Mikel Arteta has some big calls to make when selecting his Arsenal starting XI for tomorrow’s North London Derby.
After their terrible start to the season, the Gunners are now looking for their third successive league win after securing 1-0 victories over Norwich and Burnley, and Arteta will surely not want to make changes to the winning formula.
That said, the North London Derby is the biggest game on Arsenal’s calendar and Tottenham will prove a far sterner test, despite going into the game on the back of two heavy defeats to fellow London rivals Crystal Palace and Chelsea.
There is speculation that Granit Xhaka could return to the side following the end of his three-match ban and the Swiss midfielder has been passed fit to play alongside fellow injury doubts Thomas Partey, Mohamed Elneny and Kieran Tierney.
In the build-up to the big game, football.london readers have been submitting who they think should be on the pitch to face Spurs.
And the combined results from all the submissions are conclusive: fans want to keep the side unchanged from the win at Burnley.
The three-man midfield is very attack-minded, with Partey the anchor and Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith-Rowe providing the creativity and goal-threat.
Odegaard will be especially up for the game, having scored in the last derby in March, as well getting the winner against Burnley with a sensational free-kick.
And finally, the forward line consists of Nicholas Pepe, captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bukayo Saka.
Saka’s recent performances have earned him admirers from all over, including at Atletico Madrid where manager Diego Simone is reportedly keen to sign the England international for the La Liga champions.
Arsenal fan XI to play Spurs: Ramsdale; Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey, Smith-Rowe, Odegaard; Pepe, Aubameyang, Saka
Credit: Football.London
