Arsenal could be without the services of experienced goalkeeper Petr Cech when they take on Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby on Saturday afternoon. The 35-year-old sustained a minor calf problem during the second-half of the Gunners’ 5-1 win over Everton in the Premier League last weekend, and this has potentially put him at risk of missing out on his first top-flight game of the campaign.
According to Sky Sports News, the Gunners are due to assess the extent of the injury to the former Czech international, and any damage would certainly see him miss the local derby versus Spurs. Should this be the case, David Ospina is the front-liner to make his Premier League bow for the Gunners, having started all of his previous outings in the Cup competitions this campaign.
Cech has been prone to errors during the course of the current season, but the Gunners’ faithful will nevertheless admit that he is a better option in goal than Ospina, who tends to have jittery moments in the box owing to his poor judgement, which was visible during the Europa League opener against Koln this term.
Arsenal ended a four-and-a-half year wait for a victory against Spurs earlier in the campaign, and they should come into the derby with a sense of optimism, after the impressive showing from winter signings Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan – against the Toffees.
Unlike in previous years, Arsene Wenger’s side will be facing Tottenham at the Wembley Stadium, and this could even up the contest between the clubs, though the Gunners tend to start with a defensive approach which often costs them in the big games.
The Gunners are presently separated from the top-four by a margin of just five points, and a victory over their cross-town rivals could enhance their chances of finishing in the Champions League spots, considering fourth-placed Chelsea will have their confidence at a new low after heavy defeats to Bournemouth and Watford.
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