Ozil Recalled? Emery To Make 11 Changes | Expected Arsenal Line-Up vs Tottenham

Arsenal will look to climb back in to the top four with a win when they take on Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Here is the side we think Unai Emery will select for the game:

Goalkeeper: Petr Cech kept a clean sheet during the 3-0 win over FC Vorskla in the Europa League last night but the 36-year-old should still make way on Sunday with Bernd Leno being recalled having established himself as Emery’s number one with some fine displays.

Defence: Emery went with a back three during the win over Bournemouth last weekend but I think we may see the Spaniard go with a flat back four against Tottenham. All of Arsenal’s big guns were rested in Europe so Hector Bellerin should come in for Stephan Lichtsteiner at right-back while Sead Kolasinac will start at left-back with Nacho Monreal still out injured.

Rob Holding has been performing well in the middle of defence in recent weeks but he made the trip to the Ukraine on Thursday night so Sokratis may get the nod alongside Shkodran Mustafi as the Greek international will be fresh having recently returned from injury. Carl Jenkinson and Ainsley Maitland-Niles will drop out after starting against Vorskla.

Midfield: We should see changes in midfield with Lucas Torreira and Granit Xhaka being recalled. The pair have formed an impressive partnership in recent games and will come in for Matteo Guendouzi and Mohamed Elneny against Tottenham after being rested in midweek.

Attack: Arsenal are expected to make wholesale changes in attack with Aaron Ramsey set to drop back to the bench after starting against Vorskla while Emile Smith Rowe, Joe Willock and Eddie Nketiah will also make way despite their impressive performances in Europe.

Alexandre Lacazette wasn’t risked in the Europa League after missing the Bournemouth game with a minor groin injury but the French international is expected to be passed fit to start up front on Sunday.

Mesut Ozil was axed against Bournemouth last weekend with Emery suggesting the German playmaker wouldn’t cope with a tough away game but I think we’ll see him recalled for this home fixture. It would be a huge call from Emery to leave Ozil out of the North London Derby.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was on target once again last weekend and he could line-up in attack on Sunday which means Emery will have to decide between Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Alex Iwobi. Mkhitaryan was an unused substitute against Vorskla but the long-haul trip will still have taken something out of him and Iwobi offers something different so I think the Nigerian will get the nod.

Here is how I think we’ll see Arsenal line-up: