Arsenal will look to keep alive their chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League when they face arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur in one of the most important north London derbies in years at White Hart Lane on Sunday.
Following a disappointing run of results in 2017, the Gunners find themselves in sixth position and in danger of missing out on a top four finish which would mean they would be absent from Europe’s elite competition.
Arsene Wenger’s side have recovered well from the disappointing 3-0 defeat against Crystal Palace last month by winning their following two Premier League clashes and reaching the FA Cup final for the third time in four seasons after beating Manchester City at Wembley last weekend.
Their latest league success came on Wednesday night as they beat Leicester City 1-0 at the Emirates thanks to Robert Huth’s late own goal, but they face a tough task to take all three points against their neighbours.
Spurs still harbour hopes of winning the Premier League title after maintaining the four-point gap to leaders Chelsea with a 1-0 win of their own against Palace during the week, and they know that they will finish above the Gunners for the first time since 1995 if they win on Sunday.
Here is the predicted Arsenal XI that will line up against Tottenham…
Petr Cech
It’s fair to say that is hasn’t been Cech’s best Premier League season with Arsenal struggling down in sixth position, but the 34-year-old is still considered as Arsene Wenger’s first-choice stopper as has been shown in the league and the FA Cup in more recent times.
The keeper will have been pleased to concede just once in his last three matches and he will know that he needs to put in a strong performance to keep Tottenham at bay on Sunday.
Gabriel
While he may still give some Arsenal supporters jitters with some of his decision-making on the field, the Brazilian already looks more comfortable in the new 3-4-3 formation that Arsene Wenger has deployed in recent weeks than perhaps he did in the four.
Gabriel will continue to learn alongside Laurent Koscielny and he will know that he needs to be at his best to stop the prolific Spurs front three of Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen on Sunday.
Laurent Koscielny
If they are without the Frenchman for whatever reason, there is no doubt that the Arsenal backline is weaker.
Wenger will know that the France international needs to lead and be at his best to help the likes of Gabriel and Rob Holding against Tottenham in what is a huge clash for the club.
The 31-year-old will particularly be looking forward to his battle with Spurs striker Harry Kane – who has scored 20 Premier League goals this season – and he will know that he must stop him if the Gunners are to get a positive result.
Rob Holding
He may be just 21 years of age, but the centre-back already looks to be at home in the back three that Wenger has deployed in recent weeks.
The former Bolton Wanderers defender was particularly impressive in the FA Cup semi-final win against Manchester City last weekend and even though he was absent from the squad against Leicester on Wednesday, he should take his place in the team once again at White Hart Lane if he is fit.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
It is perhaps a little worrying that Arsene Wenger has still failed to find Oxlade-Chamberlain’s best position in the Arsenal side but maybe he finally has on the right side of the 3-4-3 formation.
The England international was excellent there in the wins against Middlesbrough and Manchester City and he may have finally found the spot where he can be most effective for the Gunners.
With Danny Rose unlikely to be risked by Spurs despite returning to training following injury, Chamberlain will want to try and give Ben Davies a hard time on Sunday.
Aaron Ramsey
Despite featuring in the middle of the park against both Middlesbrough and Manchester City in the 3-4-3 formation, Ramsey found himself on the bench against Leicester City on Wednesday night with Francis Coquelin preferred.
However, with Wenger confirming that he made changes in order to have some fresh legs in his side, the Welshman is likely to be reinstated to the starting line-up at White Hart Lane, and he faces a tough battle against Mousa Dembele and Victor Wanyama.
Granit Xhaka
While the jury still seems to be out on the Switzerland international from some Arsenal supporters, others will know that he has been a more impressive performer than Francis Coquelin in the middle of the park for Arsenal this season despite his questionable temperament.
That side of his game will once again be put to the test in what is sure to be a feisty north London derby and – like midfield partner Ramsey – he will need to be at his best against Dembele and Wanyama in the middle of the park.
Nacho Monreal
While he may not be the most fashionable player, there is no doubt that Monreal continues to show that he is a key part of this Arsenal side – no more so than in the last week.
The Spaniard started on the left side of the four in midfield against Manchester City last weekend – scoring his side’s equalising goal – before he slotted in at centre-back against Leicester on Wednesday night.
It was his shot that took a heavy deflection off of Robert Huth to give the Gunners all three points after he moved to the left side again, and it is the position he is likely to find himself in again on Sunday.
Mesut Ozil
Even though he comes under increased scrutiny when Arsenal aren’t playing well, there is no doubt that the Germany international is perhaps the most influential player in the team.
With seven goals and seven assists in 27 Premier League appearances this season he is still having a big impact on the side, and the Gunners will need their playmaker to be at his creative best if they are to pick up a positive result at White Hart Lane.
Alexis Sanchez
Even though his future remains in doubt with no new contract signed even though his current deal is due to run out next summer, Sanchez continues to be one of the most consistent performers in this Arsenal side.
With 19 goals and 10 assists in 32 Premier League appearances this season, he has shown that he has the ability to score a number of different types of goals and should he recover from a split lip, his team will need him to show that quality against Tottenham if they are to keep their top four hopes alive.
Olivier Giroud
The Frenchman has always seemed to score goals when he is given a consistent run in the Arsenal side, and perhaps the new 3-4-3 formation may just suit him more than the previous systems Arsene Wenger has deployed.
The 30-year-old started as the centre-forward in the FA Cup semi-final win against Manchester City last weekend before finding himself on the bench against Leicester, but perhaps he was just being rested for Sunday in order to cause Spurs stars Eric Dier, Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen as many problems as he can.
Do you agree, Gunners fans? Let us know below.