Gabriel's Injury Forces Arsenal into Major Defensive Shake-Up for Tottenham Clash

Arsenal face a pivotal north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur this Sunday afternoon as they maintain their pursuit of the Premier League championship.

The Gunners currently hold the early edge in the title race, though their stumble at Sunderland prior to the international break has opened opportunities for their rivals. Getting back to winning form and securing important local bragging rights remains essential for Mikel Arteta's squad.

This derby kicks off a challenging period for Arsenal, with Bayern Munich awaiting in the Champions League midweek before traveling to Chelsea the following weekend, while injury concerns are creating selection dilemmas for Arteta. A depleted forward line and Gabriel's significant injury will complicate Arsenal's preparations.

Here's how they might set up at the Emirates Stadium against Spurs.

Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs. Tottenham (4-2-3-1)

GK: David Raya—With seven shutouts in 11 appearances, Raya remains on track for another Premier League Golden Glove award and would relish keeping Tottenham scoreless in the derby.

RB: Jurriën Timber—The Dutch defender has been crucial to Arsenal's effectiveness in both phases of play and stands as arguably the finest complete right-back currently available.

CB: William Saliba—Saliba will miss his defensive partner Gabriel on Sunday, though this is unlikely to rattle the composed Frenchman. He won't be particularly worried by Tottenham's attacking options, including fellow countryman Randal Kolo Muani.

CB: Cristhian Mosquera—Mosquera is anticipated to step in as Gabriel's substitute, having already demonstrated flashes of his calmness and ability since joining the Gunners. He'll aim to keep a low profile in his debut north London derby.

LB: Riccardo Calafiori—A hip problem has put Calafiori's Sunday participation in doubt, though he's expected to feature at left-back. Myles Lewis-Skelly stands ready as backup if needed.

DM: Martín Zubimendi—Zubimendi has integrated smoothly into Arsenal's midfield, providing excellent defensive cover and calm distribution as the Gunners build through the phases. He already appears to be excellent value.

DM: Declan Rice—Rice will have license to surge into Tottenham's penalty area, with the England international proving a valuable attacking asset through his late runs and set-piece delivery.

AM: Eberechi Eze—With Martin Ødegaard still unavailable, Eze will be responsible for supplying Arsenal's creative spark in central positions. The summer signing netted a spectacular goal for England during the international window, lifting his confidence at an ideal time.

RW: Bukayo Saka—Saka boasts six goal involvements across ten encounters with Tottenham and approaches Sunday's match in excellent form. He found the net during international duty to extend his tally to four goals in his previous six appearances.

ST: Mikel Merino—Merino has an uncanny knack for finding the back of the net despite his traditional midfield role. The versatile player now has nine strikes for club and country this campaign and should capably replace the injured Viktor Gyökeres.

LW: Leandro Trossard—Trossard fired home what looked like a decisive goal against Sunderland before the break, again highlighting his importance to the Arsenal squad. With injuries affecting the forward line, the Belgian has been a reliable contributor.