Arsenal team news: Predicted XI vs. Tottenham Hotspur

Arsenal's 18-match unbeaten streak across all competitions will face two stringent tests in the space of three days at the beginning of December, starting with the North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur.

The Gunners have quickly found their identity under Unai Emery and sit just one point off the Champions League places with a third of the season gone ahead of a double-header against Spurs and Manchester United.

Victory at the Emirates on Sunday would see Arsenal draw level on points with their neighbours and leapfrog them on goal difference, but they are coming up against a Spurs side in good form themselves.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how the hosts could line up for the derby.

Out: Nacho Monreal (hamstring), Konstantinos Mavropanos (hamstring), Danny Welbeck (ankle) Doubtful: Alexandre Lacazette (groin), Laurent Koscielny (Achilles)

Emery is hopeful of having Alexandre Lacazette back to lead the line after missing the win over Bournemouth last weekend with a groin injury, and his return would push Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - the match-winner at the Vitality Stadium - further out wide.

Mesut Ozil was a notable absentee from that match, with Emery later confirming that the opposition was too demanding for him, but the former Germany international is expected to come back in for the derby nonetheless.

Laurent Koscielny is nearing his senior return from an Achilles injury, although it would be a surprise if he was thrown straight in for his first appearance since May in such a high-profile fixture.

Konstantinos Mavropanos and Nacho Monreal are both expected back later in December but this match will come too soon for them, and Sokratis Papastathopoulos is the most likely candidate to start alongside Shkodran Mustafi given that Rob Holding played in the Europa League in midweek.

Emery was able to rest the vast majority of his senior players during that 3-0 win over Vorskla Poltava, though, and is expected to make a full 11 changes for the visit of Spurs this weekend.

> Click here to see how Tottenham Hotspur could line up for this fixture