Tottenham hoping to clinch an unlikely result against Arsenal and close the gap on their rivals this season
Tottenham’s attacking struggles continue to hinder their progress under Thomas Frank as they look to build on last season’s Europa League triumph. The forwards have found it difficult to make an impact this season, partly due to Frank’s pragmatic approach. The ongoing injury crisis at N17 has made matters even worse, with several key players missing in recent matches.
Spurs fans feared the worst when summer signing Randal Kolo Muani went down after a collision with Manchester United defender Harry Maguire before the international break. The Frenchman was taken off immediately, and reports later confirmed that he had fractured his jaw in the incident.
There were concerns that the prolific striker could be sidelined for an extended period. However, the North London club received a significant boost ahead of the Arsenal clash when Kolo Muani returned to first-team training this week wearing a specially fitted face mask. This was welcome news for the Spurs faithful, who had been bracing for a lengthy absence after he withdrew from the France squad during the international break.
Tottenham need Randal Kolo Muani to start up top against Arsenal
Even though he is available for selection, it remains uncertain whether Thomas Frank will start Kolo Muani against Arsenal this weekend. The Frenchman will need time to adjust to the face mask after his injury, making it quite possible that the Danish coach turns to Richarlison or Mathys Tel as the starting No.9.
John Wenham, however, believes Tottenham’s chances of getting a positive result in the North London Derby will drop significantly if either Richarlison or Tel starts up front. Speaking to Tottenham News, Wenham said,
“Massively frustrating. We’ve got a really good striker and he’s just never available to play. Kolo Muani would have been the next best after Dominic Solanke, and if he’s unable to start, Frank’s going to have to come up with something before Sunday.”
The Lilywhite Rose owner added,
“If it’s Tel, unfortunately, I can just see possession constantly being swallowed at the back and Arsenal recycling the ball over and over again, and we’ve got no outlet. It’s not like the days when Harry Kane could hold the ball up for you, win a free kick or hold the ball up and play someone in.”
Wenham believes Tottenham will feel the absence of Randal Kolo Muani if Frank decides to go with another option this weekend. He claims Mathys Tel is not yet ready to lead the line and provides little attacking outlet, while both Tel and Richarlison lack the ability to hold up the ball and bring others into play by dragging defenders out of position.
Selecting the ideal front three will be a major challenge for Frank ahead of the derby. Tel, to his credit, has shown plenty of promise in recent weeks, offering a new dimension to Spurs’ attack. Richarlison, on the other hand, continues to struggle for form despite scoring against Manchester United in their latest league match.
The ideal scenario for Frank would be to start Kolo Muani. He thrives in big games and has the attributes needed to disrupt Arsenal’s rhythm and cause problems for their defence. The Frenchman presses effectively and is a constant threat in the final third. His finishing ability is also excellent, giving Spurs a reliable attacking outlet at all times under Thomas Frank.
