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[Image] Ozil starts, Aubameyang out | Arsenal’s best line-up to face Tottenham

By on March 1, 2019

Arsenal can move to within one point of third place with a win over Tottenham in Saturday’s North London Derby at Wembley. This is the line-up I’d like Unai Emery to select…

Goalkeeper: Leno

Bernd Leno was excellent against Southampton last weekend and made another vital save at 1-0 during the win over Bournemouth in midweek so he deserves to keep his place ahead of Petr Cech tomorrow.

Defence: Maitland-Niles, Sokratis, Koscielny, Monreal, Kolasinac

Emery went with a back three/five against Bournemouth on Wednesday night and I think the boss should stick with that system at Tottenham. Laurent Koscielny is fit after shaking off a minor knee problem so he should continue alongside Sokratis and Nacho Monreal in the back three meaning Shkodran Mustafi misses out.

Stephan Lichtsteiner is back in contention after recovering from a back injury while Carl Jenkinson put-in a solid shift in midweek but I’d like to see Ainsley Maitland-Niles recalled in the right wing-back role. Sead Kolasinac is fit after recovering from a minor muscle problem that forced him off against the Cherries so he should once again start on the left.

Midfield: Torreira, Xhaka

Arsenal’s best central midfield partnership is Lucas Torreira and Granit Xhaka so I hope Emery pairs them against Tottenham. Xhaka was rested in midweek so he’ll be fresh while I think Torreira is far more solid than Matteo Guendouzi.

mesut ozil arsenal 2018

The young Frenchman was caught out in possession on the edge of our area which led to the Bournemouth goal on Wednesday night and I’m sad to say that mistake has been coming. He has a big future ahead of him and he’s made an excellent start to life at the club but for now I hope we see Xhaka/Torreira as our first choice partnership.

Attack: Ozil, Mkhitaryan, Lacazette

Mesut Ozil was excellent against Bournemouth and I don’t see how Emery can leave him out. Sure, Ozil is a luxury player at times and Emery has axed him for all our big away games in recent months but it’s not like we’ve been playing well without him. Mesut is our most creative player and we’re far more dangerous when he’s on the pitch so I hope he starts against Tottenham.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang started and scored against Bournemouth so it’s difficult to leave him out, however, I’d actually go with Alexandre Lacazette up front tomorrow. The Frenchman offers us more than Aubameyang when he starts on his own up top as he works harder and is better at holding the ball up. Auba would be a dangerous weapon to have from the bench but I’d go with Laca to start.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan has hit a purple patch of form and was outstanding in midweek so he should certainly keep his place. That means Alex Iwobi would miss out, which might be harsh considering he’s been in decent form lately, but I’d have him on the bench along with Aaron Ramsey.

Denis Suarez is taking his time adapting to life in the Premier League so I don’t think he’s even close to warranting a start. A place on the bench is the best he can hope for against Spurs.

This is the starting eleven I hope we’ll see:

football formations