Sports Mole

Back with a bang from the final international break of 2025, Tottenham Hotspur hit the road for a North London derby date with bitter rivals Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.

Thomas Frank's men entered the last hiatus of the calendar year on the back of a chaotic 2-2 draw with Manchester United, which prolonged their pitiful home sequence and left them fifth in the Premier League table.

However, no side has performed better on the road than Spurs in the current English top-flight campaign, in which the Lilywhites have accrued 13 points from a possible 15 away from home - a stark warning to their more revered hosts.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up all of Tottenham's injury and suspension issues ahead of their showdown with the Gunners, who hold an eight-point advantage over their near neighbours.

Pape Sarr

Status:Â Minor doubt

Type of injury:Â Knock

Possible return date:Â November 23 (vs. Arsenal)

Pape Sarr is the newest name on Spurs' injury list after suffering a knock while on duty with Senegal, but there are no serious concerns about his condition, and he ought to be available for the derby.

James Maddison

Status:Â Out

Type of injury:Â ACL

Possible return date:Â Unknown

Creative hub James Maddison is not expected to play a single minute of football this season due to an ACL injury, one that has also crushed his hopes of representing England at next summer's World Cup.

Dejan Kulusevski

Status:Â Out

Type of injury: Knee

Possible return date:Â November 29 (vs. Fulham)

Frank revealed at the end of October that fellow knee victim Dejan Kulusevski was yet to return to training on the grass following the knee problem he picked up at the end of last season, so an appearance on Sunday is out of the question.

Dominic Solanke

Status:Â Major doubt

Type of injury:Â Ankle

Possible return date:Â November 23 (vs. Arsenal)

Dominic Solanke has been recovering from a minor surgical procedure on his ankle, but at the time of writing, the striker has not been ruled out of the trip to the Emirates.

Ben Davies

Status:Â Major doubt

Type of injury:Â Thigh

Possible return date:Â November 23 (vs. Arsenal)

Ben Davies was the victim of a thigh injury during Wales' October fixtures, and it remains to be seen if the experienced defender is fit to return for the all-capital clash.

Radu Dragusin

Status:Â Major doubt

Type of injury:Â Knee

Possible return date:Â November 23 (vs. Arsenal)

Radu Dragusin is almost there in his recovery from an ACL tear and played in a behind-closed-doors friendly during the international break, so there is a slim chance that he could make the bench in North London.

Yves Bissouma

Status:Â Major doubt

Type of injury:Â Ankle

Possible return date:Â November 23 (vs. Arsenal)

Yves Bissouma was stretchered off with an ankle injury - which he has since undergone surgery on - while representing Mali in October, and his chances of featuring in the derby are considered slim to none.

Archie Gray

Status:Â Major doubt

Type of injury:Â Calf

Possible return date:Â November 23 (vs. Arsenal)

Archie Gray has been dealing with a calf strain for the last few weeks, and his status for the Arsenal trip remains unclear while Frank is yet to address the media.

Kota Takai

Status:Â Major doubt

Type of injury:Â Thigh

Possible return date:Â November 23 (vs. Arsenal)

Summer signing Kota Takai is yet to make his competitive debut for Spurs due to a combination of foot and thigh injuries, but his comeback is thought to be close, and a place in the matchday squad on Sunday is not beyond the realm of possibility.

Lucas Bergvall

Status:Â Minor doubt

Type of injury:Â Head

Possible return date:Â November 23 (vs. Arsenal)

Lucas Bergvall did not represent Sweden this month due to the concussion he sustained in the loss to Chelsea on November 1, but he ought to have finished the necessary protocol period by the time the derby comes around.

Mohammed Kudus

Status:Â Minor doubt

Type of injury:Â Knock

Possible return date:Â November 23 (vs. Arsenal)

Mohammed Kudus did not feature in the Man Utd draw or either of Ghana's two matches this month as a result of a knock, but there is optimism that he will be fit to face the Gunners.

Randal Kolo Muani

Status:Â Out

Type of injury:Â Jaw

Possible return date:Â Unknown

Randal Kolo Muani is understood to have suffered a jaw fracture during the draw with the Red Devils a couple of weeks ago, and while he does not require surgery, it is unclear when he will be back to 100%.

