How can the biggest game of the season get any bigger? It shouldn’t be possible, but yesterday’s results did just that. Don’t get me wrong, beating that lot from down the road should always be one of our main priorities. However, this season Arsenal have loftier ambitions and go into today’s game knowing that a win would take them 6 points clear at the top of the table, 7 ahead of Manchester City and 11 ahead of Liverpool. Incentives don’t come much bigger than that.
Areas of encouragement
Prior to the international break, our form was strong, aside from the late equaliser at Sunderland, so if we can carry that on into this game, we’ll have a great chance of taking all three points. We also have some key players returning from injury which should hopefully given everyone a lift and provide much needed depth from the bench for us to change things up if the game doesn’t go our way.
Areas of concern
I don’t buy into the ‘form goes out of the window in a derby’ narrative, as the real top sides should be able to get the job done no matter the circumstances. However, I do think it levels the playing field a little bit as all of the Tottenham players will raise them game for this one and make it a real battle. We need to make sure we win that battle and earn the right to play our football and dominate the game.
What I’d love to see
I’d absolutely love to see our returning players make a difference here, as we’ve been missing some massive players who are sure to have a big impact on our season if we can keep them fit. Particular Viktor Gyokeres, I’d love to see his name in the starting eleven pre-kick off. An early goal would do absolutely wonders for my nerves as well!
What I’d hate to see
We can’t let Tottenham dictate the tempo of the game by slowing things down and flooding the midfield. We need to make sure we get the ball wide and impose our game on them. I’d also hate to see us get draw into silly scuffles that lead to our players receiving cards or giving away cheap free kicks. It’s derby day, I get it, but we need to rise above that and think about the bigger picture and what is on offer today.
Lineup and Team News
With Gabriel stricken down by another injury while play a pointless friendly for Brazil (don’t get me started again!!) the biggest issue we have to sort is who starts at centre back alongside William Saliba. As much as a miss as Gabriel will clearly be, Arsenal are in the best possible position to cover for his absence, with three prime candidates to step into the void. Cristhian Mosquera has slotted into seamlessly into the central of defence in the early parts of this season albeit mainly on the right side of defence. Piero Hincapie was apparently brought in as a left back predominantly but plays centre back for his country and played as part of a back three for Bayer Leverkusen on numerous occasions, so is another strong option. Similarly, Riccardo Calafiori plays centrally for Italy so it would not be a stretch to see him line up alongside Saliba, although given his strong form at left back, moving him could potentially weaken two positions. I know Calafiori is technically a doubt for this game, but from what I’ve read, the signs are that he will be fit to play.
Of the above options, I think Arteta will plump for Mosquera, as although he’s right footed, and Arteta prefers a balance of one of each in the centre of defence, he’s the one with the most experience of playing centrally in a two for Arsenal this season. Also, doesn’t hurt that he’s been fantastic for us this season!
Attention then turns to who is going to return from injury in time for what is probably our biggest game of the season to date. There are a few rumours circulating that Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli are back in training and that Noni Madueke was close to making the squad for the Sunderland game so I’m expecting all three to return to the squad in some capacity. Martin Odegaard is another who is apparently touch and go for this one and I think he might just make it on the bench. Kai Havertz has suffered a setback and Gabriel Jesus has missed nearly a year so this one will come too soon for both strikers.
So who out of the returning players will actually come into the starting lineup? For me, the only one who has been playing regularly this season, and should therefore be more or less match fit, is Viktor Gyokeres. The rest will have to settle for a place on the bench, but I think Gyokeres will lead the line from the start, alongside regular starting wingers Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard. With Martin Odegaard only fit enough for the bench (at best), Eberechi Eze will start against the team he almost joined in the summer in what is sure to be an inter sub-plot of the latest North London derby.
Predicted lineup:
Raya
Timber
Saliba
Mosquera
Calafiori
Zubimendi
Rice
Eze
Saka
Gyokeres
Trossard
Substitutes:
Arrizabalaga
White
Hincapie
Lewis-Skelly
Odegaard
Merino
Nwaneri
Martinelli
Madueke
PREDICTION
I don’t dare think about anything other than an Arsenal win here. It won’t be easy, as derby days rarely are so I’ll got for 2-0 to The Arsenal. COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!!!