'Soon back': Mikel Arteta issues positive Arsenal injury update ahead of crucial Tottenham game

Arsenal swept aside Chelsea in an impressive manner to move four points ahead of third-placed Manchester City and three above second-placed Liverpool going into the final stretch of the season.

They have played two more games than Manchester City and Liverpool are in action tonight but there is nothing more the Gunners could have done, it's pressure back on Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola to see if they can also respond in equal measure. 

For Arsenal, the games don't get easier, they face a familiar foe in Tottenham this weekend, knowing they can't afford to slip. Against Chelsea, Thomas Partey was remarkable and showed what they had been missing since August when he picked up an injury. 

The Gunners now have almost a full squad and manager Mikel Arteta who was full of praise for his squad after the win at the Emirates revealed full-back Jurrien Timber who played with the U21s earlier in the week was not too far from re-joining the first team. 

He told reporters: “Yes we have the squad available apart from Jurrien, who is hopefully going to be very soon back with all of us and we have to utilise the players and the quality that we have. We thought it was a really good game for Thomas to come back. 

“He looks like he's in rhythm, he trained really well in the past few days. With the players they have we thought it was the right call to make. He stepped up. He had a great performance. He was really important for the team.” 

Tottenham need a big boost for Champions League push 

Tottenham have had two weeks to prepare for this weekend's game but their mood has been disrupted by the season-ending injury to full-back Destiny Udogie, they will have to find a way to stop the marauding Bukayo Saka. 

Manager Ange Postecoglou is however likely to have Brazilian striker Richarlison back after he’s missed the last three games due to a knee injury.