Arsenal are ready to make April fools of Tottenham - by inflicting further set-piece misery upon their rivals.
Five months ago, the Gunners helped themselves to two precious first-half goals against Spurs via corners and now Mikel Arteta is optimistic the absence of suspended taker Declan Rice makes them even more unpredictable from dead-balls.
He said: "It's a very specific phase of play but if we were only dependent on one player, then we would have a problem. We haven't built our methodology or our way of attacking or defending any phase of play in that way. So we are going to adapt to whatever players that we have and we will still be very efficient."
No Premier League team scored more goals than Arsenal (20) from set-plays last season while the Gunners also boasted the second sternest backline when defending dead-balls - much to the brilliance of specialist coach Nicolas Jover.
However, the brief yet untimely disruption to free-kick and corner routines almost pales into insignificance when you consider that Arsenal will also be without Rice's relentless engine and interceptions, plus indispensable captain Martin Odegaard's leadership, vision and precision following his devastating ankle injury blow.
But Arteta, who could also hand loan signing Raheem Sterling his debut, appeared to hint at two possible solutions in the form of versatile fan-favourite Kai Havertz and deadly super-sub Leandro Trossard.
The Arsenal boss, fresh from penning a new lucrative contract in midweek, said: "Kai is so important due to the consistency and performances that he's shown over the last year or so. That's what we need from our players, that's why we brought him here, to be one of the main players and be a very prolific goalscorer, regardless of what position that he plays in."
He also launched a passionate defence of frustrated forward Trossard, who wants more minutes and has the quality to hurt Spurs: "I don’t think Leo needs any injury to shine. He has earned the right, with performances and the way he has conducted himself in any scenario, to have a very important role in the team. He's a crucial player for us."
Arteta swiftly rebuffed suggestions that Arsenal were fortunate with injuries last season after also losing new signing Mikel Merino to a fractured shoulder: "I don’t know, I think it was a lot of work done in the right way. All the staff and the way we have things around the team internally gives the players the best possible resources. To have that robustness in the squad was great.
"I think we have started this season very unlucky, with some injuries that you cannot control. We will have to wait and see at the end of the season how well we have done. Certainly we will put everything that we can into being as good availability-wise as last year."
Riccardo Calafiori is also due to be assessed ahead of the north London derby after suffering a calf issue while away on international duty with Italy while Gabriel Jesus is now ready to feature.