football.london takes a look at the changes Arsenal can make against Tottenham as they cope with Declan Rice’s suspension
Solving an Arsenal problem like the North London Derby without Declan Rice. When you consider that last season’s victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was the first time since 1988 that the Gunners had won back-to-back away clashes at their bitter rivals and Rice was a key figure of course in helping that happen.
Yet the England international was yet to arrive at Arsenal when Mikel Arteta’s side ended a near-nine-year wait for a win on Tottenham soil. An own goal from Hugo Lloris and a brilliant strike from Martin Odegaard were the difference in January of 2023 to set up a big end to the season in a surprise title race that the Gunners have since established themselves in.
The midfield that day was made of the aforementioned Odegaard along with Thomas Partey and the now departed Granit Xhaka. It is this third midfield slot that Arteta needs to find the right part to fill in the absence of Rice.
Some might argue the most seamless insertion would be to bring in Jorginho who has been an unused substitute in the first three games. However, having played so little, throwing the Italian in now might not be the smartest move and therefore it makes sense perhaps to use someone already in good form.
Yet other options mean some shuffling with Kai Havertz returning to the middle third. Before alarm bells begin to ring in those not a fan, of which personally I too have reservations, it is worth remembering his games in pre-season against Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen.
Hope will be that Gabriel Jesus will have recovered from his injury which has seen him missing since the away trip to Aston Villa. Jesus, Havertz and Leandro Trossard ripped apart Xabi Alonso’s side at the Emirates Stadium last month and the hope will be they can repeat this against a Spurs side who are coming off the back of another match of dropped points at Newcastle.
Trossard therefore would start the game to rekindle the Leverkusen-beating connection. Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Martinelli are suddenly a threatening duo for the club to bring off the bench for the first time in quite a long period for the Gunners.
Jurrien Timber came off toward the end of the game against Brighton but was still called up by the Netherlands and is expected to be part of the squad. However, Riccardo Calafiori came on in the game and impressed on the left-hand side and perhaps offered Arteta another choice for the derby too.
A win here sets up the perfect preparation to travel to Manchester City the following weekend. Although managing minutes with a trip to Italy to face Atalanta in midweek will be high on the manager’s priorities.