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05th Mar 2016

North London Derby line-ups – Spurs given huge injury boost

Tom Victor

It’s arguably the most important North London Derby of the Premier League era, and both teams are without some important players.

But the most significant team news is that Tottenham’s Dele Alli and Mousa Dembele are fit to return to the starting line-up.

Alli was only fit enough for a place on the bench in Spurs’ defeat to West Ham in midweek, and was unable to change the game after coming on with Mauricio Pochettino’s team 1-0 down, while Dembele missed the game altogether

But Jan Vertonghen remains sidelined, with Kevin Wimmer continuing at centre-back.

West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur - Premier League

Arsenal are without Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who faces a challenge to return before the end of the season, while goalkeeper Petr Cech will also sit the game out after picking up a hamstring injury in the defeat to Swansea City.

David Ospina takes Cech’s place, and Arsenal fans aren’t convinced the Colombian is up to the task.

But Danny Welbeck, who missed November’s reverse fixture through injury, returns to the starting line-up after coming off the bench in midweek.