Arsenal News Arsenal opinion

Confirmed Arsenal Team to face Spurs in NLD – Merino leads the line and Hincapie at CB

Arsenal must take advantage after rivals stumble

Arsenal return to action in what promises to be a defining weekend for their title push. After a frustrating 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light, the Gunners have been handed a golden opportunity to strengthen their grip at the top of the Premier League. With both Manchester City and Liverpool dropping critical points, the stage is set for a statement from the men in red and white.

Hosting their rivals in the North London Derby at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal know that a win today isn’t just about bragging rights, it’s about momentum, belief and sending out a message to every contender. Their recent preview noted that the club’s strong home form makes them favourites, yet a return to winning ways is essential if they are to capitalise.

(Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

A fierce derby, perfect timing

The task will not be simple. Tottenham Hotspur remain unbeaten away from home this season and will arrive with confidence. Still, history is on Arsenal’s side: the visitors have won only twice in 23 trips to north London. With this in mind, the timing could not be more perfect for the Gunners to deliver.

For Mikel Arteta’s squad, it is about imposing control, showing maturity and asserting their vision. The international break has allowed key players to recover, and the fanbase is braced for a strong lineup and a statement performance.

Here the Confirmed Arsenal Starting XI:

And with it, the chance to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table and quiet any doubts that surfaced after they lost their clean sheet streak against Sunderland.

Do you fancy our chances today?

It’s got to be a statement win, surely?

What’s your score prediction for today’s north London derby Gooners?

Let’s discuss in the comments.

COYG!

__________________________________________________________________________________________
ADMIN COMMENT

So here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….

You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.

CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, please contact us through this link…

More Stories / Latest News
Mikel Arteta praises Jesus mental toughness after his injury return
Chris Sutton
Chris Sutton impressed with Arsenal man after his Champions League display
Thomas Partey
Top Ten African Gunners – Number 8
Posted by

Tags Arsenal confirmed team

65 Comments

    2. It would have been much better if any of the Odegaard, Havertz or Gyökeres would have also back for this one….
      I hope for Bayern game we will have another set of players coming back

      1. Gyokeres and Odegaard must be very close and failed the late fitness test or Arteta didn’t want to risk it. Gyokeres is hamstring and you don’t mess with that as one little setback can have nasty consequences.

        1. I don’t think Arteta will use him against Bayern as well
          After 4 wins in CL our top 8 spot is almost confirmed so Gyökeres can have another week of rest so that we can use him fully fit against Chelsea at Bridge and that game is very important rather than Midweek CL game, especially if we fail to win today because then game against Chelsea will be straight 6 pointers

          1. Yeah Bayern game isn’t worth the risk, we should rotate vs Bayern and keep some players fresh for the Chelsea game. 6 wins should be enough to get top 8 and we have 2 very winnable games left vs Brugge and Kairat. We need to lock down the league first then give priority to CL

  2. Arsenal must go for the jugular today, but the Juggernaut hasn’t lost on home soil in many moons immediately after an international break.

    1. Arteta said before the international break that most of injured would be back, so what’s happened with that and why do we have so may injuries again. Still expecting 3pts

      1. Havertz and Big Gabi out until the new year. ode some weeks off from game time. Arteta and club play it close to chest, but the international managers gave the game away.
        Merino isn’t a forward. Once fit I want Maddy there whilst we wait for Gyok.

  4. Thomas Frank has obviously set his team to play defensively and counter-attack, with three CBs and two pacey wingbacks

    Arsenal should start the game very cautiously and be very patient, because of the way Spuds set the trap

    I hope our tall players will steal the first goal through a corner situation

    1. You have called it spot on.
      We also need to use bench better, lack of subs cost us 2 points last game, as lack of harrowing from fresh legs allowed ball after ball into box.

      1. I’m glad Madueke is ready to play from the bench

        We might need his dribbling skills to break Spuds’ defense, if we still can’t score in the second half

      1. It was either Hincapie or Cala, I’m glad it’s the former. That way we couldn’t have to change two positions plus Cala has been soooo good at left back

    2. Hincapié is a left-footed LCB. He is the natural replacement for Gabriel. Mosquera is a right-footed RCB, he replaces Saliba.

