Arsenal picked up a brilliant draw at Liverpool on Thursday, but a potentially more difficult encounter against Tottenham Hotspur lies ahead on Sunday afternoon.
Both North London rivals renew hostilities this weekend as Arsenal pay a visit to their bitter neighbours.
The Gunners had Granit Xhaka sent off on 24 minutes of their 0-0 draw at Liverpool in the Carabao Cup last night.
And therefore, the Switzerland international will be ineligible to face Tottenham due to suspension.
Having Xhaka suspended isn’t very unfamiliar territory for Arsenal, with this being his fifth red card for the club since 2016.
However, the Emirates Stadium outfit are also missing Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny to the Africa Cup of Nations, Emile Smith Rowe to injury and Martin Odegaard to illness.
And with Ainsley Maitland-Niles having been loaned to Roma this week, it’s probable that Albert Sambi Lokonga may be Arsenal’s only available midfielder for the visit to Tottenham.
Here’s how Lilywhites supporters on Twitter reacted to Xhaka’s suspension.
Will North London derby go ahead?
In a nutshell, yes.
Speaking after the heroic draw at Anfield, Arsenal manager Arteta said about the upcoming encounter: “No excuses, we have to play it.”
Obviously there’s been a spate of postponed matches over the past month or so, but primarily because of rising coronavirus cases within Premier League squads.
The Gunners are majorly short on numbers, but due to suspension, international commitments and injuries, not a COVID outbreak.
That being said, Tottenham won’t be counting their chickenes.
If Arsenal can keep Liverpool quiet with 10 men for 65 minutes then best believe that they’re similarly as capable of doing the same on Sunday.
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