MX23RW : Tuesday, March 19 02:55:04| >> :60:3013:3013:
[monks data]
Spurs logo
Premier League | Gameweek 11
Dec 6, 2020 at 4.30pm UK
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Arsenal logo
Spurs
2 - 0
Arsenal
Heung-min (13'), Kane (45+1')
Lo Celso (41')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Xhaka (75'), Lacazette (80')

How Arsenal could line up against Tottenham Hotspur

Sports Mole looks at how Arsenal could line up for Sunday's North London derby against Premier League leaders Tottenham Hotspur.

Arsenal will be hoping that a North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur is enough to snap them out of their current poor Premier League form when they make the short trip to their near-neighbours on Sunday.

The Gunners have lost four and won just one of their last six top-flight games to find themselves 14th in the table, having made their worst start to a season since 1981-82.

On the face of it, a trip to the league leaders in front of 2,000 returning fans is the last thing they need, but their away form has been a rare bright spark so far this season and their solitary win in that recent run came at Manchester United.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Mikel Arteta could set his struggling side out for the contest.



Possible ARS XI vs. TOT

Out: Nicolas Pepe (suspended), Gabriel Martinelli (knee)
Doubtful: Thomas Partey (thigh), David Luiz (head)

> Click here for Arsenal's latest injury and suspension news ahead of this match

Arsenal could be handed a significant boost ahead of this match with Thomas Partey back in training ahead of schedule and possibly in contention for what would be his first North London derby.

The summer signing will be assessed ahead of kickoff and may have to settle for a place on the bench, with Arteta unwilling to take any risks over his fitness ahead of the busy December schedule, but either way he is on course to return earlier than expected.

While Thomas's comeback could come early, many felt that David Luiz's departure against Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend was long overdue after he was involved in the sickening clash of heads which left Raul Jimenez with a fractured skull.

Luiz had blood seeping through his bandage before finally being withdrawn and he was absent against Rapid Vienna in midweek, but Arteta has suggested that the Brazilian should be available so long as the wound is healing as expected, with no concerns regarding concussion.

Nicolas Pepe will serve the second of his three-match ban while Gabriel Martinelli remains sidelined, although he could return to Under-23s action before the end of the year.

Arsenal's only pleasing Premier League result in the last two months came away at Old Trafford and so Arteta could look to name as close to that starting XI as possible, which would mean a three-at-the-back formation again.

The misfiring Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will start again, while Alexandre Lacazette will hope to take his Europa League form into domestic matters after opening the scoring in midweek.

Arsenal were able to welcome a number of previous absentees back in that win over Rapid Vienna, with Pablo Mari, Calum Chambers and Sead Kolasinac among those to return to the squad.

None of those players is likely to start another game in such quick succession here, but they do boost Arteta's options for rotation heading into the festive fixture pile-up.

> Click here to see how Tottenham could line up for this North London derby


Video prediction

Watch the Sports Mole Football Shorts prediction for this game below:


ID:425087: cacheID:425087:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6163:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta pictured on November 5, 2020
Read Next:
Mikel Arteta pays tribute to returning fans as Arsenal beat Rapid Vienna
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014

Subscribe to our newsletter


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!