Randal Kolo Muani has struggled with fitness issues ever since he joined Tottenham Hotspur in the summer
Tottenham are preparing for a stern Premier League test as they face arch-rivals Arsenal in the North London Derby on Sunday afternoon. The blockbuster fixture arrives at the perfect time for the Lilywhites as they look to turn their league form around under Thomas Frank. And what better way to do that than by beating their local rivals and putting a major dent in their title hopes?
The Gunners are flying at the moment, sitting four points clear at the top of the Premier League and emerging as the clear favourites to win the title this season. They also remain unbeaten at home, winning four of their first five matches at the Emirates Stadium. This is a worrying sign for Spurs, who are looking to bounce back from their poor displays in recent weeks.
However, the Lilywhites have also been strong on their travels this season. Frank’s men remain unbeaten away from home in the Premier League, collecting 13 points out of a possible 15. But facing Arsenal at the Emirates is a completely different challenge. And with the current injury crisis at N17, Spurs face an uphill battle to secure a positive result against the league leaders.
Tottenham forward Randal Kolo Muani in line to feature against Arsenal?
The injury problems at N17 could not have come at a worse time. Tottenham have struggled to find the net, with their attackers misfiring far too often. To make matters worse, summer signing Randal Kolo Muani fractured his jaw before the international break after colliding with Manchester United defender Harry Maguire, leaving Frank with Richarlison as his only reliable option up front.
However, not all hope is lost. A promising update has emerged regarding Kolo Muani’s recovery as Sunday’s clash approaches. According to Matt Law (via The Telegraph), the Frenchman has returned to first-team training with a specially fitted face mask, and Spurs are now assessing whether he could feature in the North London Derby this weekend.
This is massive news for the Lilywhites as they hope to secure a rare positive result against Arsenal. Kolo Muani would not be the first Spurs striker to play against the Gunners with a protective mask. Legendary forward Harry Kane did the same early in his Spurs career, famously scoring a world-class goal while wearing one and helping Tottenham earn a 2-2 draw in a Premier League classic.
Will Kolo Muani follow in Kane’s footsteps and deliver similar heroics at the Emirates Stadium? Only time will tell. For now, fans will simply hope the Frenchman makes the matchday squad and is ready to play a key role on Sunday afternoon. The stage is set for a blockbuster battle between two heavyweights, and all eyes will be on how Thomas Frank’s men attempt to pull off an unlikely result against an in-form Arsenal side.