Tottenham Hotspur return to Premier League action at Saturday lunchtime, when they travel to the Emirates Stadium to face fierce rivals Arsenal.
Spurs have started the new season strongly and lie only one point behind table-toppers Arsenal in third place, so a win against their arch-rivals will see them overtake Mikel Arteta’s men at the summit of the Premier League.
Antonio Conte went into the mid-September hiatus with a 6-2 win over Leicester City, thus, giving them the confidence they need ahead of the North London derby.
Tottenham Team News
Tottenham have been dealt with a big blow ahead of the derby, as Hugo Lloris sustained a thigh injury while on international duty with France and since left the camp early. Lloris remains a doubt along with Ben Davies, who was also forced to withdraw from the Wales squad following a knee injury he sustained in Spurs’ Champions League tie against Sporting CP in Portugal.
Meanwhile, Lucas Moura is expected to recover from a calf problem after the international break but the game against Arsenal could come too soon for him.
Dejan Kulusevski is also likely to miss out with a hamstring complaint.
Predicted Tottenham Lineup vs Arsenal (3-4-2-1)
Goalkeeper
Tottenham could be without their key man in goal after Hugo Lloris suffered a thigh injury during the international break. If he misses out, Fraser Forster will be called in to deputise for the Frenchman.
Signed on a free transfer from Southampton earlier in the summer, Forster could be put under enormous pressure by the Arsenal forwards inside a hostile Emirates Stadium atmosphere.
Defence
Eric Dier has become the leader of the pack in defence, so he is a certainty to keep his place in the Tottenham lineup. If Ben Davies is deemed unfit, Clement Lenglet could slot in on the left of a back three.
Cristian Romero, who played 90 minutes in Argentina’s 3-0 friendly win over Jamaica on Tuesday, is expected to replace the error-strewn Davinson Sanchez.
Midfield
Up ahead in midfield, the partnership of Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur is showing signs of blossoming again. Thus, Conte is unlikely to tinker with his central midfield pairing for Saturday’s North London derby.
With three assists in seven games, Ivan Perisic has hit the ground running in a Tottenham shirt. The experienced Croat should retain his place at right wing-back in the Tottenham lineup. Ryan Sessegnon is expected to start on the opposite flank.
There is also a possibility of a well rested Emerson Royal starting on the right which will see Sessegnon and Perisic fight for a place on the left.
Attack
Son Heung-min was dropped to the bench against Leicester City, before coming on and scoring a fantastic hat-trick to stake a claim for a starting role in the North London derby. And considering his record against Arsenal—eight goal contributions in the last six games—the South Korean is likely to be recalled into the Tottenham lineup.
Richarlison scored three goals in Brazil’s recent friendly wins over Ghana and Tunisia respectively and will look to continue his impressive form. Arsenal’s old nemesis, Harry Kane is guaranteed to lead the Tottenham lineup at the weekend.
