Thoughts ahead of the North London Derby

Will Sanchez start?

One of the big questions ahead of the impending derby is whether Alexis will be fit for the game. The Chilean is the kind of player who revels in these sorts of matches, and his absence may take the spice out of the game a bit.

His omission from the starting lineup in the reverse fixture was one of the more baffling decisions this season, but this time his inclusion depends on fitness rather than selection choice.

The 26-year-old is clearly desperate to play, but Arsene Wenger remains unconvinced and doesn’t appear willing to risk our sensational summer signing.

“He wants to play, he’s so keen! He wants to play of course. He’s very keen and thinks he can even defy the medical people. I don’t know yet. I need medical advice on that and need as well to see what he can do in training,” Wenger said.

While everyone would no doubt love to have Alexis fit and firing for a game of such magnitude and importance, is it worth the risk?

A win today would take us up to third place, although other results this weekend could see our return to the top four a short lived one.

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It was not so long ago that we seemed so far off fourth place that our season looked destined for failure. After a fantastic January however, we are in fifth place; behind Southampton only on goal difference.

A win today would take us up to third place, although other results this weekend could see our return to the top four a short lived one. Considering the start to the season and the injuries we have had, that’s a lofty position going into the final third of the season.

Kane vs Koscielny

The game has unsurprisingly been centered around Spurs man of the moment Harry Kane. The Spurs man was once in Arsenal’s books and is a lifelong Gooner. However now he’s shining for Spurs and his rise has kindled the North London Derby fire. Kane will no doubt look to prove himself but against Koscielny he will not find things easy. The Frenchman has kept more illustrious strikers quiet and if he keeps Kane in check then Arsenal have a great chance to snatch three points from the lane.