TOTTENHAM'S SUSPENSION LIST

Tottenham have no players banned for this Premier League contest, but Cristian Romero is one booking away from a suspension.

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Seeking four straight wins over their North London derby rivals for the first time in the Premier League era, Arsenal welcome Tottenham Hotspur to the Emirates Stadium for Sunday's headline act.

The international hiatus came at an ideal time for the Gunners, who lost their streak of successes and clean sheets in an agonising 2-2 stalemate with high-flying Sunderland in gameweek 11.

Nevertheless, Mikel Arteta's men still hold an unassailable four-point lead at the top of the Premier League standings for the time being, but Gooners are now lamenting the crushing absence of a critical name.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up Arsenal's latest injury and suspension news ahead of their clash with Spurs, who sit four places and eight points worse off ahead of Sunday's showdown.

Gabriel Magalhaes

Status: Out

Type of injury: Thigh

Possible return date:Â Unknown

Defender and set-piece extraordinaire Gabriel Magalhaes sustained a severe thigh injury during Brazil's recent friendly win over Senegal at the Emirates, and the centre-back is now facing between one and two months on the sidelines - a devastating blow for Arteta and co.

Viktor Gyokeres

Status: Major doubt

Type of injury: Muscle

Possible return date:Â November 23 (vs. Tottenham Hotspur)

Viktor Gyokeres is anticipated to return from his muscular problem soon, but at the time of writing, the Swedish striker remains a serious doubt for the North London derby.Â

Gabriel Martinelli

Status: Major doubt

Type of injury: Muscle

Possible return date:Â November 23 (vs. Tottenham Hotspur)

Gabriel Martinelli picked up a muscular issue against Crystal Palace in October, and the winger is also on the Gunners' touch-and-go list for the weekend's blockbuster.

Martin Odegaard

Status:Â Out

Type of injury: Knee

Possible return date:Â Unknown

There was hope that Martin Odegaard would be back in action for the all-capital clash this weekend, but Norway boss Stale Solbakken recently said that the Arsenal skipper was still some distance away from returning from a knee injury, suggesting that he will watch the derby from the sidelines.

Kai Havertz

Status: Out

Type of injury:Â Knee

Possible return date:Â Unknown

Kai Havertz has played just one match all season long due to his troublesome knee issue, and Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann recently revealed that he suffered a relapse in his recovery, so he will likely be missing for a little while longer.

Noni Madueke

Status:Â Major doubt

Type of injury:Â Knee

Possible return date:Â November 23 (vs. Tottenham Hotspur)

Noni Madueke suffered his own knee injury against Manchester City in September, which was expected to rule him out for around eight weeks, so there is a chance that he will be able to face his former youth side here.

Gabriel Jesus

Status:Â Out

Type of injury:Â KneeÂ

Possible return date:Â January 3 (vs. Bournemouth)

Gabriel Jesus is slowly being reintegrated into full training after his ACL tear, and the Brazilian attacker is on course for a first-team return at some point in the New Year.

ARSENAL'S SUSPENSION LIST

Arsenal have no players suspended for the North London derby.

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Tottenham Hotspur will only listen to permanent offers for Mathys Tel amid Roma's interest in signing him in January, the latest report has claimed.

Boss Thomas Frank will be busy preparing plans for his side's match against rivals Arsenal on Sunday, though he may also be making plans for the winter window.

The team are currently fifth in the Premier League with 18 points, just two points from third-placed Chelsea, and making additions could be key for the club's chances of finishing in the top four and securing Champions League football.

Spurs have been linked with offensive players, but any addition in January could lead to less playing time for the likes of Mathys Tel, who has only played 251 minutes of league football this term.

La Gazzetta dello Sport report that Tel is a target for Roma, but despite the fact the Frenchman is dissatisfied with his playing time, he will only be allowed to leave if permanent offers come in.

January transfer window: What type of player should Tottenham Hotspur target?

Frank has struggled to get the most out of Tottenham's attack so far, with the team only producing one shot on target against Chelsea when they lost 1-0 on November 1.

Tel has not had the chance to make much of an impact, but he did score a goal against Manchester United on November 8 in his side's last match, and he has averaged the second-highest goal involvement per 90 at the club (0.72).

If Frank is unwilling to give the winger more of a chance in the team, then adding a player at the base of midfield could be beneficial given the Londoners have struggled to build out from defence.

Though a creative player could boost the team, the club are hopeful of welcoming back Dejan Kulusevski before the end of the year, and adding a passer deep in midfield may help unlock the talent of creator Xavi Simons.

What can Thomas Frank achieve in the Premier League this season?

The race for Champions League football looks set to be intense, with just four points separating Chelsea from 12th-placed Brentford.

Spurs have conceded 10 goals in the Premier League this term after 11 games, three fewer than they did at the same stage last season, though their tally of 19 goals scored is four fewer.

Tottenham have two more points than at the same stage of 2024-25, and it should be noted that they took just eight points from their next 12 top-flight fixtures.

Frank should be expected to comfortably guide his side to a better return in the same period, especially as nine of their next 12 come against teams ninth or lower.

If Spurs can avoid a poor stretch of results, then they may be able to enter the new year comfortably in the top four considering their Champions League rivals have so far been inconsistent.

Tottenham Hotspur have a gruelling set of fixtures after the November international break, including a Champions League away clash against Paris Saint-Germain.Â

Spurs have gone through a rough patch before the international break, failing to win in six home games in the Premier League thus far.Â

Thomas Frank's side has been jeered by the home fans in recent games, and the pressure will mount on the Spurs boss if they fail to pick up form immediately after the break.Â

Tottenham will face Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday, then travel to France to face PSG in the Champions League, before hosting London rivals Fulham in the league.Â

Spurs receive injury boost ahead of PSG clashÂ

Ahead of next Wednesday's match, PSG are reportedly sweating on the fitness of Ousmane Dembele and Nuno Mendes, both of whom are major doubts for the clash against Spurs.Â

The pair picked up injuries during their 2-1 loss against Bayern Munich in their previous Champions League game before the international break, and they were not called up for their national sides.Â

Dembele picked up a calf injury while Mendes sprained his knee, and both are major doubts for PSG's clash at home to Le Havre on Saturday.Â

According to a report from the Evening Standard, the pair have slim chances of playing against Tottenham next week, which should come as a huge boost for the north London club.Â

Dembele is the current Ballon d'Or winner and Mendes is arguably one of the best left-backs in the world, and losing both would be a significant blow for PSG.Â

Tottenham injury issuesÂ

Spurs are missing a host of players, with the likes of James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Radu Dragusin, and Dominic Solanke are long-term absentees.Â

Pape Sarr appeared to have picked up a knock during Senegal's 2-0 loss to Brazil, but he should be fine to play in the north London derby.Â

Arsenal expert Charles Watts has exclusively told Sports Mole his ideal replacement for the injured Gabriel Magalhaes, and it is not who many Gooners may think.

The Gunners were hopeful of receiving some positive injury news over the international period, with the likes of Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli stepping up their recoveries in the hope of being fit for daunting fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich and Chelsea later this month.

Instead, Mikel Arteta will be bemoaning the absence of critical defender Gabriel, who is feared to be facing one to two months on the sidelines with the thigh injury he sustained in Brazil's friendly win over Senegal at the Emirates a few days ago.

Gabriel's issue would seemingly open up a place in the team for the left-sided Piero Hincapie to slot into, but Watts believes that Cristhian Mosquera would be a better call, even though he is predominantly right-sided.

Asked who his top pick would be to replace Gabriel, Watts replied: “I can't give you a definitive answer to that because I don't know. I think I would probably go with Mosquera. I don't think I'd want to move Calafiori, because you’re shaking the defence up and hurting yourself twice.

“And Mosquera's not put a foot wrong. He's looked so strong. Yes, he's more predominantly right-sided, but he's played left-sided many times, and he's up to speed. He knows exactly what it's about. He’s earned that place.

Why Cristhian Mosquera deserves to replace Gabriel for Arsenal

“If it was a month down the line, then maybe I would be going Hincapie. But he's not going to get back until probably Thursday. He's going to have a lot of air miles in his legs. Maybe that will come into consideration.

