Arsenal are aiming for a second straight win over arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. The Gunners defeated Tottenham 2-0 in the teams’ previous meeting this season. Some great Arsenal news has come out of the Emirates this week as the team has received positive reports about injuries to key players.
Arsenal news and injuries
Striker Danny Welbeck will return from a hip injury that has kept him out recently. Full-back Nacho Monreal is also expected to return. He left Arsenal’s 5-1 win over Everton early due to a thigh injury.
Petr Cech is still being held out of training, however. The Gunners will give the goalkeeper all the time he needs to recover from an injury sustained last weekend. Cech is expected to take a late fitness test ahead of the North London Derby at Wembley. There is a chance backup David Ospina could get the nod, but no decision has been made as yet.
In the lead up to the weekend’s fixture, manager Arsene Wenger spoke to Arsenal’s official website about the task ahead.
“I just think that, for us, it will be more about sorting out the tactical problems,” Wenger said.
“To be at the level of performance we want to be, we have to play our fluent football. What Wembley gives you is a good quality of pitch to allow you to play the kind of game we want to play.”
Wenger also addressed the team’s injuries.
“Maybe Danny Welbeck will be back,” the manager said.
“We had a few problems with Cech, who we are not sure about at the moment because he’s not trained. I don’t know if he will be available. Monreal looks alright again. It should be a similar squad.”
Arsenal are aiming to win back-to-back North London Derbies for the first time in the same season for just the fourth time. The club previously won both derby games during the 2013-14 season.