By Betsefy
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is working around an absentee crisis ahead of Sunday’s North London derby with Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
Nicolas Pepe, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mohamed Elneny and Thomas Partey remain away on Africa Cup of Nations duty, while Granit Xhaka is suspended following his red card in the EFL Cup against Liverpool.
Martin Odegaard is also unavailable due to COVID-19, and the Gunners’ infirmary currently includes Emile Smith Rowe, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Sead Kolasinac, Cedric Soares, Bukayo Saka and Calum Chambers.
The latter two will hope to shake off knocks in time to feature, though, with Chambers seemingly set to start at right-back as Rob Holding returns to the backline alongside Gabriel Magalhaes.
Saka will occupy his usual spot on the right if he is able to as well, and Arteta’s midfield crisis could force the Arsenal boss to push Ben White further forward alongside Albert Sambi Lokonga.
Gabriel Martinelli also looked jaded following the 0-0 draw with Liverpool in midweek, but there is nothing to suggest that the Brazilian starlet will not be fit to occupy the left flank.
Eddie Nketiah was the unfortunate one to be sacrificed in the first half after Xhaka’s early sending off at Anfield, but the 22-year-old should be handed another chance alongside Alexandre Lacazette in the derby.
Arsenal possible starting lineup: Ramsdale; Chambers, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Saka, White, Lokonga, Martinelli; Lacazette, Nketiah
> Click here to see how Tottenham could line up for the derby
