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Harry Sherlock

Tottenham team news: Injuries, suspensions and line-up vs Arsenal

The two north London rivals collide at Wembley this weekend with the game sure to have top-four implications for both sides

Tottenham and Arsenal meet in a highly-anticipated north London derby on Saturday, with each club in desperate need of a win.

Spurs, fresh from beating Newport County 2-0 in an FA Cup fourth-round replay on Wednesday, sit fifth in the Premier League, just one point behind stuttering Chelsea in the race for the top four.

Arsenal, meanwhile, thumped Everton 5-1 last weekend and sit sixth, four points behind Mauricio Pochettino's side.

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TOTTENHAM INJURIES

Toby Alderweireld returned to the starting XI against Newport and played the entire 90 minutes, giving Pochettino a welcome boost, while Danny Rose and Harry Winks also played.

Spurs, therefore, have a clean bill of health ahead of the game against the Gunners, but it remains to be seen if new signing Lucas Moura will be integrated into the side, having been ineligible to play against Newport.

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TOTTENHAM SUSPENSIONS

Spurs have no suspended players.

TOTTENHAM STARTING LINE-UP

While Pochettino loves to tinker with his XI, he kept the same team that defeated Manchester United in last week's pulsating 2-2 draw with Liverpool.

He made changes for the midweek FA Cup encounter against Newport, but Pochettino is likely to revert back to the XI that so controversially won a point at Anfield.

It would make sense, too, with the likes of Serge Aurier, Rose and Moussa Sissoko all playing 90 minutes in midweek.

Alderweireld has only just returned to fitness, and it would be a surprise if he were picked to play from the start at Wembley, even though Davinson Sanchez struggled against Liverpool.

Son Heung-min was substituted on 60 minutes and is likely to play on the left, but there is a question mark over the inclusion of January signing Lucas Moura. He is more likely to make the bench than the XI at this stage.

GOAL

ARSENAL TEAM NEWS

Danny Welbeck returns after a hip injury, while Nacho Monreal is expected to be passed fit after being substituted following a kick on his thigh against Everton.

A late fitness test for Petr Cech is required as the goalkeeper hasn't trained after sustaining an injury in the win against the Toffees, with David Ospina ready to deputise for the Czech shot-stopper.

"Maybe Danny Welbeck will be back," said Wenger.

"We had a few problems with Cech, who we are not sure about at the moment because he’s not trained. I don’t know if he will be available. Monreal looks alright again. It should be a similar squad."

Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla remains a long-term absentee with an Achilles injury.

January signings Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are both set to feature.

Arsene Wenger Swansea City Arsenal Premier League 01302918

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TV CHANNEL & KICK OFF TIME

The match kicks off at 12:30 GMT on Saturday, with live television coverage available on BT Sport in the UK.

BEST OPTA MATCH FACTS

Spurs have lost just one of their last seven Premier League games against Arsenal (W2 D4), although that defeat came earlier this season, losing 2-0 at the Emirates.
This is the first meeting between Spurs and Arsenal at Wembley since April 1993, when they met in an FA Cup semi-final, with Arsenal winning 1-0 from a Tony Adams goal.
Harry Kane has scored 21 goals in 32 Premier League London derby matches, averaging 0.66 goals per game. Of players to have played 20+ London derbies in the Premier League, only Thierry Henry has a better ratio (0.73 – 43 goals in 59 apps).
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored four goals in four previous appearances against Tottenham Hotspur in all competitions; once in the Champions League (2 games) and three goals in the Europa League (2 games).