Sunday’s north London derby promises to be one of the biggest in recent memory with both clubs still having so much left to play for.

As if the rivalry alone isn’t enough, Arsenal are still firmly in the hunt for their first league title in 20 years, while Tottenham are hoping to pip Aston Villa to the fourth and final Champions League spot.

It is set to be a red-hot atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and could come down to which of the two young teams can keep their heads under pressure.

But not everyone who has played in a north London derby has had that luxury. Back in September 2010, one Spurs player was handed his debut against Arsenal, and it did not go to plan.

Having signed on loan from Russian club Spartak Moscow the previous month, Croatian goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa was given his Tottenham bow when Harry Redknapp’s men took on the Gunners in the third round of the League Cup at White Hart Lane.

Spurs fell behind to a Henri Lansbury strike inside 15 minutes, but Robbie Keane equalised shortly after the break to force extra time.

It all went wrong for Tottenham and Pletikosa in that added 30 minutes, though, as they conceded three times to end up losing 4-1.

Samir Nasri netted two penalties in the space of three minutes, before Andrey Arshavin wrapped up the victory for Arsene Wenger’s side.

It was a debut to forget for Pletikosa, who was 31 at the time, and he never got the chance to make amends.

That’s right, Pletikosa was not picked to play for Tottenham for the rest of the season before he returned to Russia in the summer of 2011. 

Redknapp preferred Heurelho Gomes instead, and did not give Pletikosa another opportunity to prove his worth before he was sent packing.

Spartak decided they didn’t fancy him either, and allowed Pletikosa to move on to fellow Russian club Rostov in 2011, where he remained for four years.

The shot-stopper then spent six months on the sidelines before joining Spanish outfit Deportivo La Coruna on a short-term deal prior to his retirement in 2016.

His playing days may have come to a fairly underwhelming end, but Pletikosa had a career to be proud of, having represented Croatia 114 times.

He made his international debut in 1999, just days after his 20th birthday, and went on to play for Croatia at three World Cups.

Pletikosa was also in goal for Croatia’s famous 3-2 win over England at Wembley in 2007 that denied the Three Lions a place at Euro 2008.

That match proved to be Steve McClaren’s last in charge, while Pletikosa’s opposite number, Scott Carson, also had a night to forget as he let a long-range Nico Kranjcar effort squirm through his grasp and into the net in the first half.  

Pletikosa may have got a taste of how Carson felt that night when he made his Tottenham debut three years later, as he was left picking the ball out of his net on four occasions.

There will be no such baptism of fire this weekend when Tottenham and Arsenal face each other once more, with Guglielmo Vicario and David Raya set to be between the sticks, having both enjoyed strong opening campaigns at their respective clubs.

Meanwhile, Pletikosa may be watching on from afar, having remained in football since hanging up his boots.

He now holds the position of technical director for the Croatian Football Federation, overseeing the national senior side and the Under 21s team.

The role sees him work closely with national team manager Zlatko Dalic, who will be hoping to lead Croatia to the latter stages of another major tournament at this summer’s Euros.

Dalic has been in charge since 2017, and led Croatia to the 2018 World Cup final, before they then finished third at the following World Cup in Qatar four years later.

Pletikosa has been with him every step of the way for Croatia’s rise, and has also represented his nation at global summits, having attended a Coaches Forum alongside Croatian legend Ivica Olic and FIFA president Gianni Infantino last year.

Now aged 45, Pletikosa remains a popular figure in his homeland, but can you remember him from his brief stay in England?