Arsenal and Tottenham are both balancing injury-hit squads when they clash for the season’s second north London derby this week.
The goal-shy Gunners host a Spurs side ravaged by defensive injuries in one of the Premier League’s most intriguing encounters.
Mikel Arteta‘s men are hoping to bounce back from their FA Cup exit to keep pace with leaders Liverpool on their return to the Emirates.
Despite their penalty shootout heartache, Arsenal remain the only team with their unbeaten Premier League home record intact.
Tottenham meanwhile will bid to restore their lost bragging rights having fallen to defeat in the reverse derby fixture in September.
Spurs did secure their spot in the FA Cup fourth round but have only taken one point from the last 12 on offer in the Premier League.
Arsenal vs Tottenham: Team news and predicted line-ups
Arsenal
The hosts are continuing to miss talisman Bukayo Saka in attack, with Gabriel Jesus now facing the prospect of a lengthy lay-off as well.
The latter’s former Manchester City teammate Raheem Sterling had arguably his brightest showing in their FA Cup defeat on Sunday.
The Chelsea loanee has also just come back from injury himself but has been waiting for an opportunity to earn a run in the team.
Sterling has started just two Premier League games since his summer loan from Stamford Bridge.
One of those starts ended after just 37 minutes following William Saliba‘s red card in the 2-0 loss against Bournemouth in October.
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Alternatively, Gabriel Martinelli could present an option on the right, with Arteta recently talking up his capability to deputise for Saka.
The Brazilian’s pace in behind will be a vital asset against Tottenham’s defensive high-line on either flank.
Should Martinelli be given the nod over Sterling on the right then Leandro Trossard is the other option to feature from the left.
Kai Havertz endured a nightmare against Manchester United, missing a plethora of chances before his penalty was saved in the shootout.
His form has led to increased calls for Arsenal to sign a new striker, but in their current state, the German will continue to lead the line.
Arteta has a more straightforward selection pick in midfield, with Thomas Partey and Declan Rice replacing Jorginho and Mikel Merino.
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- Tottenham have conceded at least once in each of their last 25 Premier League away games against Arsenal, since a 0-0 draw in 1998-99. In their league history, only at Bolton have they had a longer run without an away clean sheet (35 between 1923 and 2012).
- Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 12 Premier League home games (W9 D3), and are the only side without a home loss so far this season (W6 D3). They’ve kept a clean sheet in each of their last four home league games, last recording five consecutive shutouts at the Emirates between December 2013 and February 2014.
- Tottenham have won just one of their last eight Premier League matches (D2 L5), with that victory coming at bottom side Southampton. Indeed, since the start of this run only Leicester (4) and Southampton (1) have earned fewer points in the Premier League than Spurs (5).
Captain Martin Odegaard, goalkeeper David Raya, and the back four are all expected to retain their spots from the FA Cup defeat.
In addition to Saka and Jesus, Ethan Nwaneri, Ben White, and Takehiro Tomiyasu are all confirmed absentees.
Riccardo Calafiori will hope to be back involved, but Kieran Tierney has a bigger case to challenge Myles Lewis-Skelly‘s place at left-back.
The Scot was notably the defender called upon from the bench by Arteta over Oleksandr Zinchenko against Man United.
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Tottenham
The visitors are again without the majority of their first-choice backline, with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario still sidelined.
January signing Antonin Kinsky has impressed with successive clean sheets in his first two outings and will be between the sticks.
Destiny Udogie, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Ben Davies are all in the treatment room – leaving Radu Dragusin as the only fit senior centre-back.
The Romanian will be partnered by orthodox defensive midfielder Archie Gray, with Djed Spence returning on the left.
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Pedro Porro is an ever-present option at right-back, while Yves Bissouma and Pape Sarr are likely to start in midfield alongside Dejan Kulusevski.
Rodrigo Bentancur will miss out due to concussion protocols, with highly-rated youngster Lucas Bergvall also pushing to be involved.
Ange Postecoglou’s favoured front three looks poised to include Heung-min Son and Dominic Solanke, while Brennan Johnson will hope to start over James Maddison after scoring against Tamworth.
Brazilian forward Richarlison has been out with a hamstring injury since November, while summer signing Wilson Odobert is also sidelined.
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- As a team, Tottenham have applied more pressures in the final third than any other side in the Premier League this season (1,321). Striker Dominic Solanke leads the way for this among players, with his 386 over 100 more than the next highest (Erling Haaland, 275).
- Arsenal have conceded a league-high 28% of their Premier League goals in the opening 15 minutes of games this season (5/18). Meanwhile, Tottenham have scored more goals in this time period than any other side (11).
- Each of Kai Havertz’s last 11 Premier League goals have been scored in London. The last Arsenal player to have a longer such run was Lukas Podolski (12 between December 2012 and April 2014).
Arsenal vs Tottenham: What has been said?
“Today we will take it again and we’ll go to Wednesday,” Arteta said following his team’s FA Cup exit on Sunday.
“Another opportunity for us, probably at the right time as well to get what we deserve, perform again and give our supporters what they deserve as well.”
“Incredible how we didn’t win the game,” added Arteta. “That’s basically to sum up the dominance, the superiority in relation to opposition and everything that we did to try to win the game.
“And that’s it. We didn’t get what we deserved, clearly, but there is an element that is about putting the ball in the back of the net.”
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- Arsenal have won six of their last eight Premier League games against Spurs (D1 L1) and are looking to win three consecutive league games against them for the first time since January 1989 (a run of five).
- Tottenham have won just one of their last 31 Premier League away games against Arsenal (D12 L18) and are winless in 13 since a 3-2 victory in November 2010.
- Following their 1-0 win in September, Arsenal are looking to complete the Premier League double over Tottenham for the fifth time. Only in 2013-14 have they done so without conceding in the competition.
Arsenal vs Tottenham: How to follow
This Premier League clash is set to take place on Wednesday, January 15.
Kick-off at the Emirates is scheduled for 8pm.
The match will be shown on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate. Coverage begins at 6:30pm.
You can subscribe to TNT Sports through discovery+, BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.
talkSPORT will also have updates from north London, with Adrian Durham, Deeney and Scott Minto taking you around the grounds.
talkSPORT.com will also have the action in our dedicated live Premier League blog.
To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
