With the chance to overtake their North London rivals with a two-goal win, let’s take a look at our Arsenal predicted lineup to face Spurs.

Arsenal v Norwich City Premier League Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta gives instructions to Nicolas Pepe of Arsenal during the Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium, London Copyright: Paul Chesterton
Arsenal v Norwich City Premier League Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta gives instructions to Nicolas Pepe of Arsenal during the Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium, London Copyright: Paul Chesterton

Three games into the season, Arsenal were rock bottom of the Premier League table and Spurs were top.

But after consecutive wins and defeats respectively, there’s now just a three-point gap between the two sides.

A two-goal win would see Arsenal overtake their local rivals, but any win would be vital to gain some momentum after a terrible start.

With no midweek game following Sunday’s match, there’s no reason for Mikel Arteta to hold back with his selection.

Here’s our predicted Arsenal lineup to face Spurs.

Goalkeeper

Arsenal v Norwich City Premier League Aaron Ramsdale of Arsenal during the Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium, London Copyright: Paul Chesterton
Arsenal v Norwich City, Premier League – Aaron Ramsdale of Arsenal during the Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium, London. Copyright: Paul Chesterton

Aaron Ramsdale seems likely to keep his place, after three clean sheets in his first three Arsenal appearances.

This would be his first real test as a shot-stopper, given the chance he’s faced so far, but he’s already shown good qualities in the air and with the ball.

There were some rumours from Germany that Bernd Leno was going to get his spot back for this game, so that’s worth mentioning.

But Arteta claimed he hadn’t made the decision at that stage.

Defence

Gabriel of Arsenal celebrates his team's win after the final whistle after the game, at Turf Moor. COLORSPORT / ALAN MARTIN
Gabriel of Arsenal celebrates his team’s win after the final whistle after the game, at Turf Moor. COLORSPORT / ALAN MARTIN

This one seems like an easy decision.

Kieran Tierney should start at left-back, Gabriel Magalhaes and Ben White at centre-back, with Takehiro Tomiyasu at right-back.

There’s no-one even particularly close to showing strong enough form to displace one of those four right now.

Nuno Tavares has looked lively in his cameos, but Tierney is still a nailed-on starter at the moment.

Of course, we won’t see this back four all season, not with the recent injury records Tierney, Gabriel, and Tomiyasu have.

Fortunately, they all seem to be fit for the derby.

Midfield

Manchester City v Arsenal - Premier League - Etihad Stadium Arsenals Granit Xhaka walks past manager Mikel Arteta after being sent off during the Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester. Picture date: Saturday August 28, 2021. Copyright: Nick Potts
Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka walks past manager Mikel Arteta after being sent off during the Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester. Picture date: Saturday, August 28, 2021. Copyright: Nick Potts

This is the area of the pitch where there’s the biggest question mark around Arteta’s selection.

He could stick with the same trio that started against Burnley, with Thomas Partey behind Emile Smith Rowe and Martin Odegaard.

But this is a very different game to the Burnley fixture. Plus, Granit Xhaka is available.

Like it or not, he probably has a good chance of coming back into the side, particularly given his experience in this fixture.

I just have a sneaking suspicion Xhaka will return next to Partey, with only one of Odegaard and Smith Rowe slotting in ahead of them.

My bet is on Odegaard.

Forwards

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang during the Mind Series match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London. Copyright: Mark Pain
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang during the Mind Series match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London. Copyright: Mark Pain

Nicolas Pepe, Bukayo Saka, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will probably all reprise their roles from last weekend, though Alexandre Lacazette might be pushing for a start given his record against Spurs.

Lacazette has four goals and two assists in eight Premier League North London derbies, including three goals in the last three home games.

It’s not implausible that he gets a place in the team on that basis.

Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs Spurs

Arsenal predicted lineup vs Spurs created using Chosen11.com
Arsenal predicted lineup vs Spurs created using Chosen11.com