Nigeria international Alex Iwobi will start on the bench in Arsenal's Premier League meeting with North London neighbors Tottenham Hotspur at the National Stadium in England on Saturday afternoon.

This is the first time in eight games that the Hale End Academy product has not been named in the starting line-up by manager Arsene Wenger.

Iwobi has been playing well in recent games with the Frenchman handing him starts against Chelsea (2), Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Swansea City and Everton.

The 21-year-old has been directly involved in three goals (1 goal, 2 assists) in his last four matches in the Premier League.

If the winger cum attacking midfielder is utilized off the bench in the second half, it would be his 25th appearance for Arsenal in all competitions this term.

In the race for the Champions League spots, Arsenal sit sixth in the Premier League with 45 points, five points behind Chelsea who are fourth.

Arsenal Starting XI :  Cech, Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal, Xhaka, Wilshere, Elneny, Mkhitaryan, Ozil, Aubameyang.

Substitutes : Ospina, Chambers, Kolasinac, Maitland-Niles, Iwobi, Welbeck, Lacazette

Ifeanyi Emmanuel