Thomas Partey to return and Harry Kane to start despite injury scare – How Tottenham and Arsenal could line-up for north London derby
Arsenal host fierce rivals Tottenham on Sunday in the pick of the weekend's Premier League action.
The north London derby rarely disappoints and it has added entertainment in recent times with Jose Mourinho at the Spurs helm.
Unfortunately for Gunners fans, Mourinho’s record against Arsenal is nothing short of incredible.
The Portuguese has never lost a home game against Arsenal in ten previous meetings in all competitions (W6 D4).
The Lilywhites will also be boosted by the fact that their fierce rivals are going through a torrid run of form in the Premier League.
Defeat at home to Wolves last Sunday consigned Mikel Arteta's side to a fifth defeat in ten league matches matches this season.
Their haul of 13 points from their opening ten games means is their worst start to a league season in 39 YEARS.
Form would suggest Spurs, who are currently top of the Premier League on goal difference, will breeze to victory in the clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
However, this is a north London derby and that is just not how it works. Rivalry often puts form to the sidelines and anything could happen in the clash.
But how could both sides line up for the match? marvelbet369.com has the verdict...
Tottenham team news
Joe Hart could make his first Premier League appearance in almost two years.
The 33-year-old goalkeeper was at fault for two of Spurs’ three goals conceded in a 3-3 draw with LASK in the Europa League on Thursday.
Despite that, he could be called upon to face Tottenham’s arch rivals with doubts over Hugo Lloris’ fitness, according to .
Spurs' biggest fitness concern ahead of this match surrounds Harry Kane, who missed Thursday's Europa League trip to Austria with an apparent muscle problem.
Mourinho revealed he believes Kane will be fit for the match, however, as the England striker bids to become the record scorer in the north London derby history.
Toby Alderweireld, who netted the winner when the two sides last met is a doubt for this game, though Mourinho suggested the could return after missing the last three games.
Eric Lamela is the only guaranteed absentee as he continues to recover from an Achilles injury.
Arsenal team news
Thomas Partey could return for the Gunners in what would be a major boost to Arteta after missing the last four games with a thigh injury.
The Spaniard confirmed the Ghana international, who arrived from Atletico Madrid for £45million in the summer, returned to training ahead of the clash.
Arteta also confirmed that David Luiz, who suffered a gash following a sickening clash of heads with Raul Jimenez last weekend, could also return to the XI if the wound is healing as expected.
Nicolas Pepe will serve the second of his three-match ban while Gabriel Martinelli remains sidelined, although he could return to Under-23 action before the end of the year.
Tottenham XI
Arsenal XI
