Tottenham and Arsenal fans don't have to wait long at all now with the North London Derby just around the corner. Following the completion of this month's international break, the sides will face off at the Emirates Stadium next Saturday lunchtime.
It promises to be a mouth-watering contest with both sides making incredibly strong starts to the 2022/23 campaign. Arsenal currently sit top of the table following six wins and one defeat from their first seven games, with Antonio Conte's Spurs side one point behind them but in third as Man City are ahead of them on goal difference.
Only having a handful of players to work with at present as the vast majority of his squad are in international action, the numbers will increase at Hotspur Way as next week progresses and the players start heading back in dribs and drabs. Two of Conte's Tottenham regulars, Hugo Lloris and Ben Davies, picked up injuries ahead of the international break and had to pull out of France and Wales action respectively.
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Question marks currently surround the pair ahead of the North London Derby but things should become a lot clearer once Conte speaks to the media in his pre-match press conference at the end of next week. So what would be Tottenham's strongest squad for the derby at the Emirates Stadium? football.london takes a look.
First of all, all eyes are going to be on Lloris' fitness in the days leading up to the Arsenal game due to the "small injury" to his right thigh. All connected with Spurs will be hoping he is fit enough to return, with Fraser Forster waiting to come into the XI and Brandon Austin on the bench if not.
Cristian Romero is likely to replace Davinson Sanchez in the team, with Clement Lenglet once again getting the nod as the left-sided centre-back amid doubts over Davies. If the Welshman is declared fit enough to be in the squad, that may spell bad news for Japhet Tanganga as he could drop out of the squad altogether.
Conte's wing-backs may all depend on his thinking in regards to the system as Tottenham finished in a 3-5-2 setup against Leicester City and looked better for it. If he does continue to persist with his favoured 3-4-3, Ivan Perisic and Ryan Sessegnon could be given the nod again, although Emerson Royal will be a contender on the right due to his defensive qualities.
As Djed Spence has missed out on the matchday 20 in the league four times this campaign, he may once again find himself watching on from the stands. In midfield, Yves Bissouma has given his boss a decision to make after his cameo last time out but his place in the XI will depend on which setup Conte opts for.
In attack, Son Heung-min looks guaranteed to come back in after his hat-trick heroics against Leicester and that could see Richarlison drop out of the team as a result. Spurs could be given a further attacking boost if Lucas Moura is fit enough to return after more than a month out with a calf issue.
A comeback for the Brazilian would then leave the boss with a decision to make over whether he goes with three attackers on the bench or just the two. That in turn could then spell bad news for Bryan Gil if it is to be the latter.
Strongest Tottenham squad for North London Derby
Tottenham XI: Lloris; Romero, Dier, Lenglet; Perisic, Hojbjerg, Bentancur, Sessegnon; Kulusevski, Kane, Son
Substitutes: Forster, Sanchez, Davies, Emerson, Doherty, Bissouma, Skipp, Richarlison, Lucas
Missing: Spence, Gil, Tanganga, White, Sarr, Austin
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