[Teams] Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal: Confirmed line-ups for the North London Derby

Arsenal can restore their five-point lead at the top of the Premier League with a win over Tottenham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this afternoon.

The Gunners have seen their title challenge falter in recent weeks, coming into the match on the back of a hugely disappointing 2-2 draw against Wolves. That result put them five points ahead of Man City, who had played a game more, but the Cityzens reduced that lead to just two points with a win over Newcastle United on Saturday evening.

Mikel Arteta is now under pressure to get Arsenal back on track with a win today, but that won’t be easy against their north London rivals – who are expected to be buoyed by the arrival of Igor Tudor as Thomas Frank’s replacement.

Tudor has chosen Guglielmo Vicario between the sticks for Spurs, while Micky van de Ven, Radu Dragusin, Archie Gray and Djed Spence also start.

Palhinha will get a start in midfield alongside Pape Matar Sarr and Yves Bissouma while Conor Gallagher also retains his place in the middle of the park for Tottenham.

Xaxi Simons will support Kolo Muani in attack, while Dominic Solanke will have to make do with a place on the bench.

For Arsenal, David Raya starts between the sticks again, while Jurrien Timber retains his place at right back, while Ben White is missing from the matchday squad.

Piero Hincapie gets the nod at left back, ahead of Riccardo Calafiori and Myles Lewis-Skelly, while Gabriel Magalhaes once again provides Arsenal’s defense alongside William Saliba.

Martin Zubimendi anchors the midfield together with Declan Rice. Eberechi Eze has been recalled to start in the attacking midfielder role, while Martin Odegaard has been named on the bench after missing the game against Wolves with a knock.

Bukayo Saka moves to the right wing, which means Noni Madueke is on the bench today. A change takes place on the other flank, with Leandro Trossard taking the place of Gabriel Martinelli.

Viktor Gyokeres leads the line for Arsenal this afternoon, so Gabriel Jesus will have to make do with a place among the substitutes.

Here are the confirmed lineups for the game:

Tottenham

deputy; Van De Ven, Dragusin, Gray, Spence; Xavi, Bissouma, Palhinha, Gallagher, Sarr; Kolo Muani.

Subs: Austin, Rowswell, Souza, Olusesi, Williams-Barnett, Tel, Richarlison, Solanke, Wilson.

Arsenal

Raya; Wood, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi; Rice, Eze; Saka, Gyokeres, Saka.

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, Odegaard, Jesus, Martinell, Norgaard, Madueke, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly.