Arsenal lineups vs Tottenham as decisions made on Saka and Odegaard | Football | Sport

Mikel Arteta might surprise supporters with his North London Derby team selection. The Arsenal manager will be eager to re-establish his side’s advantage at the top of the Premier League table when he faces Igor Tudor at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Gunners missed the opportunity to widen their lead in the title contest on Wednesday evening, shipping a late equaliser to Wolves at Molineux. Arsenal could have opened up a seven-point gap, but instead handed Manchester City the opportunity to reduce their cushion to just two points.

While Arsenal remain in Pep Guardiola’s sights, they are unable to overtake the Gunners this weekend. Arsenal will back themselves against Spurs, who have endured a calamitous season so far.

Nevertheless, Tudor has won in his opening fixture in each of his previous five appointments, beginning with his second stint at Hajduk Split in February 2020, followed by Verona, Marseille, Lazio and Juventus.

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The Croatian had been unemployed since March 2025 before accepting the interim Tottenham role. With that in mind, we have picked our Arsenal starting elevens.

I despise this fixture… I know I shouldn’t but the anticipation and the potential negative outcomes for me always overshadow the potential satisfaction. There are few things more painful than losing a North London Derby from an Arsenal viewpoint, but if there is one thing, it’s losing the derby whilst simultaneously bidding farewell to your title aspirations, which would almost certainly be the scenario here.

This is why I believe Mikel Arteta needs to select some players who might deliver a bit more than we have witnessed recently. That means Ben White in for a struggling Jurrien Timber.

Whilst I have considered Christian Norgaard for this fixture, I still find it difficult to leave out Martin Zubimendi. I wish I could believe Kai Havertz is ready to return, but I just don’t, whereas I do believe Martin Odegaard might be prepared to feature.

Piero Hincapie is probably the most in-form player at present and so he starts and I am hoping Leandro Trossard is fit to play because Gabriel Martinelli and the Premier League just aren’t clicking.

Arsenal XI vs Spurs: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard.

There’s plenty of significant decisions for Mikel Arteta to consider, particularly if Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz are available for selection. But I don’t see the need to complicate matters and believe Mikel Arteta must select the players who are sharp and ready to perform.

There’s a significant decision to be made at left-back and although Arsenal statistically perform better when Riccardo Calafiori starts in the Premier League, I believe Piero Hincapie could be the right choice for this match due to his prowess in duels.

In the midfield, I’d select Ebere Eze, whose hat-trick in November against Spurs was remarkable, and there’s a feeling he could make more history in this fixture after rejecting a move to Tottenham last summer.

Up front, the proven trio of Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, and Viktor Gyokeres is Arsenal’s strongest on paper. Players like Noni Madueke, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli can all contribute from the bench if required.

Ryan’s starting lineup to face Tottenham: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice, Eze; Saka, Trossard, Gyokeres.

I wouldn’t be shocked if Arteta makes a few adjustments to his starting lineup, beginning with Ben White at right-back. The defender had to be substituted towards the end of the FA Cup tie against Wigan Athletic, but it seemed to be only a minor injury and he was back on the bench for the Wolves game.

Jurrien Timber hasn’t been performing well, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Arteta throws White into the fray to shake things up a bit. As for the midfield, I think Arteta will reintroduce Odegaard, playing him alongside Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi.

Speaking to journalists at the Sobha Realty Training Centre on Friday afternoon, the Spaniard revealed his captain would require a late fitness assessment. Arteta made the same comment regarding Havertz, who, once more, I believe will be afforded at least 60 minutes or thereabouts.

Viktor Gyokeres has genuinely toiled, and Gabriel Jesus has scarcely compelled his manager to face any challenging selections. Out wide, I’d make changes and opt for Saka and Trossard.

Gabriel Martinelli and Noni Madueke would be solid alternatives from the substitutes’ bench, particularly if Arsenal are protecting an advantage.

Jake’s starting lineup to face Tottenham: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Trossard.

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