Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard news means Arsenal will experiment with line-up as Tottenham have two key men back for derby

Mikel Arteta has no choice but to be bold with his team selection as a decimated Arsenal face Tottenham in the north London derby.

The Gunners enter the first derby of the season this weekend in better form, but it is Spurs who head into the clash in finer spirits.

Postecoglou and Arteta will meet again in the first derby of the seasonCredit: AFPThe Lilywhites are set to welcome back some key players as they look to get one over their biggest rivals after a slow start to the season.

Meanwhile, the Gunners are going to be without two of their stars and it’s an absence that will force Arteta to experiment with his side.

There’s likely to be a debut for one Deadline Day signing, with several other players deployed out of position to cover the hole in midfield.

READ MORE ON ARSENAL vs SPURSHere, talkSPORT.com takes a look at the injury latest and predicts how both teams could line up this weekend…

Tottenham Spurs are coming into this huge derby off the back of their first defeat of the new Premier League campaign against Newcastle.

Ange Postecoglou’s side have now won, drawn and lost so far this season, with performances not reaching the level needed to compete at the top just yet.

However, Tottenham will be boosted by the likely return of two players who missed the last game.

The first of those players is Micky van de Ven, who sat out of the trip to Newcastle after seemingly picking up a knock against Everton.

Postecoglou has now confirmed that Van de Ven has trained throughout the international break and is ‘ready to go’.

Van de Ven is set to return for the North London derby along with SolankeCredit: GettySo he is set to feature alongside Cristian Romero at centre-back, with Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie on either side.

Guglielmo Vicario will be in goal behind them, of course.

In midfield, Yves Bissouma is a doubt after picking up an injury for Mali and Postecoglou has admitted he needs some treatment.

If passed fit, Bissouma will sit deeper than Pape Matar Sarr and James Maddison, with the latter looking to create for a very dangerous front three.

And in that trio should see the second returnee in Dominic Solanke, who after missing two straight games, has rested over the break and has been in training ahead of the Arsenal game.

He’ll be flanked by captain Heung-min Son and potentially Dejan Kulusevski, who seems to be preferred to Brennan Johnson.

Summer signing Wilson Odobert may not be ready just yet to play in such a huge game.

Spurs are desperate for the return of their record-signingWhy Arsenal are wearing their away kit against Tottenham in the North London Derby as 38-year streak ends after Premier League ruling

Arsenal The visitors are yet to lose this season but they’re now having to deal with some issues.

Before the international break, Declan Rice was controversially sent off against Brighton and that meant he was suspended for this game.

Jurrien Timber also seemed to pick up a knock during that Seagulls draw, hobbling off the Emirates pitch as he was substituted.

However, during the break, Timber has featured for the Netherlands and looks fit to play alongside William Saliba and Gabriel in defence this weekend.

That is fortunate for the Gunners, considering their other preferred option at left-back, Riccardo Calafiori is set to be assessed after being sent home early by Italy.

There is no doubt that Ben White will keep his place at right-back having enjoyed a rest due to his ongoing England exile.

That is the only slither of good fortune Arsenal have enjoyed during the international fixtures, with Martin Odegaard set to be sidelined.

The club captain limped out of Norway’s 2-1 win over Austria with an ankle pain that his coach Ola Solbakken admitted looked bad.

The 25-year-old is a permanent starting fixture on the right side of a midfield three in their favoured 4-3-3 formation when fit.

Arteta admitted Odegaard is going to undergo some tests, but could not confirm how long he is set to be out, if at all.

The early prognosis is that he will miss around three weeks and leave his manager with a choice of whether to stick or twist now that the spine of his team has been decimated.

Arteta may have to revisit his Havertz in midfield experiment

Rice being suspended means Havertz may have to drop into midfieldCredit: GettyKai Havertz could slot back into a No.8 position over youngster Ethan Nwaneri where he started his Gunners career rather than as a striker.

That would allow Arteta to maintain his 4-3-3 shape by pushing Thomas Partey into a more advanced area, with Jorginho as the No.6.

Havertz’s absence from attack means Arsenal would rely on the returning Gabriel Jesus, with Leandro Trossard also offering an option as a false nine following his absence from the Belgium squad.

With so many players out of form or adjusting to new positions, Arteta may lean on the experience of Raheem Sterling over the struggling Gabriel Martinelli in such a big game.

Arsenal’s new no. 30 last played a competitive game in May having missed out on Euro 2024 before being exiled by Chelsea.

But having joined the Gunners on a season-long loan deal during deadline day, Sterling has been hard at work at London Colney.

Sterling has registered eight goals and three assists in 16 outings against SpursCredit: Getty
Arsenal’s walking wounded

Martin Odegaard (Ankle sprain) Return date: TBC

Riccardo Calafiori (Calf) Return date: TBC

Gabriel Jesus (Muscle) Return date: Tottenham

Declan Rice (Suspended) Return date: September 2024

Takehiro Tomiyasu (Knee) Return date: September 2024

Mikel Merino (Shoulder) Return date: October 2024

Kieran Tierney (Hamstring) Return date: Unknown

The winger is already familiar with Arteta’s methods following their work together at Manchester City and wouldn’t be fazed by making his debut in such a big game.

If Sterling isn’t fit enough to start, Jesus may be the one taken a gamble on with a dramatic shift to a bold 4-2-4 formation.

Bukayo Saka is the undisputed choice at right-wing in both lineups, but Havertz’s recent form may mean he’s too valuable in attack.

Jorginho and Partey would become a double-pivot midfield to shield the defence, with Trossard playing in a more familiar role on the left.

Read More on talkSPORTHavertz would then be tasked with playing in a two-man striker setup that he operates in for Germany alongside the returning Jesus.

This would simultaneously ease the pressure on Sterling to come in from the start and instead be an impact option off the bench.

Alternatively, Jesus’ return could lead him to send out a bold 4-2-4 formation
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