Whichever colour north London turns on Sunday, it could well be a striker from Brazil who’s the one holding the paintbrush.

Gabriel Jesus is expected to start his first Premier League game of the season for Arsenal while compatriot Richarlison is favourite to lead the Tottenham line after his impact off the bench against Sheffield United.

While the two clubs have enjoyed impressive starts to their campaigns, the Brazilian front men have endured more turbulent openings.

Perfect timing, you might say, for one of the most anticipated north London derbies in years.

Gabriel Jesus (R) will be hoping to start for Arsenal as he builds confidence following an injury, while Richarlison (L) will aim to build on his recent goal for Spurs

‘I’m building my confidence again, my rhythm, so now I’m feeling good,’ said Jesus. ‘A part of this is that the team have helped me a lot.

‘Everyone wants to play. I’m like this. I have been in this situation a lot of times in my career, not just at Manchester City but with Palmeiras, the national team. So, you always do your best for the club and you always respect the manager’s decision because he always thinks about what is best for the club.’

Richarlison, meanwhile, admitted he would seek psychological help after enduring such a ‘turbulent time’ off the pitch that he broke down in tears on bench when he was substituted in Brazil’s victory over Bolivia.

Those issues impacted his form on the pitch, too, with just one goal in his first 31 Premier League games for Tottenham. Yet it was Richarlison’s impact off the bench that saw Spurs come from behind against the Blades, setting up the 97th-minute equaliser before he scored the winner two minutes later.

The boys from Brazil could both have a major hand in Sunday’s North London Derby

‘This will help him a lot,’ said Jesus. ‘As a striker, when you are not scoring people start to talk and doubt you, so I hope he can come back and do what he loves to do, which is play football and score goals – but not today (Sunday!)’

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Richarlison, if he starts, has some hefty derby boots to fill. This is the first north London derby in the Premier League not to involve Harry Kane in nine years. In the 17 that followed, Kane scored 14 goals.

‘Everyone knows how good Harry Kane is,’ said Jesus. ‘Not just the goals he scores but all the time, he’s not easy to play against and, obviously, that’s not good for them, losing a player like Kane.

‘But they have a good team, they have good strikers — like Richarlison — and I hope we play better than them and we win the game.’

History suggests Arsenal will. To find the last time Tottenham won at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League, you must go to a 3-2 comeback in November 2010, their one and only league triumph at Arsenal’s new home.

Tottenham are more confident than they have been in years, though, enjoying the exciting football under new boss Ange Postecoglou.

‘They have a good team, they are in good momentum,’ said Jesus. ‘But we are at home and the fans will have the stadium bouncing again and they will push us and we will try our best to give back.’

Jesus and centre-back Gabriel will form Arsenal’s contingent of Brazil internationals while Gabriel Martinelli undergoes a late fitness test. For Spurs, Richarlison is joined by Emerson Royal.

They’re all friends, of course, but when it comes to a game of the size, that friendship has to be put on hold.

‘It’s a derby, a big derby’ added Jesus. ‘We will talk afterwards but before that we are rivals so let’s play first and then afterwards we will be back as friends.’