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Arsenal team news: Predicted 4-2-3-1 line up vs Tottenham – Ozil latest, four injured
Arsenal manager Unai Emery could be without a number of key players for the north London derby against Tottenham at the Emirates on Sunday (4.30pm).
Arsenal: Emery says he's open to starting new front three
Mesut Ozil is in contention to feature for Arsenal in their clash with Tottenham this weekend as the German closes in on a return from illness.
Ozil has not played for the Gunners so far this season, initially because he and team-mate Sead Kolasinac were the victims of an attempted car-jacking during pre-season.
The midfielder then suffered with sickness that kept him out of the 3-1 defeat to Liverpool last weekend while speculation surrounding his future has also fuelled rumours about his absence.
However, Emery is convinced Ozil will be an Arsenal player after the European transfer window closes, saying: “We are not speaking about the possibility for Mesut to leave.
“We finished here our transfer window and in Europe it is going to finish on Monday.
“We cannot sign another player but we have some players who have a possibility to leave in the four days before the transfer window closes.
“The club is working, some players know the situation and my focus and the team’s focus is to prepare for the match on Sunday and exclusively on Sunday.”
Emery went on to reveal Ozil could also be involved against Tottenham on Sunday afternoon.
“This week he is training well, he is progressing physically and he is training and doing normal work with us,” the Spaniard said.
“He is going to be closer to us and he will be available on Sunday. It is good news.”
However, it remains to be seen if Emery will trust Ozil in such a high-intensity game – having preferred to pack his midfield in similar clashes last season.
Granit Xhaka and Matteo Guendouzi look certain to start against Spurs, while Dani Ceballos is expected to continue after an impressive start to his Gunners career.
The Spanish playmaker could operate in the No 10 role again, meaning he is in direct competition with Ozil for a starting spot.
Meanwhile, Alexandre Lacazette could be recalled in attack if Emery opts for the Frenchman alongside both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nicolas Pepe in attack.
This change of formation would see Joe Willock drop to the bench while Nacho Monreal could be replaced by Kolasinac at left-back.
David Luiz is expected to continue alongside Sokratis Papastathopoulos in central defence while Hector Bellerin, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Kieran Tierney and Rob Holding are all unavailable due to injury.
Arsenal predicted line-up vs Tottenham Hotspur – Premier League
(4-2-3-1): Leno; Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Luiz, Kolasinac; Guendouzi, Xhaka; Pepe, Ceballos, Aubameyang; Lacazette