Martin Keown explains what Arsenal must do to cope with Declan Rice's absence in the north London derby against Tottenham

Martin Keown says Arsenal's players must rise to the occasion in the absence of Declan Rice on Sunday.

The Gunners are heading straight from the international break into one of the biggest games of the season as they take on Tottenham in the north London derby.

Mikel ArtetaThe team will not have Rice, although The English midfielder suspended after his controversial red card against Brighton.

As a result, Keown believes that Arsenal They will have to rely on their reserve players and hope that they can rise to the challenge of such an exciting encounter.

Speaking about White and Jordan, Keown said: “Jorginho He has to get to that position and he has a lot of experience, but he can't just be a player.

“There were many times in the past when we lacked something like Patrick Vieira either Thierry Henryit didn't matter.

“The players arrived… Education came in, or Kanu came in.

“You have to have a squad that is strong enough and that's where the question mark will be with Arsenal because they've let a lot of good young players go and they had to do that to balance the books.

“The question is whether the team is strong enough.”

Unfortunately for Mikel Arteta, Rice is not the only player who will not be in the squad. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

New signing Riccardo Calafiori suffered a strange injury While away with his national team, new signing Mikel Merino faces a lengthy spell out after suffering a shoulder injury.

Takehiro Tomiyasu remains absent in the long term, while there are doubts about Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus's physical condition for the weekend's match.

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Asked how Arsenal should overcome their injury problems, Keown said: “I just look at what happened at the weekend and I think it was an unfair situation for Arsenal, but you put that aside, don't you?

“You use it as oxygen for the game with Spurs and in that game you always enter the cauldron of anticipation with the fans and the start of a new season.

“Spurs have already lost a game against Newcastle, but I like what they are doing. I like the way they play and the unity and togetherness in the stadium, so it is a difficult situation.

“At the moment, I think they will perhaps focus more on themselves: the last time Arsenal went there, they were looking to win a football match to avoid becoming champions.

“Maybe with the new coach, they have their own culture and they have their own trophies that they want to win, it’s been a long time.

“We have to respect Spurs and it's difficult because you want to go there with your best players but they're not there.

“Calafiori is another who has been injured and Merino, the boy who has come in.

“It hasn't been a lucky start for Arsenal, but what they need to do is get into that cauldron and pick up some points.”

Since Spurs moved to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, it is the Whites who have dominated.

Tottenham had won three of their last four games (2-1, 2-0 and 3-0) until Arsenal turned things around in January 2023 with a 2-0 win.

In their most recent clash, the Gunners won 3-2 to keep their faint title hopes alive in a game where Tottenham could have officially deprived them of the crown.

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Asked if a Spurs win would be a surprise, Keown said: “I think it probably would be, but I don't see it happening.

“I think Arsenal are still good enough, when you look at their defensive record and the number of clean sheets in recent times.

“If you look at their away record you start to think they have the pedigree of champions.

“I'm going to Arsenal, but now at Spurs you have to earn everything you get.”

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