Tottenham Hotspur can move six points clear of fierce rivals Arsenal this afternoon by winning the biggest North London Derby since the 1991 FA Cup semi-final.
Arsenal will be without no.1 goalkeeper Petr Cech and first-choice centre-back Laurent Koscielny at White Hart Lane, according to Sky Sports.
To make matters worse for the Gunners, Tottenham’s official club website are reporting that Dele Alli, who did not start in Wednesday’s 1-0 defeat to West Ham United, “is okay”, while Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino hopes Mousa Dembele will also be able to play.
Dembele, who is Tottenham’s most muscular midfielder, has missed his side’s last three matches, ending his run of five consecutive Premier League starts.
Should Dembele and Alli be deemed fit enough to start on Saturday, Pochettino will be able to name his strongest XI with just one exception – Jan Vertonghen has missed Tottenham’s last nine games with an ankle problem and is still out.
Kevin Wimmer has stood in for star man Vertonghen in those nine matches, helping Spurs keep four clean sheets in the process.
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Wimmer will again start this weekend, alongside Toby Alderweireld, who has been superb at the heart of Tottenham’s defence this season.
Pochettino has a habit of rotating his full-backs, so – as Ben Davies and Kieran Trippier started at West Ham – Danny Rose and Kyle Walker should return to add some energy in the wide positions.
Eric Dier partnering Dembele enables Alli to play further forward, probably alongside Danish playmaker Christian Eriksen, who has eight Premier League assists this season, and Erik Lamela, who us one of Tottenham’s best pressers.
Harry Kane, despite having a broken nose, has to start up top, as he is the only senior striker Spurs have got.
Kane’s form against Arsenal is impressive. Tottenham’s no.10 has scored three goals in the last two Premier League North London Derbies.
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