North London prepares for another derby which has narrative bursting at the seams. However, most of the interest surrounds players that won't be able to take the field at 2pm on Sunday. Both managers will be under their own unique kind of pressure. It could go off, big time.
Destruction Derby: Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal (xNarrative 0.8)
While players obviously take huge pride in playing for their country, the timing of the first international break of the season is already proving costly. Just as the season is getting under way, just as new signings might be bedding in, an international break comes along and tempers the excitement.
Even more frustrating is the physical impact it can have on players. For Sunday's mouth-watering North London Derby, Arsenal will be without their captain, their pace setter, their silky assist-maker Martin Odegaard. While captaining Norway, he was on the receiving end of an agricultural challenge which forced him off. The outlook doesn't look great, though no time scale for his return has been given.
Teenager Ethan Nwaneri is being seen as Odegaard's under-study but a North London Derby - when the margins in a title race are so fine - mean that his inexperience could be overlooked in favour of the tried and trusted. While Havertz has started the season excellently as Arsenal's striker (False 9 or whatever), his intense pressing could provide Arsenal's midfield with the energy it'll miss in Odegaard's absence.
A Substitute for Rice
Another absence that was known before the international break, but equally as unwelcome, is that of Declan Rice. Pretty much ever-present for Arsenal last season, his petty red card against Brighton will see the 100-million-pound man miss this vital match.
Rice's addition to the Arsenal team can't be understated. Despite starting the season perhaps, a fraction below his usual standard, he still offers so much quality and competitiveness in midfield. While he will be a huge miss, Arteta may turn to some old heads to temporarily take his place.
Last season, Jorginho's contribution in big games was noteworthy. He started against Liverpool at The Emirates - which the Gunners won 3-1. Most tellingly, he started both games against Manchester City. City failed to score in both games. It may seem like a negative move, but it could provide the platform on which Arsenal could perform. Although they will have two megastar players missing, Arsenal can still call on quality attacking talent like Saka, Trossard, Martinelli and new loanee-signing Raheem Sterling to take the game to Tottenham.
Ange's Angst
Tottenham themselves should be somewhat buoyed by Arsenal's selection headaches. Solanke has been training and will likely return to the bench. Van De Ven should also return to the starting line-up. However, there are mumblings and grumblings at the other end of the Seven Sisters Road which suggest Postecoglou's insistence on high risk defending - for all its bravery - isn't producing the results. They ended last season pretty woefully. Their start to this season has been mixed. Ange should be relishing hosting a depleted Arsenal side but, the players missing are so important for Arsenal, there may now be some expectation for Postecoglou to get something from the game.