Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been dealt a worry before his side's crunch north London derby clash with Tottenham Hotspur this evening.

The Lowdown: Major occasion...

The Gunners face off against their bitter rivals in a highly-anticipated, blockbuster Premier League clash which may well determine who is playing Champions League football next season.

Both Arteta and Spurs boss Antonio Conte are chasing a place in Europe's most coveted competition for 2022/2023 and securing a top-four finish will be crucial to both sides for many reasons.

The riches of sealing your place in the pot doesn't only give you more pull to attract big names in the transfer market, but it also grants a potentially crucial financial windfall in the form of lucrative revenue.

Perhaps above all, for supporters, it is a privilege to watch their side take part with this looming Spurs and Arsenal battle perhaps coming as the most crucial one in years.

Arteta will want as many quality first-teamers to choose from as possible, but as per an injury update, he is facing the possibility of being without a key man in Bukayo Saka.

The Latest: Arteta dealt Saka worry...

As shared by the club's official site, Arsenal and their head coach are sweating over the fitness of their forward, who is touch-and-go for the derby with Spurs tonight.

The manager refused to give an estimate on his chances of featuring at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as his inclusion is currently up in the air.

Indeed, Saka came off in the win over Leeds United last weekend and is a 'doubt' for this evening alongside Ben White:

Arteta explained: "Thomas (Partey) is still out, Kieran (Tierney) is still out and with Ben he is still a doubt, we have to assess him and see how he is feeling, which is much better. With Bukayo it’s the same."

The Verdict: Potentially huge blow...

Not having the bright young attacker available to face the Lilywhites would be a major blow, undoubtedly.

According to WhoScored, Saka stands out as Arsenal's best player by the numbers - having racked up the most goals and assists (11G, 6A) combined for them domestically this season.

The versatile gem is also their best performer overall going by average match rating per 90 with a solid 7.10/10, even attempting more shots at goal each game than all of his teammates (2.5).

A consistent threat, Saka has been called 'unplayable' for his performances by members of the media, with his potential absence coming as a real worry for the top-four hopefuls against a motivated Conte side.