We simulated Tottenham vs Arsenal and North London Derby double decides clash

Can Igor Tudor’s arrival spur the hosts to a first league win in 2026 or will Arsenal get their title charge back on track? We used EA FC 26 to try and find out

With the Premier League season reaching crunch time, this weekend's North London Derby has huge consequences for both ends of the table. Hosts Tottenham are struggling at the bottom end of the league, five points away from the drop and have just made a major change in management.

New interim head coach Igor Tudor has been thrown into the deep end with his first game in charge since replacing Thomas Frank last week, with a skeleton squad against the league leaders. Arsenal, meanwhile, top the tree but face scrutiny after throwing away leads at Brentford and bottom side Wolves to draw both games.

The Gunners are now five points ahead of Manchester City in second, but have played a game more than their title rivals. However, Spurs are yet to win a Premier League game in 2026 and are in the midst of a rotten run of domestic form with just four points from the last eight games.

And after a 4-1 drubbing at the Emirates Stadium earlier this season, a win over their fiercest rivals could be exactly what the doctor ordered for Arsenal. The North London Derby is rarely dull, so, what could happen? Let's take a look.

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We simulated Tottenham vs Arsenal to get a score prediction

To predict how the North London Derby at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium might go, we used EA FC 26 to simulate the game. With all the injuries, suspensions and real-life form applied, we hoped for a realistic result.

With a massive 12 players missing for Spurs, Tudor's options are restricted. He may want to opt for his preferred set-up of three central defenders but only Micky van de Ven and Radu Dragusin are fit and natural centre backs available as captain Cristian Romero's suspension continues.

However, Joao Palhinha has deputised for Frank at the back and we think it'll happen again in Tudor's first game. Therefore, we predicted a 3-4-1-2 formation to try and ease the transition for Spurs.

Our Tottenham starting XI is: Vicario; Dragusin, Palhinha, van de Ven; Gray, Sarr, Gallagher, Spence; Xavi; Solanke, Kolo Muani.

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As for the visitors, Arsenal could be without Leandro Trossard after he picked up a head injury at Wolves in midweek. Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard were also doubts but could be back in the frame, with Kai Havertz's involvement uncertain too.

However, Mikel Merino and Max Dowman remain out. Therefore, the starting Arsenal XI we've gone for is, in a 4-3-3: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli.

It didn't take long after kick-off for Tudor's nightmare start at Spurs to begin. Victor Gyokores put the Gunners 1-0 up after just 15 minutes having waded into the home box unmarked and swept the ball home into the top right corner.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Arsenal held a control on the game that Spurs were unable to wrestle back. Smooth, quick passing ensured the away side dominated the midfield and made quick progress up the pitch.

By the half-hour mark, Arsenal doubled their lead. Gyokeres again made the home side pay for some half-asleep marking from a spot identical to his first goal. With 29 minutes gone, Arsenal's title hunt seemed back on track.

Perhaps the tactical gamble by Tudor to insist on his preferred three at the back contributed, with makeshift centre back Palhinha leaving Gyokeres wide open twice. Whatever the cause, it was all too easy for Arsenal to create.

The second half didn't start much brighter for Spurs, who gave the ball away immediately after kick-off for an Arsenal throw. However, a patient move 52 minutes in saw Xavi Simons produce the hosts' first attempt with a strike that went narrowly wide.

The same man finally got Spurs on the scoresheet with their next move. Xavi finished off another round of quickfire passes in the Arsenal box by firing home on the turn and made it 2-1 on 69 minutes.

The goal gave Tottenham fans hope as the home side were clearly buoyed. A marked improvement in performance saw Spurs doggedly battle their rivals instead of allowing themselves to be walked over as in the first half.

Gyokeres missed a major chance to kill the game off in the dying moments, passing up an opportunity to secure a derby day hat-trick. But the Arsenal faithful need not have worried as they held on for a 2-1 victory.

While the simulation offers hope for Arsenal's title aspirations, it serves as a stark warning for Tudor. A 2-1 defeat in the virtual world highlights the glaring weaknesses at Spurs as the injury crisis really begins to take a toll.

For the Gunners, this result would be the perfect antidote to their recent stutters against Brentford and Wolves. If the real-world Saka and Odegaard can replicate their link-up play seen in our simulation, the five-point gap at the top may stay intact despite City's game in hand.

History tells us the North London Derby rarely follows the script. But if EA FC 26 is correct, Sunday will be a day of celebration for the red half of North London, and a sobering reality check for those in white.

EA FC 26 predicted final score: Tottenham 1-2 Arsenal

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