MIKEL Arteta is facing an all too familiar headache ahead of Saturday’s north London derby against Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium.

Thomas Partey is again an injury concern after pulling out of Ghana’s friendly against Brazil on Friday with a knee problem, meaning Albert Sambi Lokonga could partner Granit Xhaka in the heart of the Gunners midfield. Left-back Kieran Tierney is also a doubt after sustaining a head injury while playing for Scotland in their UEFA Nations League fixture against the Republic of Ireland.

Meanwhile, an air of mystery surrounds right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu, who withdrew from international duties with Japan for what has been described as “club circumstances”.

On the plus side, captain Martin Odegaard, who missed Arsenal’s 3-0 win at Brentford last time out, looks set to return after featuring for Norway during the international break, while there are also whispers that Oleksandr Zinchenko has shaken off a niggling calf strain.

The best news for Arteta is that he will be able to pick his first-choice attack. Bukayo Saka came through his England outings unscathed, and both Gabriel

Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus will be fresh and fully focused on Tottenham after being rested by Brazil.

With Arsenal going into the lunchtime kick-off top of the Premier League, Arteta is still taking a cautious approach to any title talk.

He said: “We will push to be the best that we can be and that’s the aim, and then the table won’t lie after 38 games.”