Granit Xhaka had another night to forget on Thursday as he was sent off in the first leg of Arsenal’s EFL Cup semi-final against Liverpool.

A heroic performance saw the Gunners escape Anfield with a surprise draw and keep their hopes of winning silverware alive this season.

Although Xhaka’s sacking did not cost Arsenal, it leaves manager Mikel Arteta with a big selection dilemma ahead of the North London derby against Tottenham on Sunday.

The Swiss international is suspended for the trip to Spurs and, with Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny featuring in the Africa Cup of Nations, Arteta doesn’t have huge options in central midfield.

Unless a new signing is announced, the only senior midfielder available to face Spurs is Albert Sambi Lokonga.

Fret not, though, as Mirror Football are on hand to look at four makeshift midfield options for the Gunners… including a shock return.

Who should start alongside Albert Sambi Lokonga in the North London Derby? Let us know in the comments below!

Ben White or Calum Chambers

This is the most likely option for Arteta. Speaking after Thursday night’s game, reporters asked the Spaniard if White would play in midfield against Spurs.

“That’s an option we have,” was the reply. “He’s played there before. He’s played as a centre-back, he’s played as a right-back and he’s played in a back three.

“That’s one of the positive things with Ben, that he has the ability to play in different roles.”

White, however, remained in defense after Xhaka was sent off while Calum Chambers entered a back five.

Chambers also has midfield experience and could be an option. Like White, he can play as a centre-back, right-back or defensive midfielder.

He will likely be needed to some extent against Spurs after first-choice right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu missed the Liverpool game through injury and understudy Cedric Soares took a knock after just 11 minutes.

Charlie Patino

If Arteta wants to take on two specialist central midfielders against Tottenham, his best option is to start hatching talent Charlie Patino.

The 18-year-old impressed when given the chance, scoring on his senior debut against Sunderland in the EFL Cup quarter-final.

“Go to YouTube and watch his clips,” Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand insisted earlier this month. “It’s a joke what you see, the talent he has.

“I’ve spoken to people at Arsenal and what they say about him about this kid, in terms of talent, could potentially be the best of anyone that’s come out in recent years.

“He’s a huge bar, but this kid has talent and the big, big part of him is his mentality.

“When you talk to someone who knows him, mentally he doesn’t get carried away, doesn’t go too low, doesn’t go too high, a very balanced kid, but he has all the fundamentals of his game to really go at the top of the tree.

“This kid is next. I just feel, when you watch him, there’s a great way he plays, the balance, the pace, the fans will enjoy watching him.”

The problem is that he is very inexperienced. Patino has just four professional appearances to his name – including two for Arsenal’s U23s in the EFL Trophy – and has never played in a Premier League game.

Perhaps Arteta can take inspiration from Danny Rose. The former Tottenham player scored a superb goal on his Premier League debut against the Gunners in April 2010.

Rose is proof that novices can thrive in the NLD cauldron. Still, starting Patino would be a massive call from Arteta.

Miguel Azez

Another youngster who could feature against Tottenham is Azeez. He is expected to end his loan spell at Portsmouth soon.

The 19-year-old has more experience than Patino… but not much more. Azeez has only made 11 senior appearances, none of which come in the Premier League.

And, despite being valued at Arsenal, he was disappointed during his six-month spell at Fratton Park.

Rather than playing against Spurs, Azeez will likely be loaned out to another EFL club for the rest of the season, but in the short term he might be needed at least on the bench against Spurs.

“His technical ability and his athleticism will give him every chance of having a great career,” said Portsmouth manager Danny Cowley, who couldn’t give Azeez the minutes he needed.

“He’s done really, really well. He’s another incredibly driven player, with an exceptional level of concentration and a student of the game.

“He always wants to learn, develop and improve. He worked his way into the team, and of course himself.”

New signature

This is the most unlikely option for Arteta. The Gunners are set to loan Juventus midfielder Arthur Melo to the Emirates for the rest of the season.

The 25-year-old Brazilian won La Liga with Barcelona, ​​the Copa Libertadores with Gremio and the Copa America with his national team.

“I didn’t know much about Arthur, but he looks like Xavi,” Messi said when signing Arthur from Barcelona in 2018.

“He is very safe and trustworthy. He has the La Masia style. Playing short passes, without losing the ball, and he understood it quickly, the dynamics of the team.”

Arthur has an impressive CV and a Messi reference, but Arsenal need to register him by midday on Friday to allow him to play against Tottenham.

And, with Juventus still trying to find a replacement for him, it seems like an impossible task.

One midfielder the Gunners could sign before Friday’s deadline is Jack Wilshere. The icon has been training with the club since the fall and is ready to go.

“Jack is very close to Mikel, but it’s going to be a big ask for Jack because he hasn’t played all season,” Wilshere’s former Arsenal team-mate Emmanuel Frimpong told The Sun last month.

“Coming straight back into the Arsenal squad is a lot of pressure… he’s still one of the most technically gifted and he’s as good as any midfielder in Arsenal’s current squad.

“The only problem is that he stays fit and doesn’t get injured. Bringing him in would be a smart move because he has so much to give the young players in terms of knowledge and experience.”

Wilshere starting against Tottenham would be one of the Premier League’s great comebacks. This fairy tale, however, should remain an act of fiction.