“I wouldn't be surprised if Mikel goes with Hincapie though. Mikel's really bigged up Hincapie every time he's talked about his mentality, calling him a warrior, so it wouldn't shock me if it is Hincapie who plays there. Thankfully it's not, but if it was my decision, I would go Mosquera.”

Mosquera and Hincapie are just two of five players who could potentially fill the Gabriel void for Arsenal, who also have Riccardo Calafiori, Ben White and Jurrien Timber available, but Arteta has lost arguably an irreplaceable player in the Brazil international.

The Gunners have won 64% of their games with Gabriel in the team compared to just 40% when he has been absent, and footage of him limping off in Brazil's win triggered inevitable fan uproar online at Carlo Ancelotti's decision to play him.

The former Real Madrid manager issued an apology in his press conference as supporters questioned why Gabriel was risked for a friendly match, especially after reports claimed he was training separately in the lead-up to the match in order to manage his load.

However, with the World Cup just several months away and Gabriel seeking to cement his place in the Brazil XI, Watts defended Ancelotti's decision to risk the 27-year-old, whose problem can be attributed to bad luck rather than mismanagement.

Gabriel Magalhaes injury: Are Brazil, Ancelotti to blame?

“It’s still a big game," Watts replied. "There's about four games left before the World Cup, and you ask Gabriel if he wants to play in that game, he’s absolutely going to say yes. It wasn't like Gabriel was the only first-team player who was playing.

“It's a big game for Ancelotti. He's just arrived, not had many games and wants to see who he wants to be involved in the World Cup. It was at the Emirates as well – his own stadium - there was no way Gabriel wasn't going to be playing in that game. So I don't really buy into that argument.

“I get it, because it's incredibly frustrating. If you're a fan of the club whose player has just got injured, you're of course going to be like, ‘oh, why is he playing in a friendly?’ But never in my mind did I not expect Gabriel to play. He was front and centre of all the advertising for it. But it’s obviously incredibly, incredibly disappointing.

“I've seen the reports coming out from journalists around the Brazil camp who suggested that he was training on his own on Friday. I don't know if that that was the case. I don't know if Arsenal had been in contact with Brazil. It's ironic - normally you'd be saying it's because of all that jetting off halfway around the world, but he's not even left his home!

“It does come down to luck at times. I get the emotional reaction, but he was always, always going to play in that game. He’s only just really forced his way into the Brazil team as well. It’s not been that long since he was in and out the side. He doesn't want to risk that ahead of the World Cup.”

In brighter news, Calafiori is expected to shake off a minor hip problem in time for the North London derby this weekend, but there is a strong chance that Gabriel - who has scored two goals and provided three assists this season - has played for the final time in 2025.

Liverpool, Manchester City, and Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly interested in signing AFC Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, but one of them is ahead in the race at the moment.Â

Semenyo joined the Cherries in the January window of 2023 for a reported fee of £10m, and has gradually developed into one of the Premier League's most dynamic wingers.Â

The 25-year-old was linked with moves to Manchester United and Spurs during the summer transfer window, but the deals did not materialize; instead, he signed a new contract until 2030.Â

Interestingly, despite the contract extension, Semenyo remains in demand in the transfer market and is still linked with a move away from the Vitality Stadium in the January window.Â

Liverpool ahead of the race for Semenyo?Â

According to a report from TeamTalk, the Reds are leading the race at the moment to sign Semenyo, who has a £65m release clause in his contract.Â

The experienced attacker has been in superb form this season, having netted six goals and provided three assists in 11 Premier League appearances.

The report claims that Spurs are also ready to throw their hat into the ring, and the Cherries may soon face the task of waving goodbye to their talisman attacker.

The Reds are reportedly ready to meet the price needed to lure the Ghana international from the South Coast club.Â

Do Liverpool need Semenyo in January?Â

The Reds sold Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich in the summer window, and they did not replace him properly, despite signing three quality forwards to bolster their attacking department.Â

Semenyo can play on both flanks, and therefore, he can be a valuable addition in January, considering that Mohamed Salah could be out for a long time due to his participation at the AFCON.Â

Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa are other options for Arne Slot, while Florian Wirtz could be used on the left flank, depending on the system.Â

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly learned their lesson regarding confidence placed in one of their current youngsters.

