Arsenal vs Tottenham LIVE: Live stream, TV channel, team news as Aubameyang on BENCH, Bale STARTS – latest updates

HARRY A PAIN IN THE ARSENAL

In stark contrast to those in the Arsenal camp, Tottenham fans are rejoicing that their star striker has recovered from the slight knock he picked up on Thursday to start at the Emirates, and it’s easy to understand why.

Harry Kane is the highest goalscorer of all time when it comes to North London derbies, having bagged 11 goals for Spurs against the Gunners in all competitions.

HERO TO ZERO

Aubameyang’s absence from the Arsenal side increases the pressure on Mikel Arteta’s young Gunners to supply and support Alexandre Lacazette in the home side’s pursuit of goals this afternoon.

It’s a burden made even bigger when considering the dropped forward’s recent record in this fixture.

ARTETA DROPS AUBA

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has spoken to Sky Sports ahead of kick-off about his decision to omit Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from his North London derby starting line-up.

He was going to start the game. We had a disciplinary issue. We have drawn the line and we move on. He’s on the bench. No [there’s nothing more to add], we will keep it internal. We have a process that we have to respect for every game.

Mikel ArtetaSky Sports

AUBA OUT!

The rumours flying around the Emirates stadium is that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been left out of the Arsenal side ‘for disciplinary reasons.’

TOTTENHAM HOTSPURS SUBSTITUTES

12 Hart, 8 Winks, 11 Lamela, 15 Dier, 17 Sissoko, 20 Alli, 24 Aurier, 33 Davies, 45 Vincius

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR XI

It’s six changes for Tottenham after Jose Mourinho rotated for the Europa League match with Dinamo Zagreb on Thursday. Back come Matt Doherty, Toby Alderweireld, Sergio Reguilon, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Gareth Bale and Lucas Moura as Serge Aurier, Eric Dier, Ben Davies, Moussa Sissoko, Erik Lamela and Dele Alli drop to the bench. In goal, Hugo Lloris captains the team while Harry Kane leads the line of another 4-2-3-1 shape.

1 Lloris; 2 Doherty, 6 Sanchez, 4 Alderweireld, 3 Reguilon; 28 Ndombele, 5 Hojbjerg; 9 Bale, 27 Moura, 7 Son; 10 Kane

ARSENAL SUBSTITUTES

33 Ryan, 2 Bellerin, 8 Ceballos, 12 Willian, 14 Aubameyang, 16 Holding, 19 Pepe, 21 Chambers, 25 Elneny

ARSENAL XI

Mikel Arteta makes three changes to the side that won at Olympiakos on Thursday, the most notable of which being the benching of captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The Arsenal boss has stated the decision is due to disciplinary reasons but would not elaborate further. In his place, Alexandre Lacazette starts at the head of a 4-2-3-1 formation and skippers the side. Elsewhere, Cedric comes in for Hector Bellerin at right-back while Emile Smith Rowe replaces Willian.

1 Leno; 17 Cedric, 23 David Luiz, 6 Gabriel, 3 Tierney; 18 Partey, 34 Xhaka; 7 Saka, 11 Odegaard, 32 Smith Rowe; 9 Lacazette

THE TEAMSHEET ARE IN!

GUNNERS GUARDING THE FORTRESS

However, it’s rare for Spurs to leave the home of their old enemy with all three points, whether it’s been the Emirates Stadium or Highbury.

In fact, Arsenal have lost just two of their last 35 home league games with Tottenham, winning 19 and drawing 14 in the process.

Spurs’ only two successes at their rivals in the last 36 years occurred, first in May 1993 with a 3-1 win, and, more recently, with a 3-2 comeback in November 2010.

SPURS SENSING HISTORY

Tottenham arrive at the Emirates Stadium this afternoon in a unique position, having gone unbeaten in their last five North London derbies in all competitions (W3 D2).

• Spurs 2-0 Arsenal (PL Dec 2020)
• Spurs 2-1 Arsenal (PL July 2020)
• Arsenal 2-2 Spurs (PL Sept 2019)
• Spurs 1-1 Arsenal (PL March 2019)
• Arsenal 0-2 Spurs (EFL Cup Dec 2018)

Spurs have never before gone six without defeat against Arsenal, haven’t won consecutive league games against them since October 1974, and haven’t completed a league double over the Gunners since the 1992-93 season.

SENSATIONAL SAKA

Bukaya Saka has been Arsenal’s standout performer this season, and Freddie Ljungberg is convinced that the 19-year-old has what it takes to go to the very top.

The Gunners’ former player and coach is part of the Sky Sports‘ studio team this afternoon, and has spoken about his time working with the teenager, and how delighted he’s been by Saka’s breakthrough campaign.

GOOD AFTERNOON FROM NORTH LONDON

Welcome to SunSport’s live coverage of Arsenal against Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

The North London derby is always a crunch fixture in the football calendar, but this meeting feels particularly pivotal in determining these two clubs’ final destinations come May.

With 11 games to play, it’s now or never in their respective quests for European qualification – assuming neither take advantage of the back door route to the Champions League that is winning the Europa.

Much has changed since the sides last met in December. Back then, a 2-0 Spurs success in front of 2,000 fans at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium had them top of the league while their beaten rivals languished in the bottom six.

However, only three places and seven points separate the pair going into this afternoon.

Seventh-placed Spurs have found the winning formula again since their mid-season wobble with Gareth Bale finally integrated within the side, and Harry Kane – a man who relishes the North London derby – back doing what he does best.

Kane has 26 goals for the season, having netted four in the past week alone, but he did pick up a knock in Thursday’s defeat of Dinamo Zagreb.

Yet Jose Mourinho expects his main man to be fit enough to start, and is also expected to recall other big guns such as Sergio Reguilon, Toby Alderweireld and Bale, after resting them last time out.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has a fully fit squad to select from, and has his own rejuvenated forward in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The Gunners captain has netted six in his last seven appearances, a run that has seen his side beaten just once.

We’ll have confirmation of the starting line-ups shortly with kick-off at the Emirates scheduled for 4.30pm.