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Football London
Football London
Sport
Lee Wilmot

How Tottenham could lineup vs Arsenal amid Hugo Lloris, Cristian Romero, Ben Davies injury news

The Emirates Stadium is the venue for the first North London Derby of the season in the Premier League this weekend. Tottenham make the short trip across north London to face their fierce rivals knowing they can leapfrog them and go to the summit of the Premier League table with victory.

That is easier said than done though, with Spurs not tasting victory at the home of their near neighbours in the Premier League since 2010, when Younes Kaboul completed a stunning comeback from 2-0 down to secure a 3-2 win.

A lunchtime kick-off at the Emirates Stadium gives both sides the opportunity to open up a lead at the top of the Premier League table before Manchester City play their rivals Manchester United on Sunday. But a lunchtime kick-off also bring its own issues, particularly given the international break before it.

READ MORE: Every goal Harry Kane has scored in the North London Derby ahead of Arsenal vs Tottenham

Antonio Conte and Mikel Arteta will be sweating on the fitness of the players they have not seen in more than a week after their exploits with their countries. And it will be interesting to see the starting lineups of both sides on Saturday morning.

Conte had Cristian Romero and Davinson Sanchez in action in South America in the early hours of Wednesday morning, so will not see either of them until Thursday to assess them ahead of Saturday's clash. Son Heung-min had a home friendly for South Korea on Tuesday, with Richarlison and Rodrigo Bentancur thankfully involved with their south American nations on European soil on Tuesday too, so not having as far to travel home.

Ryan Sessegnon, Oliver Skipp, Djed Spence, Dejan Kulusevski and Matt Doherty all had Tuesday night matches in Europe too. None of them appeared to have any problems after those matches ended.

The issue after the long travels of Romero and Sanchez is the injury situation. Spurs skipper Hugo Lloris pulled out of international duty with France due to a thigh injury. No further information has been released on him. Meanwhile Ben Davies was missing for Wales due to a hairline fractur of a bone under his knee.

Conte expects Davies to be back, although a decision will have to made as to whether he is risked or if Clement Lenglet continues to keep his place for such a big game. Conte said: "He had an injury in his knee in the game against Sporting Lisbon, and he played with this injury," he told Sky Sports. "Not a serious injury, I think, after the international break because, with the national team, he is not available. But I think after the international break, he will be available for us."

With that in mind, Conte has decisions to make on four key players and their fitness - Lloris, Davies, Sanchez and Romero. You would expect one of Romero or Sanchez to play, given they battle for the same position in the team. If Lloris and Davies are not deemed fit enough, Fraser Forster will make his Spurs debut and Lenglet will continue at left centre-back.

Away from the injuries, Conte faces a decision on whether to continue with two in midfield or change formation to bring in a third to match up to Arsenal. And after Son's hat-trick against Leicester where does that leave Richarlison and Kulusevski in the forward line stakes?

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