The development of homegrown talent at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has been a hot topic of debate over the past week due to the exploits of Troy Parrott.

He scored an incredible five goals across the space of less than 72 hours as Republic of Ireland defeated Portugal and Hungary to earn a spot in the World Cup playoffs.

Parrott is currently starring for AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands, netting 33 goals from 61 appearances since the start of 2024-25, but he initially started his career with Spurs.

Just four outings were made in all competitions before Spurs accepted a £6.7m offer from AZ, and it has since come back to haunt the North Londoners at a time when they are not exactly blessed with players coming through their academy setup.

Spurs established Donley stance

According to TEAMtalk, the vast progression of Parrott - now 23 years of age - has led to the Spurs hierarchy taking a specific stance over the development of Jamie Donley.

The report suggests that Spurs chiefs will present Donley with the necessary time to showcase his ability and stake a claim for a first-team spot.

Donley made headlines on Monday night as he scored the only goal of the game in Northern Ireland's 1-0 win over Luxembourg in their final World Cup qualifier.

That opportunity came despite just 257 minutes being racked up for Stoke City across six appearances this campaign, but Donley showed his pedigree in League One during 2024-25.

A total of eight goals and 10 assists came from 39 outings for Leyton Orient, and the starlet is naturally targeting an eventual return to Spurs in the long term,

He has already made four senior appearances for Spurs, albeit his game time only reaching 10 minutes.

Spurs in strong position regarding Donley's future

With a contract in place until 2029, Spurs can take their time before making a decision over whether Donley will ever be good enough to make a regular contribution in the Premier League.

Being integrated at some point feels more likely than not due to Spurs lacking homegrown talent, but Donley would need to make an impression at Championship level before earning that chance.

Tottenham Hotspur will reportedly face added European competition if they wish to win the race for Atalanta BC attacker Ademola Lookman during the January transfer window.

The Nigeria international is believed to be one of a few offensive options Spurs are keeping their eye on ahead of the winter window after he tried and failed to force an exit from the Gewiss Stadium in the summer.

Lookman was the subject of at least one rejected approach from Inter Milan, leading the former Fulham man to hit out at Atalanta on social media, alleging "months of broken promises" by the Serie A powerhouses.

The 28-year-old has endured a slow start to the season by his high standards too, only managing one goal in 10 appearances across all competitions and memorably clashing with former manager Ivan Juric on the touchline during a Champions League match against Marseille.

Juric was sacked earlier this month and replaced by Raffaele Palladino, but Lookman's future remains clouded in uncertainty, and he will soon enter the last 18 months of his contract with Atalanta.

Tottenham face added competition for Ademola Lookman deal?

A return to the Premier League could appeal to the Nigerian, who endured failed spells with Leicester City, Fulham and Everton during his first spell in England, scoring just 11 goals in 96 top-flight games.

However, Fabrizio Romano now reports that Turkish giants Galatasaray have also added Lookman to their shortlist of January targets, although they have not reached an agreement with the player contrary to local reports.

Galatasaray supposedly looked at the ex-Everton youngster during the last knockings of the summer window and have retained an interest in the versatile attacker, but no club-to-club or player negotiations have begun yet.

Lookman's proposed move to Galatasaray would see the 28-year-old link up with Nigeria teammate Victor Osimhen, who joined permanently from Napoli this summer and has already scored six Champions League goals in the 2025-26 season.

Meanwhile, Lookman has registered 53 goals and 25 assists in 128 appearances for Atalanta across all tournaments, including a historic hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen in the 2023-24 Europa League final.

What Ademola Lookman alternatives can Tottenham target?

Heralded as an attacker who can occupy a multitude of positions, Lookman could offer Thomas Frank an alternative out wide, in the number 10 spot and up front, but his previous struggles in England may be of some concern to Spurs' recruitment staff.

The 28-year-old may not even be a guaranteed starter at Tottenham either, as Frank could very well go with a front four of Dejan Kulusevski, Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons and Dominic Solanke when all four are fit and available.

