Antonio Conte is likely to shuffle his pack when Tottenham return to Premier League action after the international break. Fresh from beating Leicester City 6-2 last Saturday, Spurs' next league game sees them make the short trip across the capital to take on Arsenal in the North London Derby.
Both sides have started the 2022/23 season extremely strongly and all eyes will be on the Emirates for what promises to be a mouth-watering showdown. Arsenal currently top the Premier League table with six wins and one defeat from their first seven games, with Spurs two places below them but just the one point behind.
Having rotated his Tottenham team against Leicester and with Hugo Lloris and Ben Davies injury concerns, Conte looks set to make a couple of changes here and there a week on Saturday. So what alterations could he make? football.london takes a look.
READ MORE: Harry Kane contract latest plus Antonio Conte's Tottenham future amid those Juventus links
Lloris injury question
Conte and Tottenham were handed an injury worry on Monday with Lloris withdrawing from international duty for France. Joining up with his Les Bleus teammates at their base in Clairefontaine, a "small injury" to his right thigh was diagnosed by the team's doctor.
Now not part of the France squad for their two upcoming UEFA Nations League games, the World Cup winner will spend his international break back at Hotspur Way trying to recover from the problem. All at Spurs will be hoping for positive news regarding Lloris or else it will force the head coach into a change between the sticks against Arsenal if the experienced goalkeeper is to miss out.
If that is indeed the case, Fraser Forster will come in for his full Tottenham debut. A huge occasion for any player to make their bow for their new club, the 34-year-old has a wealth of experience and he was on the winning side against Arsenal back in April when playing for Southampton.
Bissouma decision
The introduction of Yves Bissouma in the final 20 minutes against Leicester City last weekend helped swing the game in Tottenham's favour. Previously struggling in midfield due to the Foxes having an extra body in there, Spurs matched them as they switched to a 3-5-2 system and it resulted in Son Heung-min grabbing a late hat-trick.
Using the setup to great success during his time at Inter Milan, it is something we have only seen on a couple of occasions from the start of matches during Conte's Tottenham tenure. He now must decide if he wants to operate this way when they travel to the Emirates for the North London Derby.
Mikel Arteta's side have lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Martin Odegaard pulling the strings in the central role of the three behind Gabriel Jesus. As Bissouma was playing the holding role when he came on against Leicester, he could focus on nullifying the Norwegian ace while Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur match up with Arsenal's midfield duo.
Right wing-back decision
Conte's decision over a potential three-man midfield could have implications on who he starts at right wing-back. If indeed he does go with Bissouma alongside Hojbjerg and Bentancur, he may want to play an attack-minded right wing-back as his side may be a tad defensive if not.
That would then mean Dejan Kulusevski and Ivan Perisic can be attacking options out wide and help supply and support Harry Kane and Son in attack. However, if Conte elects to stick with his usual 3-4-3 setup then that could open up the door for Emerson Royal to return to the starting XI.
The Brazilian is good defensively and demonstrated his defensive nous last campaign in the crunch away games at Man City and Liverpool where Tottenham left with valuable points. Conte has plenty of options on the right but his final choice may all depend on which system he goes with.
Romero returns
One change we are likely to see at the back is Cristian Romero returning in place of Davinson Sanchez. The Argentina international was dropped down to the bench last weekend against Leicester as the boss made some rotations to keep his team fresh.
Sanchez did have a rather eventful game, notably conceding an early penalty for a tackle on James Justin before having a goal disallowed for a foul on Danny Ward and then later hitting the crossbar with a header. Romero did replace Sanchez on the hour mark in the win over the Foxes and he is likely to come in from the off when they make the short trip across north London.
Son back in the XI
The big talking point ahead of the Leicester match was Conte's decision to name Son on the bench after such a frustrating start to the campaign. Introduced with 30 minutes to go, the South Korean responded in the best way possible with a hat-trick.
There's simply no way the player misses out on the side again following his heroics in the space of 13 minutes and 21 seconds. Richarlison has had a good run in the Tottenham XI lately but he may find himself back on the bench for this one, although he is a brilliant option for Conte to bring on to cause Arsenal serious problems at the back.
READ NEXT:
Antonio Conte is about to embark on 43 days that could shape his and Tottenham's season
Antonio Conte's superb reaction to Son goal vs Leicester and Tottenham player he celebrated with
Son Heung-min explains Gian Piero Ventrone moment after Tottenham hat-trick and his celebration
- Tottenham's Ben Davies set for spell on sidelines as Arsenal North London Derby question raised
Lucas Moura, Emerson Royal and the other Tottenham stars Antonio Conte can work with in training
