Football

Arsenal vs Tottenham predicted lineups: Will Martinelli return for the Gunners?

September 23, 2023 7:31 pm
Arsenal vs Tottenham predicted lineups: Will Martinelli return for the Gunners?
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Arsenal take on Tottenham on Sunday afternoon in what is the most eagerly anticipated North London derby in years. Both sides have started the season in impressive form and both require a victory to keep pace with Manchester City after the Blues beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 on Saturday. The match is set to kick off at 14:00 UK time and will be shown live on Sky Sports.

Arsenal vs Tottenham predicted lineups and news

Life under Ange Postecoglou has been bliss so far for Tottenham Hotspur and they come into this one with an opportunity to move three points clear of their North London rivals. The same can be said for Arsenal, who have managed to pick up 13 points from their opening five games despite never looking at their best.

The head-to-head record between the two sides suggests Arsenal should be considered favourites, however, you’d be foolish to rule out this Spurs team.

Team news: Arsenal

Arsenal have a number of injury concerns coming into this one, with the biggest question mark surrounding the availability of Gabriel Martinelli. The Brazilian was forced off in the first half against Everton last weekend with a hamstring problem and didn’t feature in the win against PSV on Wednesday night.

Arteta has said that it is touch and go whether he will be available for this one and if he isn’t then one of Leandro Trossard or Fabio Vieira will start the game on the left wing. Aside from Martinelli, Arteta will certainly be without three other players – Thomas Partey, Mohamed Elneny and Jurrien Timber who are still a long way off from returning.

One of the biggest decisions that Arteta will have to make revolves around the goalkeeper position. Aaron Ramsdale started the season as the club’s number-one goalkeeper, but David Raya has come into the team and done exceptionally well over the past couple of games.

Arsenal predicted lineup

Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Rice, Odegaard, Havertz, Saka, Jesus, Trossard

Team news: Tottenham

The big injury news out of Tottenham this week is that experienced wingback, Ivan Perisic, has sustained an injury to his ACL. The Croatian is going to require surgery and his season may well already be over. Regardless of how long he is out for, he will be Spurs’ biggest loss for the match against Arsenal.

Other players on the injury list at Spurs are Bryan Gil, Rodrigo Bentacur, Ryan Sessegnon and Giovani Lo Celso, but thankfully for Postecoglou none of the players who have impressed so far this season are unavailable.

It means that the Australian will more than likely stick with the same players who have put Spurs back on the map. Richarlison, who scored a huge goal against Sheffield United last weekend, will likely return to the starting lineup but the rest of the eleven should remain the same.

Tottenham predicted lineup

Vicario, Porro, Van de Ven, Romero, Udogie, Sarr, Bissouma, Kulusevski, Maddison, Son, Richarlison

Will Gabriel Martinelli play?

Gabriel Martinelli is still nursing the hamstring injury that kept him out of Arsenal’s Champions League victory over PSV on Wednesday. Arteta has said that it is still touch and go in regards to his availability for the match against Tottenham, however, given his importance to the team Arteta will likely elect to not risk the Brazilian with a long season ahead.

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