Arsenal’s Predicted XI: We predict Mikel Arteta’s starting XI as the Gunners travel across the road to face North-London rivals Tottenham Hotspur

Arsenal’s Predicted XI: We predict Mikel Arteta’s starting XI as the Gunners travel across the road to face North-London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

After a shaky start since football returned, Arsenal have won four out of their last five matches, following a respectable 1-1 draw against Leicester City last time out.

This leave the Gunners eight points behind Manchester United in the chase for a Champions League spot which now seems very unlikely with just four games remaining.

However, there’s still a lot to play for, with a whole host of teams within four points of each other in the hunt for European football.

One of those sides is North-London rivals Tottenham who sit just one point behind Arsenal going into this afternoon’s encounter.

So how will Arsenal line-up as they look to beat their rivals? Here we predict Arteta’s XI…

Goalkeeper: Martinez will start again in goal, having performed well since coming in for the injured Bernd Leno. The Argentinian will be hoping to stake a claim for a starting spot next term.

Defenders: Arteta will go for what he believes is his best side in such a huge fixture. So we expect to see a back five once again with Hector Bellerin at right wing back with Kieran Tierney deployed from the left. Leaving the inconsistent pairing of David Luiz and Shkodran Mustafi alongside Sead Kolasinc in the middle of the back five.

Midfielders: Another controversial player Matteo Guendouzi will probably find himself out the side again, having been dropped by Arteta. Bukayo Saka will get the nod again, after making an impressive start since lockdown. Dani Ceballos should also get the a starting place having performed well in recent matches. Granit Xhaka is likely to make up the Arsenal midfield as Arteta attempts to try and get some sort of consistency in terms of personnel to this Arsenal side.

Forwards: Alexandre Lacazette is likely to start this game with Eddie Nketiah missing out due to suspension. And club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will come back into the side. It’s clear the pairing gel well together off the pitch and Arteta will be hoping they can do the business this afternoon.

Predicted XI: Martinez, Bellerin, Luiz, Mustafi, Kolasinac, Tierney; Xhaka, Ceballos, Saka; Aubameyang, Lacazette