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Arsenal Lineup Prediction vs Tottenham Hotspur as Fiery North London Derby Awaits

In a build-up featuring injuries to key players, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are preparing to trade blows with Antonio Conte’s side. Find out who Last Word on Football think will line up for the Gunners in Saturday’s big derby.

How Arsenal Have Lined-up Recently

Arsenal have recently been lining up in a consistent 4-2-3-1 shape. Aaron Ramsdale tends to start in goal, with two centre-backs in front of him. The wing-back roles have seen Oleksandr Zinchenko and Kieran Tierney playing on the left, with Benjamin White offering more defensive solidity on the left. The back-line has protection from a bank of two defensive midfielders ahead of them.

Ahead of the midfield pairing is a line of three, typically seeing Gabriel Martinelli on the left and Bukayo Saka on the right of the Arsenal lineup. Martin Odegaard plays through the middle, supporting centre-forward Gabriel Jesus.

Arsenal Recent Form and Tactics

Arsenal’s form so far has been impeccable. Arteta’s side have only lost one match all season to Manchester United, and even then they played well and held Erik ten Hag’s side back for most of the match. Part of this run is through the flexibility that Gabriel Jesus offers his team.

The Brazilian is not only playing as a striker but floating across the back line. His experience as a winger means that he knows the spaces to look for out wide, creating overloads and exploiting opposition defences. When working in tandem with Saka and Martinelli, the Gunners are only ever a Martin Odegaard pass away from scoring.

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Arsenal Injuries to Consider

In spite of the long break in the season, the Emirates still has a raft of injuries. Mohamed Elneny is potentially out for months, Reiss Nelson is still suffering from a muscular injury and Emile Smith Rowe isn’t looking like to return until after the World Cup.

However, Mikel Arteta does have some players potentially returning to the fold. Kieran Tierney could be fit following a head injury, with Thomas Partey likely returning from a knee injury that kept him out of a match against Brazil. The international break has also done Zinchenko wonders as he is likely to be in contention for the match, with Cedric Soares suffering from just a minor knock. Martin Odegaard also returns from some time out.