Dominic Solanke could kickstart his Tottenham career against Arsenal
Tottenham Hotspur are preparing to welcome their bitter North London rivals Arsenal to the Hotspur Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Spurs have endured a mixed start to the 2024/25 season and a win here could give them a major lift. They have struggled against Arsenal in recent years, winning just one of their last five meetings. Ange Postecoglou and Co. drew 2-2 at the Emirates Stadium last season but lost 3-2 to the Gunners at home.
One player who would be desperate to get involved in the big North London Derby is Tottenham’s record-signing, Dominic Solanke.
The 26-year-old’s early life as a Spurs player hasn’t been smooth sailing after arriving for big money from Bournemouth in the past summer transfer window. Dominic Solanke made his official Tottenham debut in the 1-1 draw away to Leicester City. However, he got injured in that game and has missed the club’s last two matches against Everton and Newcastle United.
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The one-cap England international had the international break to recover, and going by Big Ange’s comments after the game against Newcastle United, one would think that he’d be involved in some capacity against the Gunners this weekend.
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown feels the North London Derby could be a ‘springboard’ for Dom Solanke to kickstart his Spurs career, having had a slow start owing to an untimely ankle issue.
“They are looking at Solanke now coming in. He has been injured. He has been out. Maybe he has had a good period for him. This is maybe a springboard for the start of his career at Spurs proper. He hasn’t hit the ground running yet, but he has had an injury,” Martin Keown told on talkSPORT.
Solanke will be itching to recover in time to be involved in the first North London derby of his career. The ex-Liverpool man has been signed by Spurs as Harry Kane’s replacement, so we would think the striker is well aware of the shoes he has to fill.
The Englishman scored 19 goals in 38 Premier League games for Bournemouth last season which prompted the Lilywhites to splash the cash on his services in August. Of course, Spurs fans will be hoping that Solanke can make the step up and become a Tottenham legend, but there’s a serious amount of pressure attached to his shoulders owing to the hefty £65m price tag.
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It is embryonic stages of his Hotspur Way career but the centre-forward will want to get off the mark soon. And what a story it would turn out to be if Solanke scores against Arsenal and Spurs win the derby at the weekend!
