Laurent Koscielny returns from injury for north London derby

Arsenal centre-back and defensive lynchpin Laurent Koscielny has returned from a hip injury just in time for Sunday's North London derby at the Emirates Stadium against hated rivals Tottenham.

Koscielny, 30, missed Arsenal's midweek drubbing from Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena, with Brazilian defender Gabriel deputizing for the French international.

The return of the man who joined the Gunners from Lorient in 2010 should provide hope for Arsenal supporters, and will help paper over the cracks of another defensive doubt: full-back Hector Bellerin's injury and out-of-form Mathieu Debuchy's start in place of the young Spaniard.