Tottenham’s Champions League woes hand Arsenal a boost ahead of the next North London derby

Tottenham Hotspur’s rivals Arsenal have been on a rampage in the UEFA Champions League.
Arsenal’s Champions League dominance positions them perfectly for February’s North London Derby, while Tottenham and Chelsea face fixture congestion that could leave both sides exhausted before crucial league clashes.

The Gunners have won all six of their Champions League matches so far, virtually guaranteeing a top-eight finish that bypasses the playoff round. The North London Derby at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has been moved to Sunday, February 22, giving Mikel Arteta’s side an extra week of rest compared to potential playoff participants.

Tottenham’s Precarious Position in the UEFA Champions League
Spurs currently sit 11th in the Champions League table, one point outside the automatic qualification spots. They host Borussia Dortmund (10th) and travel to Eintracht Frankfurt (30th) in their remaining fixtures. A defeat to Dortmund would likely force Thomas Frank’s side into the playoff round scheduled for February 17-18 and 24-25.

That congestion creates a nightmare scenario for Tottenham ahead of the derby. Playing two high-intensity European ties within days of facing Arsenal could leave key players fatigued or injured. Thomas Frank‘s squad depth remains questionable given recent defensive collapses, and additional fixtures only increase the risk of further errors.

Arsenal’s schedule works perfectly in their favour. Their first league game of the month against Sunderland on February 7 remains on that date with a 3 pm kick-off, followed by a trip to Brentford on February 12. The derby then arrives 10 days later, providing ample time for preparation.

The Chelsea fixture at Emirates Stadium has been moved to Sunday, March 1. Like the derby, this rescheduling benefits Arsenal by providing extra recovery time if Chelsea are forced through playoff ties the previous midweek.

Fixture scheduling has haunted Arsenal throughout recent title challenges. Injuries and fatigue from European campaigns contributed to collapses in previous seasons. This year, their superior European form creates the opposite scenario, potentially handing them critical advantages in London derbies that could define the title race.