Arteta insists that a superb performance is needed to beat Tottenham.

Arsenal will face Tottenham Hotspur in a North London derby in the 12th round of the 2025/26 Premier League season. Manager Mikel Arteta stated in a press conference that he and his players are very much looking forward to the match and that they must perform exceptionally well to defeat their opponents.

After goals from Saka and Trossard in the last Premier League match, Arsenal were ultimately held to a 2-2 draw away to newly promoted Sunderland. With four wins and one draw in their last five matches, Arsenal currently sit atop the league table with 26 points.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said, "This game is different. It's a big city, but also a huge competition, and it's part of London. We want to conquer the game, and they want to do the same."

“A lot has really changed over the years. We were once more dominant, and it’s all been wonderful. Especially when we’re playing at home and in front of our fans, we know exactly what this game means to them. The energy the team shows in every attack, and the energy from the fans, makes it an honor to be a part of this game, so we’re really looking forward to it.”

Arteta continued, "The important thing is to let the team show its full potential in the game. That's the context of the game, and that's our superpower. When everyone is passionately fighting for every ball, it makes a huge difference."

“We are really lucky because the fans have been supporting us at the Emirates Stadium, and I believe the team will deliver an excellent performance and make them proud.”

In head-to-head records, Arsenal have a slight psychological advantage with 3 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss in their last 5 encounters against Tottenham Hotspur. However, it's worth noting that Tottenham Hotspur have performed exceptionally well away from home this season, so Arteta's team will not have any room to relax during the match.

Arteta also said, "We can't get too excited, and we need to put more effort into every touch and movement in this game than in other games."

“We’ve found a very good balance. We’ve played very well and won some other games, though we have to admit we’ve been a bit lucky sometimes. So we need a really good performance to beat them.”