Instead, the Lilywhites could target a younger winger in the shape of Lyon's Malick Fofana or Monaco's Maghnes Akliouche, and they are reported to have sent scouts to watch one of the duo in action recently.

Tottenham Hotspur are reported to be in the race for Lyon winger Malick Fofana in Januay despite Barcelona's interest in the forward.

Spurs' season under new boss Thomas Frank has been a positive one, with the club currently in fifth place with 18 points, just one point behind fourth-placed Sunderland.

However, the campaign has not been without its difficulties, as while the team were criticised for their defensive displays under Ange Postecoglou, their attacking performances have been critiqued this term.

With key forwards such as James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski injured, it is no surprise that the club have been linked with reinforcements ahead of the January window.

TEAMtalk report that Lyon winger Fofana is a genuine target for Spurs despite Barcelona's interest, though Antoine Semenyo and Ademola Lookman have also been touted as alternatives.

Is Malick Fofana the right profile of player for Tottenham?

Harry Kane and Son Heung-min shouldered most of Tottenham's attacking responsibility for the past decade, but now that both have left the club, the Londoners have struggled to be as potent in the final third.

Spurs alarmingly produced just one shot on target when they lost 1-0 against Chelsea on November 1, though it remains to be seen if Fofana would be able to solve the team's issues.

The 20-year-old left-winger has averaged 2.25 shots per 90 in Ligue 1 this campaign, a figure that would be the third highest in Tottenham's squad, but he has only scored two league goals in 2025-26.

Fofana's underlying numbers are promising, but asking such a young player to make the step-up to the Premier League in the winter could be risky, especially as he has limited history of production.

Can Tottenham qualify for the Champions League?

The race for the Champions League spots is set to be intense, especially as Liverpool and Newcastle United have seemingly regressed since 2024-25.

Just four points separate third-placed Chelsea (20) from 12th-placed Brentford (16), and the quality of teams in the middle of the table has arguably never been greater.

Tottenham have scored 19 goals in the Premier League this season, but they have produced just 11 xG, and they must improve their ability to create chances if they are to consistently find the back of the net and claim a spot in the top four.

Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori will be available for the North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur, the latest report has claimed.

Manager Mikel Arteta is set to be boosted by the return of stars such as Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz some time after the November international break, but he will be concerned by news that both Calafiori and Gabriel were forced to withdraw from the Italian and Brazilian squads respectively.

The latter was taken off by Brazil on Saturday against Senegal after picking up an apparent groin injury, while the former returned to England after Italy boss Gennaro Gattuso ruled him out of his side's match against Norway on Sunday.

Both have been key for Arsenal's defence in the Premier League this season, and there are fears that the pair could miss out on the Londoners' clash against rivals Tottenham Hotspur on November 23.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Arsenal are confident that Calafiori's issues are not injury related, and he will therefore be available next weekend.

How important are Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Magalhaes to Arsenal?

Arsenal lead the way in the Premier League, boasting a four-point advantage over second-placed Manchester City, and the foundation of their form this season has been their defence.

Having conceded just five goals in 11 top-flight fixtures, the Gunners rank as the best defensive team in the division, and Gabriel has arguably been the best centre-back in the Premier League.

The Brazilian has also scored once and provided two assists this campaign, with his efficiency in the opposition box helping Arteta's side make the most of dead-ball situations.

Without him in the team, Arsenal could be significantly more blunt in attack, but the absence of Calafiori could also be damaging given the left-back has been among the best in his position in 2025-26.

The Italian is comfortable tucking in as a centre-back, moving into midfield and overlapping on the left, so the fact he has seemingly avoided injury will be a welcome relief.

Is Mikel Arteta rotating his squad enough in the Premier League?

Arteta has at times been criticised for his use of his squad, with his detractors claiming that he has contributed to the injury woes of stars such as Bukayo Saka and Odegaard.

Saka picked up a serious hamstring problem in December 2024, and perhaps the 24-year-old's injury was predictable given he had started 138 out of 152 Premier League games between 2020-21 and 2023-24.

It should be noted that Arteta did not have the same level of depth in the forward line as he does this season, so he will be able to rotate the winger more now that he can call upon the likes of Noni Madueke.