90min
·13 September 2024
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Yahoo sports90min
·13 September 2024
For Arsenal, the north London derby couldn't have come at a worse time.
The Gunners, who travel to Tottenham in the Premier League this Sunday, find themselves without two of their most prominent figures. Declan Rice is currently suspended after seeing red against Brighton & Hove Albion before the international break, while Martin Odegaard is set to miss several weeks after sustaining an injury with Norway.
Having failed to beat Brighton last time out, Arsenal need to taste victory this Sunday as they look to keep pace with Manchester City and Liverpool at the summit of the Premier League table. Mikel Arteta, who has agreed a new contract with the Gunners, will have to make some big decisions in pursuit of victory.
Here is how Arsenal could line up at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Jorginho may be tasked with replacing Declan Rice / Visionhaus/GettyImages
GK: David Raya - The Arsenal stopper has successfully seen off Aaron Ramsdale with his consistently impressive performances but one of his darker days came in this exact fixture last season when he gifted Cristian Romero a goal.
RB: Ben White - The man tasked with stopping Tottenham's talisman Heung-min Son, White has had two weeks of relaxation as his feud with the England camp continues.
CB: William Saliba - Whether he comes up against an orthodox striker in Dominic Solanke or a false nine in Dejan Kulusevski, the French centre-back will almost certainly be brilliant.
CB: Gabriel - Arsenal's centre-back partnership was key to the most defiant defence in the division last term and they already have two clean sheets to boast this season. Gabriel may not earn the plaudits of Saliba, but he's blossomed into a mighty fine defender.
LB: Jurrien Timber - With Takehiro Tomiyasu sidelined, Timber will be fighting Oleksandr Zinchenko for a starting berth on Sunday. The versatile Dutchman was favoured against Brighton and could retain his spot.
CM: Thomas Partey - Partey's presence has often allowed Rice more freedom to roam but he may have to do a bit of roaming himself at the weekend with his teammate suspended.
CM: Jorginho - Likely to come in to the side and act as the anchor in midfield, Jorginho endured a difficult north London derby at the Emirates Stadium last season and will be keen to get the better of James Maddison on this occasion.
CM: Kai Havertz - Having developed into a deadly number nine, Havertz may be utilised as a midfielder this weekend. He will be tasked with replacing Odegaard's creativity in the engine room.
RW: Bukayo Saka - The dynamic winger scored home and away in this fixture last season and has picked up from where he left off at the beginning of 2024/25. He will fancy his chances against Destiny Udogie.
ST: Leandro Trossard - Trossard has been used as an alternative centre-forward at times by Arteta and with Gabriel Jesus possibly sidelined, he may be asked to perform the role on the big stage against two aggressive Tottenham centre-backs.
LW: Raheem Sterling - Could Sterling be chucked in the deep end for his debut this weekend? Very possibly given the underwhelming form of Gabriel Martinelli and Trossard's potential re-positioning.
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