ARSENAL travel to White Hart Lane on Sunday for the first time since 2017, looking to put some daylight between themselves and their bitter rivals Spurs in the Premier League table.
On that day, Tottenham sealed finishing above their neighbours for the first time since 1995 courtesy of a 2-0 victory in a sun-soaked North London.
But with Spurs having, to this point, endured an even worse season than their nearest and least dear – the Gunners will feel they have a great opportunity end a run of three years behind the Lilywhites.
Currently sat just one point and place above their foes, and with European places on the line, let’s take a look at how Arsenal are likely to line up.
Bernd Leno is expected to return to training soon, but this crunch match will come too soon for the German international – leaving the impressive Emiliano Martinez free to deputise between the sticks once again.
Boss Mikel Arteta, who finished above Spurs in every one of his five years as a player at the Emirates, has found some joy with a 3-4-3 formation of late.
And in Shkodran Mustafi, David Luiz and Sead Kolasinac – the Spaniard appears to have stumbled across an unlikely group of misfits that against the odds are keeping opponents at bay.
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Pablo Mari and Calum Chambers remain missing through injury, and Rob Holding is likely to continue sitting on the bench.
Cedric Soares was handed his first Gunners start in the recent win at Wolves, but Hector Bellerin is top dog at right wing-back and will start on Sunday – with the quietly impressive Kieran Tierney on the left.
Dani Ceballos and Granit Xhaka have begun to strike up a partnership and look likely to reprise their roles on Sunday – although don’t be surprised to see Joe Willock and the fit-again Lucas Torreira come off the bench.
Mesut Ozil looks set to miss out once again, having complained of soreness in his back during the week.
And the Gunners will also have to make do without young strikers Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Martinelli – with the former suspended and the latter having undergone knee surgery.
Alexandre Lacazette will almost certainly start in the pair’s absence, with skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to his left.
Bukayo Saka has been a hero of late, but may be confined to the bench if Arteta sees fit to give resurgent Nicolas Pepe a go against Spurs.
Did you miss our previous article…
https://www.sportingexcitement.com/football/premier-league/chelsea-in-transfer-hunt-for-15-year-old-monaco-striker-malamine-efekele-dubbed-the-new-kylian-mbappe
