Arsenal vs Tottenham, Premier League live: Latest score as Mustafi and Sanchez give Gunners the lead
All the latest from Saturday's north London derby
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Arsenal take on rivals Tottenham this Saturday in one of the most eagerly-anticipated north London derbies in recent memory.
With Spurs very much on the ascent, and the Gunners struggling to haul themselves of their seemingly perennial rut, it’s a clash that could consolidate the new power lines being drawn north of the river.
For the hosts, Olivier Giroud is expected to be absent due to a minor injury while Shkodran Mustafi and Danny Welbeck will be assessed having returned to training.
Tottenham could welcome back Hugo Lloris from a groin injury but the side have been dealt a blow following the news that Toby Alderweireld won’t return to action until after Christmas following his hamstring strain.
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Preview
Tottenham v Arsenal: The best north London derbies
Show all 11What time does it start?
The game kicks off at the Emirates at 12.30pm on Saturday 18 November.
Where can I watch it?
The game will be broadcast on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event. Coverage starts at 11.30am.
It’s a big game for…
Mauricio Pochettino. That Tottenham are currently the better side in north London is common knowledge. For the past three seasons now Spurs have been playing a higher quality of football. But to really consolidate their new-found status, the visitors will need to put in an assertive display against Arsenal on Saturday. Should they trip up, there’s no doubt questions will be raised over whether Pochettino and his men can go all the way on the main stage – after all, the Argentine remains trophy-less at Tottenham. Is that set to change this year?
Remember when…
Arsenal last thumped Tottenham? It was five years ago (almost to the day) that the Gunners ran five past their rivals in a thrilling show at the Emirates that ended in a 5-2 win.
Player to watch…
Harry Kane. The man of the moment is expected to return to Tottenham’s starting XI having missed international duty with an injury. Kane has scored in all five of his Premier League appearances against Arsenal, netting six goals in total. Given his recent form, expect him to cause the Arsenal defence no end of trouble.
Past three meetings…
Tottenham 2 Arsenal 0, Premier League, April 2017
Arsenal 1 Tottenham 1, Premier League, November 2016
Tottenham 2 Arsenal 2, Premier League, March 2016
Form guide…
Arsenal: LDWDW
Tottenham: WWLLWD
Odds…
Arsenal to win: 31/20
Draw: 5/2
Tottenham to win: 19/10
Good morning and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of the Premier League match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium.
Although Arsenal still have the edge while the watching world are tucking into the bacon sandwiches*...
*vegetarian and vegan options are available.
Let's have a closer look at how the two teams line up at the Emirates Stadium...
...where Arsene Wenger has made two changes to the Arsenal team that lost at Manchester City before the international break. After a goal off the bench at the Etihad Stadium, Alexandre Lacazette returns to the starting XI; the French forward comes in for Alex Iwobi. Meanwhile, Shkodran Mustafi is brought back into the defence as Francis Coquelin drops to the bench. Laurent Koscielny captains the side on his 300th appearance for the club.
It's five changes for Spurs as Mauricio Pochettino shakes things up for the north London derby. Hugo Lloris returns in goal after missing out against Crystal Palace a fortnight ago with a groin injury while Ben Davies and Kieran Trippier take over duties in the wing-back positions. Elsewhere, Mousa Dembele is afforded a start in central midfield with Dele Alli positioned further ahead of him; the England youngster has managed to shake off a hamstring injury. Paulo Gazzaniga, Serge Aurier, Harry Winks, Danny Rose and Son Heung-Min are the players to miss out.
Arsenal: Cech, Koscielny, Mustafi, Monreal, Bellerin, Xhaka, Ramsey, Kolasinac, Sanchez, Ozil, Lacazette
Subs: Ospina, Mertesacker, Wilshere, Iwobi, Welbeck, Maitland-Niles, Coquelin
Tottenham: Lloris, Vertonghen, Dier, Sanchez, Trippier, Dembele, Sissoko, Davies, Eriksen, Alli, Kane
Subs: Vorm, Son, Llorente, Foyth, Aurier, Winks, Walker-Peters
Referee: Mike Dean
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino has been speaking ahead of kick-off regarding the news that his key men - Hugo Lloris, Dele Alli, Harry Kane - have won their races to be fit for today's north London derby.
It’s massive for us to have the opportunity to play with all of them. We’ve had some problems in the past few weeks but now they are good to play.
There are just a few minutes until kick-off at the Emirates Stadium, and there is so much on the line. A home win for the Gunners will propel them back into the European positions, just a point behind their rivals, but an away victory for Spurs and the white half of north London will open up a seven point gap on their neighbours.
KICK-OFF: Slayer of the Irish, Christian Eriksen, gets the season's first north London derby underway in drizzly conditions. The weather might be damp, but spirts inside the Emirates are not - the atmosphere is raucous.
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