It looks as though Arsenal manager Unai Emery may unleash the front three of Alexandre Lacazette, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nicolas Pepe in the North London derby on Sunday.

At his pre-match press conference yesterday, the Gunners boss was asked about the possibility of the trio starting, and he replied:

“Yes [they could all start], but be calm. My decision in each moment is thinking about how we are. For example, with Lacazette he had a problem with his ankle. This week is the best week of the last three weeks. He’s getting better and feeling better with his ankle, it’s very positive.”

“With Pepe, he came here later than the others but he is getting and feeling better in each match. Aubameyang is very important for us, he scores two goals in the first two matches, he had two or three good actions in Liverpool.”

It could be the perfect opportunity to start all three for the first time with Tottenham having struggled defensively at the start of this season.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men have not kept a clean sheet so far, and have looked decidedly vulnerable in their three league games. To see the difference between this season and last, we can take a look at the xG (expected goals) conceded.

Tottenham have conceded 1.6 xG on average per game this campaign. That number is skewed somewhat by the 3.24 xG they conceded against Manchester City and the small sample size.

However, it is a sizeable increase on the 1.37 for the whole of last season, and it shows there is a vulnerability there that Arsenal can exploit at the Emirates.

One of the main reasons for the weakness is the change in personnel at the back. Jan Vertonghen’s absence is being keenly felt but the Belgian international is not injured.

He has less than one year left on his contract with Spurs, and it seems that the lack of a new deal has led to manager Mauricio Pochettino seeking alternatives in the backline.

Vertonghen didn’t even make the bench against Aston Villa on the opening day and has been an unused substitute in the subsequent games against City and Newcastle.

Davinson Sanchez and Toby Alderweireld have been the preferred centre-back partnership so far, and while it is early days, the defence has looked far from secure.

Joelinton’s goal for Newcastle last week stemmed from a massive amount of space between the two centre-halves, and if Lacazette or Aubameyang get that type of room on Sunday, they are guaranteed to get some joy.

It may be reading too much into one performance, after all, Tottenham have faced teams that have played a deep defensive line in their two home games, but their only away game so far showed a team lacking in energy and unable to close down the threat City posed.

If Spurs do continue in the same vein against Arsenal this weekend, the Gunners will be massive favourites to come out on top in the derby.