Mikel Arteta reveals that key Arsenal pair are a ‘doubt’ for the north London derby
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has revealed that key duo Bukayo Saka and Ben White are doubts for the upcoming north London derby and what is set to be the most pivotal game of his managerial career to date.
The Gunners travel to the Tottenham Hotspur stadium four points clear of their north London rivals, knowing that a win would cement their position in the Champions League for next season at the expense of Antonio Conte’s side. It is perhaps the biggest north London Derby since 2004.
However, they may have to do it without Saka and White, Arteta revealed in his pre-match press conference.
Asked about the injury latest around his side, the Spaniard revealed that ‘Thomas [Partey] is still out, Kieran [Tierney] is still out.
Then, he added, ‘Ben [White] is a doubt. We’ll have to assess him he’s feeling much better and Bukayo [Saka] is the same.’
Bukayo Saka of Arsenal was taken off in the second half of Arsenal’s most recent game against Leeds. (Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Pushed further on their status ahead of the game, he was keen not to give away too much.
‘Very difficult to rate (a chance) with injuries, it’s just how they feel today,’ he said. ‘That’s the last day we can assess them so we’ll have to see.’
Ben White has missed the last two Arsenal games through injury, while Saka has come off in both encounters, suggesting that he may perhaps be managing an injury.
Defining game for both sides
This game is likely to define not only this season, but plenty to come for the two clubs. Whichever side makes it into the Champions League will have the added pull when it comes to attracting top talent to their club, although the attraction of Antonio Conte may perhaps counteract that.
It should prove to be fascinating 90 minutes in north London, and one that could set the tone for a long while to come.
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Premier League table
| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Manchester City | 35 | 68 | 86 |
| 2 | Liverpool FC | 36 | 65 | 86 |
| 3 | Chelsea FC | 35 | 39 | 67 |
| 4 | Arsenal FC | 35 | 14 | 66 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 35 | 20 | 62 |
| 6 | Manchester United | 37 | 1 | 58 |
| 7 | West Ham United | 36 | 11 | 55 |
| 8 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 35 | 1 | 50 |
| 9 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 36 | -4 | 47 |
| 10 | Crystal Palace | 35 | 4 | 44 |
| 11 | Aston Villa | 35 | -1 | 43 |
| 12 | Brentford FC | 36 | -8 | 43 |
| 13 | Newcastle United | 36 | -21 | 43 |
| 14 | Leicester City | 34 | -7 | 42 |
| 15 | Southampton FC | 36 | -20 | 40 |
| 16 | Everton FC | 34 | -19 | 35 |
| 17 | Burnley FC | 35 | -17 | 34 |
| 18 | Leeds United | 35 | -35 | 34 |
| 19 | Watford FC | 35 | -38 | 22 |
| 20 | Norwich City | 35 | -53 | 21 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 22 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur | 20 |
| Ronaldo, Cristiano | Manchester United | 18 |
| Jota, Diogo | Liverpool FC | 15 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 15 |
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur | 13 |
| Zaha, Wilfried | Crystal Palace | 13 |
| Toney, Ivan | Brentford FC | 12 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester City | 12 |
| De Bruyne, Kevin | Manchester City | 11 |
| Saka, Bukayo | Arsenal FC | 11 |
| Mahrez, Riyad | Manchester City | 11 |
| Bowen, Jarrod | West Ham United | 10 |
| Mount, Mason | Chelsea FC | 10 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 10 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 10 |
| Pukki, Teemu | Norwich City | 10 |
| Raphinha | Leeds United | 10 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 10 |
| Smith-Rowe, Emile | Arsenal FC | 10 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brownhill, Josh | Burnley FC | 0 | 10 |
| Bednarek, Jan | Southampton FC | 0 | 10 |
| Tarkowski, James | Burnley FC | 0 | 10 |
| Bissouma, Yves | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | 10 |
| Firpo, Junior | Leeds United | 0 | 10 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 0 | 9 |
| Gallagher, Conor | Crystal Palace | 0 | 9 |
| Neves, Ruben | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0 | 9 |
| Mings, Tyrone | Aston Villa | 0 | 9 |
| Xhaka, Granit | Arsenal FC | 1 | 8 |
| Mctominay, Scott | Manchester United | 0 | 9 |
| Salisu, Mohammed | Southampton FC | 0 | 8 |
| Ronaldo, Cristiano | Manchester United | 0 | 8 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 0 | 7 |
| Richarlison | Everton FC | 0 | 8 |
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 1 | 7 |
| Alonso, Marcos | Chelsea FC | 0 | 8 |
| Moreno, Rodrigo | Leeds United | 0 | 8 |
| McGinn, John | Aston Villa | 0 | 8 |
| Cash, Matty | Aston Villa | 0 | 8 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 13 |
| Alexander-Arnold, Trent | Liverpool FC | 12 |
| Bowen, Jarrod | West Ham United | 10 |
| Robertson, Andy | Liverpool FC | 10 |
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur | 9 |
| Mount, Mason | Chelsea FC | 9 |
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 9 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester City | 8 |
| Kulusevski, Dejan | Tottenham Hotspur | 8 |
| Cancelo, Joao | Manchester City | 8 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur | 7 |
| De Bruyne, Kevin | Manchester City | 7 |
| Lacazette, Alexandre | Arsenal FC | 7 |
| Barnes, Harvey | Leicester City | 7 |
| Mbeumo, Bryan | Brentford FC | 7 |
| Saka, Bukayo | Arsenal FC | 6 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 6 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 6 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 6 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 6 |
