Tottenham vs Arsenal: Prediction, H2H and probable line-ups — February 22, 2026
On Sunday, February 22, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will be the stage for a true baptism by fire for the hosts’ new head coach and a decisive moment in the title race for the visitors: Tottenham hosts Arsenal. Read on for a detailed look at both teams and our match prediction.
Match preview
Tottenham heads into this fixture in complete turmoil. Just a few days ago, on February 17, the club appointed Igor Tudor as interim manager until the end of the season, replacing the sacked Thomas Frank. The Spurs are languishing in 16th place, only five points clear of the relegation zone—a real disaster for a club of their stature. Tudor inherits a tough situation: the team is winless in five consecutive games, and the injury list reads like a medical encyclopedia. Making your debut in a derby against the league leaders is not for the faint of heart.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal continues its relentless pursuit of the title. The Gunners top the table, but recent stumbles (a 1-1 draw with Brentford and a 2-2 with Wolves) mean nerves are fraying as rivals close in. Arsenal hasn’t lost to Tottenham since 2022 and has won their last three trips to this stadium. The psychological edge is firmly with the red half of North London, but as we know, the "new manager effect" can work wonders in derby matches.
Tactically, Tudor will likely look to shore up the defense by switching to a back three. Expect Spurs to drop into a low block and play fast, vertical football. Arsenal, meanwhile, will stick to their trademark dominant style, relying on their star-studded midfield. After dropping points in recent games, the Gunners can’t afford to slip up in a London derby and will be pushing to the limit.
Probable line-ups
Tottenham: Vicario; Gray, Dragusin, Van de Ven, Spence; Sarr, Palhinha, Gallagher; Simons, Solanke, Kolo Muani
Arsenal: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Rice, Zubimendi, Eze; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard
Match facts and head-to-head
- In the last five matches, Arsenal has won four times and Tottenham once
- Tottenham has won just one of their last five games, conceding in four of them
- Arsenal has won five of their last seven matches, drawing twice
Prediction
The attacking firepower both sides possess suggests we’re in for a goal-fest. My prediction: over 2.5 goals at 1.78
