The Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard news means Arsenal will be experimenting with the lineup while Tottenham have two key men back for the derby

Mikel Arteta has no choice but to be bold with his team selection when a depleted Arsenal side take on Tottenham in the north London derby.

The gunners Enter the first derby of the season this weekend In better shape, but it is Spurs who come to the clash in better spirits.

The Lilywhites are set to welcome back some key players as they look to overtake their biggest rivals after a slow start to the season.

Meanwhile, The gunners They will be without two of their stars and it is an absence that will force Arteta to experiment with your side.

There is likely to be a debut for a Deadline Day signing, with several other players deployed out of position to fill the gap in midfield.

Here, talkSPORT.com looks at the latest injuries and predicts how both teams could line up this weekend…

Tottenham

Spurs come into this big derby after their first defeat against the new… Premier League campaign against Newcastle.

Angel Postecoglou's team has won, drawn and lost so far this season, with performances that have yet to reach the level needed to compete at the top.

However, Tottenham will be strengthened by the return of two players who missed the last game.

The first of those players is Micky van de Venwho was left out of the trip to Newcastle after apparently suffering a knock against Everton.

Postecoglou confirmed he was “not 100 per cent” and that due to a busy schedule after the international break he had been rested, missing the Netherlands' Nations League games as a result.

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Therefore, Van de Ven is likely to be fit to play alongside Christian Romero In the center of the defense, with Pedro Porro and Destination Udogie on each side.

Behind them, of course, will be Guglielmo Vicario.

In midfield, Yves Bissouma will sit deeper than Pape Matar Sarr and James Maddisonwith the latter looking to create a very dangerous three-man front.

And in that trio should be the second returnee in Dominic Solankewho, after missing two consecutive games, has been rested during the break and is likely to feature against Arsenal.

He will be flanked by the captain. Heung-min's son and potentially Dejan Kulusevskywhich seems to be preferred to Brennan Johnson.

Summer signing Wilson Odobert may not be ready to play in such an important game yet.

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Arsenal

The visitors are yet to lose this season, but they now have to deal with some problems.

Before the international break, Declan Rice was Controversially sent off against Brighton and that meant he was suspended for this game.

Jurrien Timber also appeared to suffer a knock during the draw with the Seagulls, limping off the Emirates pitch when he was substituted.

However, during the break, Timber has played with Holland and seems fit to play alongside Guillermo Saliba and Gabriel on defense this weekend.

That's fortunate for the Gunners, considering their other preferred option at left-back, Ricardo Calafiori He was sent home early by Italy after suffering an injury.

There is no doubt that Ben White He will retain his place at right-back after enjoying a break due to his ongoing exile in England.

That is the only ray of good fortune Arsenal have enjoyed during international matches, with Martin Odegaard will miss the title match.

The club captain left Norway's 2-1 win over Austria with a sore ankle that his coach Ola Solbakken admitted looked serious.

The 25-year-old is a permanent starter on the right side of Arteta's midfield three in his favoured 4-3-3 formation when fit.

Arsenal have yet to officially confirm Odegaard's absence, but the initial prediction is that he will miss around three weeks and leave his manager with a problem. choice of whether to glue or twist now that the backbone of his team has been decimated.

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Kai Havertz Could return to number 8 Young Ethan Nwaneri where he began his career with the Gunners and not as a striker.

That would allow Arteta to maintain his 4-3-3 formation by pushing Thomas Partey into a more advanced area, with Jorginho like No.6.

Havertz's absence in attack means Arsenal would be sweating for the return of Gabriel Jesuswith Leandro Trossard He also offers an option as a false nine following his absence from the Belgium national team.

With so many players out of form or adapting to new positions, Arteta can draw on the experience of Raheem Sterling about the fight Gabriel Martinelli in such an important game.

Arsenal's new No.30 last played a competitive game in May, having missed out on Euro 2024 earlier. being exiled by Chelsea.

But having He joined the Gunners on a season-long loan deal. Sterling has been hard at work at London Colney on the final day of the deadline.

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The winger is already familiar with Arteta's methods after working together at Manchester City and would not mind making his debut in such a big game.

If Sterling is not fit enough to start, Jesus could be the one chosen to make a dramatic switch to a bold 4-2-4 formation.

Bukayo Saka He is the undisputed option on the right wing in both lineups, but Havertz's recent form may mean he is too valuable in attack.

Jorginho and Partey would become a double-pivot midfield to protect the defence, with Trossard playing in a more familiar role on the left.

Havertz would then be tasked with playing in the two-striker formation he uses for Germany alongside the returning Jesus.

This would simultaneously ease the pressure on Sterling to come in from the start and instead be an impact option off the bench.

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