Arsenal vs. Tottenham

    

Arsenal have been playing well since their poor start to the season, their good form ended as they were comfortably beaten 3-1 at Manchester City.

On Saturday arsenal play Totenham and  although a win would take the Gunners to within one point of third-place Spurs.

Arsenal are further behind Spurs as Arsene Wenger's men trail City by 12 points, sitting sixth after losing four of their opening 11 League.

Arsene Wenger has not given Lacazete all the freedom he would require even though he has a good goal scoring record.

Lacazette scored against Man city after coming off the bench and again against Germany  during the International friendly.

Arsenal will also want more from talisman Alexis Sanchez who has yet to find his top form this season and has managed just two goals in all competitions.

Olivier Giroud is a major doubt for Arsenal with a thigh injury picked up on international duty, though the France striker was unlikely to start the derby.
Rob Holding is unlikely to return, but there is more hope for David Ospina and Shkodran Mustafi.
 Santi Cazorla remains a long-term absentee.
when asked about Injury news,Wenger said" we still have some people coming in today. They will have a medical check up today and a recovery check."
"Mustafi will have a finalcheck (on fridaay), welback as well. I will make descisions on all of them (on friday)."
on Koscielny being rested mid week, he said,"it was needed for him. We couldn,t use him for a number of games, he just came back against city because he had achiles tendon injury. if he had played mid week, he certainly would not have been available for saturday."
on oliver giroud" oliver picked up an injury and i dont think he will be avilable for saturday. It is short term and he could start training on monday, we will have to asses him then but i dont think he will be avialble this weekend."

Tottenham, meanwhile, go into the game on the back of a narrow win over Crystal Palace that saw them move level on points with Manchester United in second but still eight behind leaders City.

Tottenham are facing an injury crisis ahead of the north London derby, with a number of key players currently out of action.

Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Harry Winks all have injury concerns after pulling out of international duty with England through injury.

However, Mauricio Pochettino has said Kane will be fit to face Arsenal, although Hugo Lloris and Toby Alderweireld are doubt.

Kane's return will be a huge boost for Totenham, particularly given his record against the Gunners.

This fixture has yielded plenty of entertainment and goals in recent seasons, and

However, Spurs may be without key men Lloris and Alderweireld.

Jan Vertonghen (ankle) and Victor Wanyama are still battling to return - Vertonghen should recover in time, though Lloris faces a race to be fit.

Pochettino expects Dele Alli to be back in time for the trip to the Emirates despite the midfielder pulling out of England's recent squad for the November international break.

pochetiono said"  Toby alderweireld is currently in the early stages of  rehabilitation after sustaining a hamstring starin against Real Madrid. Wanyama  continous to progress well with outdour rhabilitation work. delle Alli, kane, loris, vorm and winks have under gone rehabilitation over the past 10 days and returned to full training for the first time on thursday."

Though there is still plenty left to play for this season, a defeat for either side would seriously dent their title ambitions before another tricky festive fixture pile-up.

Predicted line-ups

Arsenal starting XI: Cech; Koscielny, Mertesacker, Monreal; Bellerin, Ramsey, Xhaka, Kolasinac; Ozil, Sanchez; Lacazette

Tottenham starting XI: Lloris; Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies; Trippier, Dembele, Dier, Rose; Eriksen, Alli; Kane