Arsenal are seeking revenge over Tottenham after falling agonisingly short to their local rivals in last season's top-four race - with an X-rated tirade from Mikel Arteta still ringing in players' ears.
The Gunners finished two points behind Spurs in the 2021/22 Premier League campaign, meaning they missed out on coveted Champions League qualification. Having been in the driving seat for a spot in the top four, Arsenal's season unravelled as they were beaten by Crystal Palace and Brighton in consecutive games in April.
With a handful of fixtures still to be played, those losses handed Spurs the initiative and Antonio Conte's men would go on to secure fourth place - albeit after some more late-season drama. Following the humbling 2-1 defeat at home by Brighton, Arteta ruthlessly tore into his squad without any attempt to hide the extent of his fury.
"After the game, I didn't want to talk to you. I was sure that I was going to say something that I was going to regret," the Spaniard said, as captured in Amazon Prime Video's series 'All or Nothing: Arsenal'. "But I tell you today, it was a f***ing disaster.
"I look in your eyes and I tell you that it was a f***ing disaster. It was nowhere near the level that we have to play. After losing two games at this club to Crystal Palace and Brighton, it has to be a f***ing funeral. A funeral.
"You know why you didn't win? Because there is something missing. Something missing inside you. When you go out there something is missing. So how do we change it? We change it in training."
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Things got worse before they got better for Arsenal, as they were defeated 1-0 by Southampton in their following game. But they recovered well and put together a run of four victories - including wins over Chelsea and Manchester United - to once again take the lead over Tottenham in the top-four race.
Following the 4-2 triumph at Stamford Bridge, Arteta told his players: "Good morning, guys. The funeral is over! Now, you can live your life." However, Spurs hit back with an emphatic 3-0 victory in the North London derby in May and went on to pip their old enemy to fourth after Arsenal lost 2-0 at Newcastle in their next outing.
The Gunners' painful collapse in the final quarter of last season and the fact Tottenham capitalised on it adds to the anticipation for this weekend's derby. Arsenal welcome Spurs to the Emirates in Saturday's lunchtime kick-off with just one point separating Arteta's league-leaders and Conte's undefeated side, who sit third, behind defending champions Manchester City on goal difference.
