Alexis Sanchez and Shkodran Mustafi strike as Arsenal dominate Tottenham in north London derby

Arsenal are still a point behind their arch-rivals in the Premier League, but they have secured a hugely convincing win over Tottenham at the Emirates this afternoon. With Harry Kane and Dele Alli not at it today, the Gunners turned in their best performance of the season, with Mesut Ozil in particular having an inspired day at the office.

Full-time: Arsenal 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur

Alexis almost creeps in for a third, latching onto a big long ball over the top, but Davinson Sanchez again does well to put his man under pressure with the eventual shot saved by Lloris.

There is a strong case for Sanchez being Tottenham's best player this afternoon; despite the score line.

Four minutes of time added on at the Emirates.

Ramsey dummies and allows Xhaka to try his luck from a considerable way out, but his effort bounces well clear of Lloris' post.

We are approaching the 90th minute and Arsenal have a free kick from a good 35 yards out.

Tottenham's best chance of the game? Llorente wins a crucial knock on to find Son just inside the box but leaning back, he loops a poor effort well over Cech's cross bar.

Arsenal waste an opportunity to pounce on the counter for a third and the resulting break in play allows Wenger to make his final change with Alex Iwobi on for Ozil, who leaves the pitch to a tremendous ovation.

Cech is forced into action, palming away Dier's header back across goal with Llorente lurking in the six yard area.

Just over 10 minutes left in this contest and Arsenal are happy to sit back and try pounce on the counter. Harry Winks is finding less and less space now following the introduction of Coquelin.

Arsene Wenger decides to replace Lacazette with Francis Coquelin, a decision that prompts a few boos from around the Emirates. Those are quickly replaced by loud 'WHEEEYYYY's as both Kane and Alli are hauled off for Tottenham, with Heung-min Son and Fernando Llorente on for the pair.

Spurs for a split second think they are away on the counter when Sanchez loses the ball with plenty of Arsenal players upfield, but Mike Dean gives the free kick Arsenal's way, with replays suggesting the Chile international did get a kick from Trippier.

Already Winks' impact can be seen, finding those little gaps in the Arsenal midfield. Francis Coquelin incoming, perhaps?

Eriksen hammered three past Ireland midweek but is range is off today, firing a wild effort well away from the target after coming in from the right.

Tottenham have missed Harry Winks today and Mauricio Pochettino will turn to the young midfielder for the final half an hour of this contest; he is onto replace Dembele.

Arsenal's back three again proves to be impervious, with Mustafi and Koscielny both coming in to intercept an attempted through ball to again frustrate Alli.

Kane goes down in the box, believing he was bundled over by Koscielny. Play is waved on however and Spurs get on with it, winning the ball high up the field again with Eriksen sliding a pass onto Kane inside the box. Just as he is about to pull the trigger, however, Mustafi slides across with a goal-saving sliding challenge.

Slick stuff again from Arsenal as they free Lacazette, whose excellent movement again finds him in space down the middle. Davinson Sanchez reacts well however, getting across to hoof the ball clear.

Xhaka allows the ball to roll out of play having won a duel with Alli but Kane slides through the back of him anyway with no intention of winning the ball. Yellow card for the Spurs striker.

Tottenham are looking slightly more lively, winning the ball higher up the pitch with Dembele bursting down the inside left before floating a ball into the box. It's a difficult one, but Kane is nowhere near getting it on target.

Kane does well to shield the ball from Mustafi and turn away from the Arsenal defender, who sticks out a leg to try and nudge the ball away from the Spurs striker. He gets a toe to it, but Mike Dean awards the free kick after coming through the side of Kane.

And we are back underway for the second half at the Emirates.

Mustafi's towering header gave Arsenal a deserved lead and things only got better from there.

Half-time: Arsenal 2-0 Tottenham

Harry Kane comes alive in the final third, shimmying past one man before nutmegging another to work the ball onto his right and take aim from the edge of the D. His effort on goal is a poor one however that trickles wide of Cech's post.

There were questions as to whether Mustafi was offside for Arsenal's opener and Lacazette may have been an inch off as he broke away for his side's second there.

Tottenham are in big trouble here. Again, Arsenal win the ball back quickly with Bellerin sliding a fine ball down the inside right for Lacazette. He cuts the ball into the six yard area for Sanchez, but it bounces off his chest, seemingly giving Lloris and Veronghen the chance to pounce on the loose ball. The Chilean reacts quickest however, racing onto the ball with Lloris still stood on his line to lash one into the roof of the net from a yard or two out.

Goal! Arsenal 2-0 Tottenham (Alexis Sanchez, 41)

Alexis gets Arsenal's second yellow of the afternoon after a poor challenge on his Spurs namesake.

