Tottenham: Mourinho previews North London derby with Arsenal
Arsenal are in need of an injection of positivity heading into Sunday's match against north London rivals Tottenham - and Thomas Partey could provide them that. Partey is set to return to training today [Friday] following almost a month out with a thigh injury. Mikel Arteta says the Ghana international is almost too desperate to play but hopes to have him available from the start of this weekend's derby.
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Hector Bellerin and Bukayo Saka are likely to be the wing-backs if Arteta does indeed play this formation.
Bellerin in particular may have to restrict how much he goes forward to attempt to thwart the likes of Heung-min Son, who will drift in off the left when Harry Kane drops deep.
In attack, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could be set for a return back to the left-hand side after two disappointing games centrally.
That could give a chance to Alexandre Lacazette, who impressed in the 4-1 Europa League win over Rapid Vienna on Thursday.
Arsenal news: Mikel Arteta's side are struggling to build on last season's FA Cup success (Image: EXPRESS)
Lacazette dropped deep, similar to how Kane does for Spurs, playing off main striker Eddie Nketiah.
Although that won't quite be the way Arteta lines up on Sunday, having Saka and Tierney potentially pushing forward down the left, Aubameyang will have the chance at times to come inside and feed off what Lacazette can provide him.
The final spot up for grabs is on the right of the front three, which could again be handed to Willian.
Reiss Nelson was substituted just after the hour mark against Vienna, so may be being saved for this match.
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But Arteta is unlikely to give the 20-year-old a first Premier League start of this season in a game of this magnitude.
Willian has fond memories of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, having scored two goals and put in a man of the match performance for Chelsea there almost 12 months ago.
The Arsenal XI Arteta could pick against Tottenham in full: Leno; Luiz, Gabriel, Tierney; Bellerin, Elneny, Partey, Saka; Willian, Lacazette, Aubameyang