Arsenal can close the gap at the top of the first division just four points away with a win over their archrivals Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium tonight.
Mikel Arteta has to deal with some injury problems as the Gunners boss is missing several players for tonight's game. Gabriel Jesus He has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury. manchester united last weekend while Bukayo Saka He is still weeks away from returning after hamstring surgery.
Ethan Nwaneri is also on the sidelines, so Raheem Sterling comes in to start on the right wing for Arsenal tonight. Leandro Trossard gets the nod ahead of Gabriel Martinelli to start on the left flank, while Kai Havertz leads the line at the front. The German will look to rediscover his form in front of goal after poor finishing of late.
Riccardo Calafiori remains on the sidelines with a muscle strain, so Myles Lewis-Skelly retains his place at left back. There is some positive news for Arsenal as Jurrien Timber is fit to start at right back despite picking up a knock at the weekend. William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes continue their partnership in defense.
Declan Rice and Thomas Partey start in the Gunners midfield, while Martin Odegaard is the team captain. Mikel Merino, Jorginho and Gabriel Martinelli are options from the bench.
As for Tottenham, Ange Postecoglou also has some injuries to worry about. Recent signing Antonin Kinsky retains his place in goal, while Pedro Porro, Radu Dragusin, Archie Gray and Djed Spence form the backline in the absence of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven.
Yves Bissouma starts in midfield alongside youngster Lucas Bergvall. Dejan Kulusevski, Dominic Solanke and Hueng-min Son lead Tottenham's attack, meaning Brennan Johnson and Richarlison are on the bench.
Here are the confirmed lineups:
Arsenal
stripe; Wood, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Sterling, Havertz, Trossard.
Substitutes: Neto, Tierney, Zinchenko, Kiwior, Jorginho, Merino, Butler-Oyedeji, Kabia, Martinelli.
Tottenham
Kinsky; Porro, Dragusin, Gray, Spence; Bissouma, Sarr, Bissouma, Bergvall; Kulusevski, Solanke, Jr.
Substitutes: Austin, Reguilón, Hardy, Maddison, Olusesi, Richarlison, Johnson, Lankshear, Moore
