Igor Tudor is "100%" certain that Tottenham will avoid relegation from the Premier League as he gears up for his first game in charge of his new team. 

Spurs sit 16th in the top-flight after a string of poor results that saw Thomas Frank's eight-month tenure come to an abrupt end, with Tudor the man brought in to replace him. 

And the former Juventus boss has the small matter of the north London derby in his Premier League bow, with league leaders Arsenal the visitors to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The only manager whose first-ever game in charge of Spurs was a match against Arsenal is Glenn Hoddle, who lost 2-1 in the FA Cup semi-final at Old Trafford in April 2001.

Tudor has also won his first match in charge in each of his last five spells at a club, starting with his second spell at Hajduk Split in February 2020, and a win here would be most welcome, given Spurs are the only side without a Premier League win so far in 2026.

Spurs are handed just a 3.8% probability of being relegated to the second tier by the Opta supercomputer, with 16th (18.3%) their most likely finishing position in 2025-26. 

Asked how confident he was Tottenham would still be in the Premier League next season, Tudor told reporters: "100%."

And the Croatian is keen on making an immediate impact, adding: "I'm not here to enjoy it, I'm here to work. Enjoying is the first moment, and then there's work to do.

"It's a fantastic club. I am very focused on doing the right things.

"It is not about systems. It is important to become a team, a group who will look after each other. For me, this is basic.

"After that, the quality can come out and, for me, this is a team with quality, with legs that can run. There is potential."

Tottenham are winless in their last eight Premier League games (D4 L4). They last had a longer run within the same campaign between August and November 2007 (nine).

And they have struggled against their neighbours in the top-flight of late. 

Indeed, Spurs have lost their last three Premier League home games against Arsenal, as many as they had in their previous 23 (W10 D10). They last lost four in a row against them between 1952 and 1955.

But their cause has not been helped by a lengthy injury list. Lucas Bergvall, Mohammed Kudus, Rodrigo Bentancur, James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Wilson Odobert and Destiny Udogie are just some of the players unavailable, while captain Cristian Romero is suspended. 

"It's a very rare situation," added Tudor. "We have 10 injuries; we trained with 13 players. It is an even bigger challenge to succeed from this situation.

"My first goal is that we become a team in the right meaning of the word, that suffers when it needs to suffer, to fight, to run, to have the right mentality.

"The start is always about mentality."