Thursday's North London Derby is set up to be one of the biggest in recent years, with so much at stake for either side. Arsenal are on the brink of qualifying for the Champions League and a win would secure them a top 4 finish. Meanwhile, Tottenham find themselves four points behind and under pressure to put a halt to the Gunners' plans.
Emotions will be running high, and Mikel Arteta must ensure his players keep their heads throughout in order to stay focused for what is likely to be a ferocious clash. The Spaniard has a number of players that can play a crucial role in gaining the upper hand over Spurs, and they will have to prepare for some key battles all over the pitch.
From attack to defence, there will be a vital role for everyone, but Arsenal have three players in particular that can hurt Antonio Conte's game plan and stop Tottenham in their tracks.
Takehiro Tomiyasu
I can't reiterate just how important it is to have this guy back heading into Thursday night. Tomiyasu has been colossal for us whenever he's played and his return gives me some much-needed confidence for the derby.
Tomiyasu filled in at left-back against Leeds on Sunday and his versatility sees him do it with ease. I would imagine Arteta will opt for experience at the back against Spurs, so I wouldn't be surprised to see the full-back start there again, with either Cedric or Ben White operating on the right.
If this does indeed turn out to be the case, the Japanese international will find himself up against Dejan Kulusevski. Conte's January addition has impressed so far, scoring three goals and providing eight assists in 15 league appearances. Possessing a speedy direct run, the young Swede will no doubt make it a busy evening for Tomiyasu, but I have faith that he will be dealt with.
One advantage Tomiyasu has with this battle, in particular, is that he has already gone up against Kulusevski in the Serie A, so he will have an idea of his playing style and the approach that is needed. Aside from that, the 23-year-old also reads the game really well and has been solid defensively this season.
Granit Xhaka
What a season it's been for the Swiss midfielder. From heading towards the exit door amid interest from Roma to signing a new contract and becoming an even more valuable player under Arteta. I'll hold my hands up and admit that I've not been his biggest fan at times, but he really appears to have turned a corner over the past year.
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Xhaka can round off a very strong campaign when he goes up against Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in the middle of the park on Thursday. Both players are actually quite similar for their clubs when it comes to character and playing style. They bring aggression, leadership and passion, but don't make many goal contributions.
For them, it's all about controlling the game and progressing play when possible. However, Xhaka's confidence and form should give him a slight advantage for this battle. He has been more calm and composed recently, with Mohamed Elneny's burst of energy alongside him also helping in the process.
If he manages to keep his head, which is always a concern of mine, then he will no doubt keep things ticking along nicely for us in midfield too. It's going to be tricky to find the right balance between attacking and defending at times, we must go there to win but also be wary of dangerous counter-attacks, so Granit will need to control the tempo of play just right.
Eddie Nketiah
If you had to pick a time for Eddie to find some form in front of goal, it would be now. Four in his last four games isn't bad going at all, and he's been unfortunate not to rack up more than that. Where does his future lie? No one knows right now, but he can make what could potentially be his last North London Derby a memorable one.
There's always been a sense that Nketiah only comes alive when he's in the 18-yard box, but if anything, he's done the opposite over the last few weeks. He's provided energy, speed, extra movement and a good work rate across the frontline, as we saw with his goals against Chelsea and Leeds.
This week presents what is perhaps his biggest test yet, however, as he prepares to go up against a no-nonsense Cristian Romero. The Argentinian has been a brick wall for Conte this season and is very hard to get past, but Nketiah can cause him problems if he continues what he's been doing.
Linking up with the likes of Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Gabriel Martinelli will be crucial. If they can all be on the same page and play at the same intensity from the first half on Sunday, Romero and his defensive partners will find it difficult to keep up. As I mentioned above, Nketiah's energy and pace can be his biggest weapon, especially with the lack of pace Spurs offer in the central areas.
