Mikel Arteta may spring major surprise on Tottenham as BBC host discusses 'rumour'

A double pivot of Thomas Partey and Jorginho has been mooted, but with a combined age of 63 between the duo, there have been separate calls for fresher legs to be given a chance at the weekend.

According to Mark Chapman, host of the BBC’s Planet Premier League Podcast, that could arrive in the form of teenage sensation Ethan Nwaneri.

Discussing a rumour he’d heard, Chapman said: “At the other end of the scale as we move onto the north London derby, there are rumours going around at the moment, and these may be quashed by the time the game comes around.

“They have some issues in midfield Arsenal, Declan Rice is suspended, Martin Odegaard picked up an injury during the week, their signing in the summer, Merino is already injured. So there are these rumours that they may start a 17-year-old, Ethan Nwaneri.”

Ethan Nwaneri has started on the bench in all three Arsenal games this season.

If given a chance from the off, it would represent Nwaneri’s first-ever Premier League start, having only made a handful of appearances off the bench.

But, after excelling as a creative option from midfield in Arsenal’s youth set-up, he could prove the perfect tonic for Arteta’s selection problems.