Arsenal have the lead! Ozil stands over the resulting free kick and flings it into the box. Mustafi is stood between Dier and Vertonghen but somehow manages to find room for a free header, expertly looping it into the far corner.

Spurs will have complaints over why that free kick was rewarded in the first-place, but their defending their was poor.

Goal! Arsenal 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur (Shkodran Mustafi, 35)

An excellent cross field ball from Ozil sets up a Sanchez vs Sanchez duel down the inside right, with the Arsenal man seemingly getting the better as he nods the ball inside to burst ahead of the Spurs defender. Davinson seems to recover with a terrific sliding challenge, but Mike Dean awards Arsenal the free kick.

Eriksen comes close! Davies drives up the left and cuts a ball back to the Dane on the edge of the box, who drills a low effort towards the near post only to be denied by the edge of the woodwork.

Alli scampers between Xhaka and Lacazette down the left and wins a free kick for his side. Xhaka, the man who sent him tumbling to the turf, is shown the first yellow card of the game.

For a split second, Kane is unmarked in the Arsenal box as Eriksen slides a neat ball through for him. The striker is slow to react however and Mustafi can scamper across to clear.

Spurs clear and momentarily have the counter on but it breaks down as Kane fails to spread the ball effectively under a load of pressure.

Bellerin cuts across from the right before sliding a simple ball through for the overlapping Ozil that takes three Tottenham players out of the game. He tries to slide the ball across goal, looking for an teammate, but again Spurs force the corner.

Dangerous from Davinson Sanchez, he slides a back pass to Lloris but it invites Alexis to race onto it with Hugo Lloris saving his teammate, sliding out of goal to clear the danger.

Harry Kane is looking a bit rusty today; he has struggled to impose himself and when he has managed to get on the ball, he's struggled for any real invention with it.

Cue a brace before half-time.

A rare sight: Dembele gives the ball away, forced to dribble it out of play under pressure from Mesut Ozil of all people. Arsenal are taking control, here.

Arsenal are moving the ball much better than the opposition now with Vertonghen the latest to be caught out by it, crashing through the back of Lacazette after he had already popped the ball off for a teammate. Spurs manage to clear the resulting free kick for a corner, but pressure is building.

Neat stuff again from Arsenal as Ramsey plays a delicious ball in behind the Spurs defence for Bellerin to scamper onto. He pings a ball across the face of goal that is just begging to be tapped home but somehow Spurs manage to get it away from Lacazette, who ends up in the back of the net but without the ball.

Sissoko does well down the right, edging past Monreal and cutting a ball back to Alli who initially shows great feet to usher the ball past his marker. He tries to force the ball across goal but his effort is blocked by Koscielny.

Moments later, Trippier and Sissoko combine neatly down the right before the latter swings an inviting ball into the box, but Kane cannot find the space to get on the end of it.

Slick stuff from Arsenal as the move the ball from right to left with Kolasinac finding space over on his flank to slide a ball into Lacazette. The ball might have been just behind him, but it is a poor first touch from the Frenchman as he tries to take the ball under control, allowing Spurs to clear the danger.

Alli is left in a heap for a moment or two after a clash of heads with Koscielny but he is okay to continue.

Dembele turns his man superbly and slides the ball to Alli, who moves the ball onto his right, shaping to shoot. He instead tries to slide a reverse ball through for Kane, only for Koscielny to read it well and intercept before winning a free kick for his side.

And now a chance for Tottenham! Koscielny and Mustafi both go for the same high ball, crashing into each other and allowing Kane to scamper down the inside left channel. He cuts inside shaping to shoot but under pressure from retreating Arsenal players, can only fire straight at Cech.

First glimpse of goal for Arsenal. Dier tries to pass out from the back but Lacazette gets across to block, knocking the ball across to Sanchez. He races towards the box before laying off to the Frenchman, who cuts across his man to shoot on goal but blazes wildly over the bar.

Arsenal mount forward with Koscielny surging over the half way line, looking to spread the ball wide to Bellerin, but his pass is a pretty woeful one, sending it straight out of play for a throw in.

And Tottenham get us underway at the Emirates.

Both teams are now waiting in the tunnel; just a few minutes until kick-off.

Here;s another look at the starting XIs.

Arsenal team to face Tottenham: Cech, Koscielny, Mustafi, Monreal, Bellerin, Ramsey, Xhaka, Kolasinac, Ozil, Sanchez, Lacazette

Subs: Ospina, Mertesacker, Coquelin, Maitland-Niles, Wilshere, Iwobi, Welbeck

Tottenham team to face Arsenal: Lloris (C), Trippier, Dier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Dembele, Sissoko, Eriksen, Dele, Kane

Subs: Vorm, Aurier, Foyth, Walker-Peters, Winks, Son, Llorente

Uh oh. Danny Rose has been left out of the Tottenham squad this afternoon. He has no fresh injuries or fitness problems and it has now emerged he was left behind to train with the Spurs players not involved today.