      Hincapié is also very experienced at the top level and has performed well with the team so far, so it wasn’t an unexpected decision from Arteta.

    1. But they are doing as effectively as Sunderland did
      Sunderland were way better than Spurs actually

  8. No yellow for that high foot challenge or even a check for red. The mancity employee has started working early. Will he cry when we score?

  9. Arteta needs to something tactically for this low block issue
    Spurs are doing nothing except sitting back and defending
    It’s not only about Spurs
    Almost every team is doing this against Arsenal

  13. Arsenal’s patient approach was spot-on

    Merino played the false-nine role very well in the first half, by dropping to Odegaard’s position and letting Eze occupying the striker spot. As the result, a beautiful through ball from him and a great finish from Trossard

    Eze also made an excellent shot from a very tight space

  14. Boom 💥 Eze was just destined to score 2 nil up and that makes it look easy! . Should we go for the throat or easy it up and coast to victory!? Another couple of goals and the spuds know incase they need a reminding how Red North London is.

  17. Eze scored against his former club Palace and his would have been club Spurs. Palhinha on loan from Bayern who Arsenal face on Wednesday do too many fouls to help his parent club? The mighty Gunners onwards and upwards!!! No Maghales absence felt thus far. Son ridiculous miss at 85th minute and the clapping of Spurs fans just to see their team beaten avenged tonight. Spurs savour their first defeat on the road.

  19. Eze for the hatrick.
    I hope he knows for scoring against the scum he automatically becomes a legend.

  24. Let’s stay focused. Can’t blame Raya for that. It’s the risk of playing with a sweeper keeper, shouldn’t have given the ball away in that area and have to credit Richarldson with the perfect hit there. Just cant start getting sloppy.

    1. Raya being so high means the player have an easy pass to make to him when under pressure but they don’t and concede stupid goals. Like use the sweeper keeper with playmaker level ball playing skills. Very irritating

  25. With the looming return of Odegaard, Eze has just become a beast! For sure Odegaard wouldn’t have scored those 2 moments. Nayim of Spurs remembered with Richarlison mid pitch strike & goal. Maybe close with Bentley goal as well. Arteta shouldn’t go defensive to protect the lead with more than half an hour left

  26. We cannot sit back and allow Spurs to have the possession
    We need to keep the possession the way it was before 3-1

  28. The hattrick, but not to forget lung busting last man chasing back to get it to keeper just two minutes before.
    All round brilliant.

  32. It looks like Hinacapie is injured or took a knock because subbing CB is unusual except injury

  33. @Tee. Agree with you. Rest some players. Key to success are our high pressure and combination play. It’s important that Arteta is rotating our players which is possible with our squad depth of high quality players.

  34. You’re right Moon Girl. Zubimendi made costly fouls v Liverpool and Sunderland. On both occasions Arsenal conceded goals from the resulting free kicks and tonight also for the 3rd time. I think Zubi needs to have someone in the middle playing very closer to him (maybe Rice) who should assist him with the physicality of being in the midfield area. La Liga and EPL are different in getting enough spaces and time as well as in the application of more power. Caicedo is the paragon.

  35. Even the legend Thierry Henry didn’t do any hattrick v Spurs? Thanks to Eze tonight we’ve learnt the shortfalls of our legendary strikers in Wright, Smith and Henry. I think even Harry Kane didn’t have any hattrick.

    1. Ambachew, I learnt today that only 3 players have scored a hat-trick in their first NLD and they were all Arsenal players. Ted Drake in 1934, Alan Sunderland in 1978 and Eze today.

    2. To be fair, hat tricks are not just about individual skill – and Eze showed us the incredible skill we know he’s capable of tonight – our striker legends were always being marked to kingdom come in these derby games. Spurs totally didn’t see Eze coming this time and just didn’t know what to do with him!

  36. Herr Drier,
    I think there is one player from Spurs who did that hattrick maybe in 1961 when they lifted their last top flight title. Too long even before England won the WC in 1966. For context Man City players are doing derby hattricks for fun Foden Goater Haaland

    2. Ambachew, you are correct, but that wasn’t his first NLD, unlike the Arsenal Players I mentioned.

Comments are closed

Top Blog Sponsors