Rob Holding Arsenal
Rob Holding - Arsenal

Arsenal consolidated their fourth spot on the Premier League table thanks to their 2-1 win over Leeds United on Sunday and next up, they have to face Tottenham Hotspur in a season-defining match.

The Gunners are four points ahead of their London rivals right now so if they can pick up all three points in midweek they might, once and for all, knock Spurs out of the top-four race. A loss will be detrimental though because then the Lilywhites will come within touching distance.

Arsenal are on a four-game unbeaten streak whereas Tottenham have picked up only two wins out of their previous five outings. The Gunners are obviously the favourites to win on Thursday night but since this is the North London Derby, a clear-cut result is almost impossible to predict.

The problem for Mikel Arteta will be his defence because Arsenal haven’t kept a clean sheet in their last seven matches and with players like Kane and Son on the other side, this unwanted record can very well be extended. If the visitors can just sort out their defence, we think they have what it takes to pick up a win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Arsenal team news vs Tottenham Hotspur:

Thankfully, Mikel Arteta have only a handful of injuries going into the North London Derby and Kieran Tierney is one of them. Up until now, Nuno Tavares was playing at left-back in Tierney’s absence but on Sunday, the manager used Tomiyasu in that role.

Tomiyasu did a pretty good job at left-back and we think the Arsenal boss will go ahead with this same tactic on Thursday night as well. Tavarez has looked really shaky at times so it won’t be a harm to use Tomiyasu on the left-hand side once again.

Ben White has been recovering from a hamstring problem and his manager has hinted that the centre-back should be back to full fitness before derby day.

Arteta said on Sunday: “He’s been starting to do a little bit of work now on the pitch and we want everybody available [for the north London derby] because we know that game is so important.”

Thomas Partey is the only other injury absentee but in his absence, Elneny has done a brilliant job. There are now talks of Arsenal looking to offer him a new contract and the Egyptian will be one of the first names on Mikel Arteta’s team sheet.

Bukayo Saka had a muted outing against Leeds United but we don’t think his manager will dare put him on the bench for the derby.

Emile Smith Rowe, on the other hand, has done well whenever called upon but the Arsenal boss seems to have put his faith on Martinelli to play down the left flank.

Eddie Nketiah is in the form of his life right now as he scored a brace against Leeds United. For a game of this stature, one would think that Arteta will rely on the more experienced Alex Lacazette but the manager is not likely to push the in-form Nketiah to the bench.

Arsenal’s injuries before the derby:

Kieran Tierney – Ruled out with a knee injury.

Thomas Partey – Ruled out with a muscle injury.

Arsenal predicted line up vs Tottenham Hotspur:

Predicted XI(4-2-3-1): Ramsdale; Ben White, Tomiyasu, Gabriel, Cedric; Granit Xhaka, Elneny; Martin Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli; Eddie Nketiah.

Arsenal predicted line up vs Spurs-2022-PL
Arsenal predicted line up vs Spurs-2022-PL

Read: Here’s how Spurs could line up against the Gunners in the North London Derby.