Ange Postecoglou wants his Tottenham players to ‘focus on our performance’ against Arsenal
Tottenham Hotspur take on Arsenal at home on Sunday in the first instalment of the bitter North London rivalry.
Both teams are coming into the game with some injury concerns despite being just three games deep in their respective campaigns.
Barring Yves Bissouma—who is a doubt after tweaking his groin on international duty with Mali—Tottenham have a clean bill of health with Micky van de Ven and Dominic Solanke confirmed fit for the North London derby after missing the game at Newcastle United before the international break.
As for Arsenal, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino are definitely out with suspension and injury, respectively, while Martin Odegaard is a serious doubt after he picked up an injury on international duty. Summer signing Riccardo Calafiori also got injured over the international break but appears more likely to make it to the game along with Gabriel Jesus.
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Despite Arsenal’s starting XI conundrum due to suspension and injury concerns, Ange Postecoglou has warned his boys to not take Mikel Arteta’s boys lightly. He said the Tottenham players must not get complacent and think that the Gunners will be severely depleted and lack bite without Rice and Odegaard in the team.
“God, that’s a hell of a trap to fall into, if you think they [Arsenal] are reliant on two players”, Postecoglou told the Evening Standard.
“Two important players, but we were missing key players last year as well and we still managed to give significant performances.
“A team like Arsenal have been very, very consistent over the last two years and can fill whatever gaps they have.
“They have quality in their squad. The key for us is to focus on our performance.
“When we’ve
played well – and we certainly have played well in the first three games – [if we are] a little more clear-headed in both boxes, we’re a match for any team.”
Postecoglou is wary of this Arsenal side, who may have not yet played the best football this season and appear a bit depleted in midfield, but are certainly a well-oiled machine and will be up for the challenge at the weekend. Rice and Odegaard are key players and their absences will hurt Arteta’s side but that doesn’t mean the Gunners don’t have figures in the squad to replace them in the XI.
Jorginho is likely to step in for the suspended Rice, while there’s a good chance Kai Havertz is pulled back in midfield to replace Odegaard. Add Thomas Partey to the mix and that is still a strong midfield trio on paper for the visitors.
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All in all, Postecoglou is right when he says we have ‘focus on our performance’ on Sunday. The Spurs players have to be ready for the uphill task and give 100 per cent on the pitch to win the first North London derby of the season.
