Arsenal welcome north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur to Emirates Stadium and will hope to extend their home dominance over their local rivals. Spurs have won just twice at Arsenal in the league in almost 30 years and head into the game trailing Arsene Wenger’s side by two points and five places in the early table. Arsenal have won the last four at home against Spurs in all competitions and two of those victories have been 5-2 scorelines.
Arsenal expect to have midfielder Mathieu Flamini back from a dead leg for the derby against Tottenham. Defenders Kieran Gibbs and Per Mertesacker should also be available after being kept on the bench for what was a much-changed squad in the midweek Capital One Cup defeat to Southampton. Nacho Monreal (back) remains out, as is striker Yaya Sanogo (hamstring). Winger Theo Walcott (knee) continues his recovery along with midfielder Serge Gnabry (knee), but full-back Mathieu Debuchy (ankle) and France forward Olivier Giroud (fractured foot) are long-term absentees.
Arsenal went back to the 4-2-3-1 formational and having Ozil in the middle against Aston Villa. It paid off with Ozil getting a goal and a assist as well as the man of the match award. I expect Arsenal to keep this formation as it adds more balance and it seems that the players seem comfortable with it.
Arsenal probable starting lineup Szczesny, Gibbs, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Chambers, Arteta, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sanchez, Ozil, Welbeck.
I don’t see anything but an easy Arsenal win. I just don’t think Tottenham are very good. Seriously, they got beaten at home by West Brom last week and the best Spurs chance was a pass going through and Emmanuel Adebayor getting tackled. I really think this will be an easy win for Arsenal. Spurs look very soft and haven’t got anyone who will go there and kick Arsenal off the park. If the game is “you-pass-we-pass” I don’t see how they can stay with Arsenal. Playing Mesut Ozil behind Danny Welbeck worked a treat at Villa and I expect more of the same. I’ll say 3-0 to Arsenal.
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