There will be lots of focus on the returning Harry Kane and Dele Alli this afternoon but let's not forget about Christian Eriksen, the man who single handedly ended the Republic of Ireland's World Cup dream. His stunning hat-trick last Tuesday will ensure he comes into today's game flying.

The rivalry between Arsene Wenger and Mauricio Pochettino is as placid as it gets given the intensity behind this fixture. In fact, the only thing resembling sparks between the two in the build-up to kick-off is an ever so-slight dig from the Argentine, who suggested his side have set the standards much higher than just picking up the odd cup.

It's starting to fill up around the Emirates; 30 minutes until kick-off.

Mauricio Pochettino meanwhile makes five changes to the side that edged past Crystal Palace before the international break. Hugo Lloris is back in goal after recovering from a groin injury with Serge Aurier and Danny Rose are replaced by Kieran Trippier and Ben Davies in those full-back roles. Harry Winks only makes the bench today with Moussa Sissoko selected ahead of him while Son Heung-min drops out for the returning Dele Alli.

Arsene Wenger makes two changes to the side that lost to Manchester City before the international break. Shkodran Mustafi has recovered from a muscle injury and slots back into that back-three, replacing Francis Coquelin. Alex Iwobi meanwhile drops to the bench with Alexis Sanchez taking his role in support of Alexandre Lacazette, who has been selected to lead the Gunners' attack.

Those team sheets in full:

Arsenal team to face Tottenham: Cech, Koscielny, Mustafi, Monreal, Bellerin, Ramsey, Xhaka, Kolasinac, Ozil, Sanchez, Lacazette

Subs: Ospina, Mertesacker, Coquelin, Maitland-Niles, Wilshere, Iwobi, Welbeck

BREAKING: Shkodran Mustafi comes straight back into the Arsenal starting XI with Alexandre Lacazette leading the line for his side.

Tottenham team to face Arsenal: Lloris (C), Trippier, Dier, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Davies, Dembele, Sissoko, Eriksen, Dele, Kane

Subs: Vorm,. Aurier, Foyth, Walker-Peters, Winks, Son, Llorente

BREAKING: Hugo Lloris, Dele Alli and Harry Kane all start for Spurs but Harry Winks is only fit enough for the bench.

Predicted Tottenham XI

We have both sides lining up in the exact same formation this afternoon with Eric Dier into replace the injured Toby Alderweireld with Davinson Sanchez and Jan Vertonghen making up the back three. Kieran Trippier gets the nod over Serge Aurier on the right with the familiar trio of Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen in attack.

So who will fill the void left by Toby Alderweireld this afternoon?

Predicted Arsenal XI

While Mustafi and Welbeck may be passed fit today, we have them starting on the bench this afternoon. Alexandre Lacazette must surely lead the attack with the former Manchester United forward just returning from injury and Olivier Giroud missing with a thigh problem?

Will Alexandre Lacazette start?

Arsenal's most expensive signing of all time has been curiously left out of the starting XI against top tier opposition this season, starting on the bench against Liverpool and Manchester City. Will he get his chance to impress today? Wenger said at a press conference: "He played many games Lacazette. Will he start on Saturday? The decision has not been made."

Team news: Tottenham

Toby Alderweireld's hamstring injury is much worse than first feared. The knock he suffered in the victory over Real Madrid is now expected to rule him out until Christmas. Eric Dier is expected to drop into defence if Mauricio Pochettino persists with three at the back this afternoon.

Team news: Arsenal

Olivier Giroud became the latest injury victim of the international break however: the striker suffered a thigh injury in France's 2-0 win over Wales last week, with Wenger all but confirming he will have no role to play this afternoon.

Team news: Tottenham

Harry Kane and Dele Alli have recovered from respective knee and hamstring injuries having returned to full training on Thursday and will be hoping to start his afternoon, while Harry Winks is expected to feature after withdrawing from international duty last week. Hugo Lloris meanwhile has also returned to training having recovered from the groin injury suffered in the victory over Real Madrid at Wembley.

Team news: Arsenal

Danny Welbeck and Shkodran Mustafi both face late fitness tests ahead of kick-off having returned to first-team training from respective injuries this week.

Welbeck, who started the season very much as a first-team option for Arsene Wenger, has not featured since limping off in the October defeat to Watford while Musfafi has been sidelined with a muscular injury since October's international break.