Nicolas Pepe should return to the starting XI at the expense of Willian while Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard should feature again when Arsenal take on Tottenham.
Arsenal will be aiming to move up the rungs in the Premier League table when they lock horns with arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday evening.
Heading into the game, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has no injured players to worry about, with the entire squad fit and available for selection, as confirmed on the Gunners’ official website. Arteta had opted to field a strong side in the midweek Europa League game against Olympiacos and there are unlikely to be many changes made to that team.
In goal, Bernd Leno, who has been a bit sloppy in the past couple of games, remains Arsenal’s first-choice option. David Luiz has become somewhat of a permanent fixture in defence for the Gunners of late and that is unlikely to change when Tottenham come visiting.
Hector Bellerin and Kieran Tierney are also likely to hold on to their places in the side as the full-backs. The only change in defence is likely to come in the second centre-back slot wherein Gabriel Magalhaes could make way for Pablo Mari despite the Brazilian scoring a goal in the midweek encounter.
No alterations are expected in midfield either with Thomas Partey a certain starter now that he has left his fitness troubles behind. The Ghanaian international should have Granit Xhaka as his partner once again, although Mohamed Elneny could be an option that Arteta could look at to stifle the Tottenham attack.
Moving into the attacking third, on-loan star Martin Odegaard scored his first goal for Arsenal against Olympiacos. Following the game, Arteta was full of praise for the Norwegian, insisting that the team performs better with him, indicating that he could start again on Sunday.
“He helps us to do the processes much better. He helps us as a team because he gives us a lot of continuity on the ball. He’s really intelligent to find the spaces, he attracts a lot of opponents. We ask him to score goals, to arrive in the box,” the Spaniard said.
Bukayo Saka has become an indispensable member of this Arsenal side and should hold onto his place on the right flank against Tottenham. Willian has impressed of late, but could be set to make way for Nicolas Pepe, who has had to bide his time on the bench for the last couple of matches.
Spearheading the attack for Arsenal against Tottenham in the north London derby will be club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Arsenal Predicted XI: Leno; Bellerin, Luiz, Mari, Tierney; Partey, Xhaka; Saka, Odegaard, Pepe; Aubameyang
SMITH ROWE SHOULD SUPPORT THE MIDFIELD AS HIS SINGLE TOUCH KEEP ARSENAL GOING IN ATTACKS