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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Tom Doyle

Arsenal v Tottenham lineups: Confirmed team news - Pepe starts; Ceballos, Ozil on bench for north London derby

Unai Emery and Mauricio Pochettino have both had to make so key tactical swaps as Arsenal host Tottenham in the north London derby.

The London rivals are both heading into the derby off the back of Premier League defeats last weekend, with Arsenal losing 3-1 at Liverpool and Spurs falling to a shock 1-0 home reverse to Newcastle.

Those results place extra importance on today's Emirates clash, and neither manager will want to head into the international break off the back of a dispiriting derby defeat.

The Gunners coach dropped Alexandre Lacazette for the trip to Anfield, but that decision backfired as Nicolas Pepe missed a gilt-edged chance and Dani Ceballos struggled to impose himself on the game.

Following that setback, Lacazette has been restored to a front three alongside Pepe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

(Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Granit Xhaka and Matteo Guendouzi start in midfield alongside Granit Xhaka. Joe Willock - who has impressed this season - will feel hard done after being dropped, as will Dani Ceballos.

In defence, Nacho Monreal's move to Real Sociedad means Sead Kolasinac slots in at right-back.

Hector Bellerin (knee), Kieran Tierney (groin) and Konstantinos Mavropanos (groin) are on course to return in September, while Rob Holding (knee) is on the comeback trail.

As for Tottenham, Pochettino has sought to solve his right-back problem by putting Davinson Sanchez at right-back.

Juan Foyth and Kyle Walker-Peters are out and possible makeshift replacement Eric Dier was a doubt, so Sanchez comes in.

Meanwhile, Tanguy Ndombele has a thigh problem and is not fit to play at the Emirates.

Dele Alli is on the bench after recovering from a thigh injury, while the match comes too soon for summer signing Ryan Sessegnon (thigh).

Given Tottenham's struggles without Christian Eriksen pulling the strings, the Dane's return should prove a blessing for Spurs.

Arsenal vs Tottenham lineups

Arsenal XI: Leno; Maitland-Niles; Sokratis, Luiz, Kolasinac; Torreira, Xhaka; Guendouzi; Pepe, Aubameyang, Lacazette

Tottenham XI: Lloris, Sanchez, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose, Winks, Sissoko, Eriksen, Lamela, Son, Kane

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