The North London Derby I

With a three match win streak against opposition Arsenal should beat, the team may be riding a wave of confidence.  However, the North London Derby is a different thing in which momentum and the table are irrelevant.  Passion, desire, and a bit of luck mean more than how well one has played leading into the match.  

Tottenham have turned over their management of the team several times in the last few years, but the consistency seems to be a defense first approach.  Tottenham victories this season in the Premier League are all 1-0 score lines.  They have a poor xGD/90 (expected Goals Difference per game) for a team that has more wins than losses.  

Against a sputtering Spurs attack, I would expect Arteta to stick with one deep midfielder (Partey), returning to the 4-1-4-1 or 4-3-3 depending on your perspective.  I like this formation against teams that Arsenal are expected to beat but less certain against good teams where a box-to-box midfielder would help link play.  In this match, I think it will work.

Arsenal need to push play from the beginning.  Odegaard and Smith Rowe working through the attacking middle can help get the ball working between the middle of the pitch and the wings.  Playing them more together will help develop the chemistry needed to move the ball through the attacking middle.  Tomiyasu in the right back position provides more confidence in thwarting counters from Tottenham attackers.  

Overall, I am feeling more confident in our chances this Sunday against Tottenham than I have in years.

The goalkeeper and defensive positions are set barring injury: Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, and Tierney

I think Xhaka starts on the bench in this one and comes on in the second half if defensive posturing is needed.  Midfield: Partey

The attacking options are where lineup choices for Arsenal get real interesting.  Including Odegaard and Smith Rowe in the same team is bold and may prove very effective given time, but it begs the question of Saka and Pepe joining them.  When Partey plays alone in midfield, all four of them start.  Attackers: Odegaard, Smith Rowe, Saka, and Pepe

The striker position would be a guessing game, but Lacazette played the whole game against AFC Wimbledon.  Striker: Aubameyang

PREDICTION: Arsenal 2-0 Tottenham