a debut on the bench for James Wilson, an 18-year-old who joined mid-season from Hearts. He's already made his mark, scoring for the U21s last week, and this is his first senior matchday squad appearance.
So, here's the Tottenham lineup for this pivotal derby:
Vicario in goal;
Palhinha, Dragusin, Van de Ven forming the defense;
Gray, Bissouma, Sarr, Spence in midfield;
Gallagher, Xavi as the attacking midfielders;
And Kolo Muani leading the line.
On the bench, we have: Austin, Rowsell, Souza, Olusesi, Williams-Barnett, Richarlison, Tel, Solanke, and Wilson.
What do you think of this lineup? Does Tudor have what it takes to secure a win against Arsenal with so many players missing? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below – do you agree with his tactical choices, or would you have done something different?
