Jan Vertonghen has been given a clean bill of health after playing 90 minutes with Belgium in midweek. It’s exceptional news, as Spurs can ill-afford to play a proficient Arsenal attack minus two world class center backs.
Who knows exactly what’s going on with Erik Lamela. From my standpoint it’s more now of a mental issue. He’s been on the verge of being ready for weeks and Pochettino is having trouble excusing the playmaker’s continued absence.
Poch said he will ask Erik Lamela tomorrow if he "has the full confidence to be involved again". Said he has asked him every day since his return to training.
— Alasdair Gold (@AlasdairGold) November 16, 2017
Harry Kane, Harry Winks and Hugo Lloris are all expected to be in Spurs’ lineup, their absences from international duty purely precautionary. There are few people who will debate, when it comes to the importance of this match compared with meaningless international friendlies, which takes precedence.
It’s nice to see the core of the team fighting fit for Spurs most pivotal match of the 2016-17 season so far. Here’s how the team should line up.
Next: Arsenal vs. Tottenham: Tale of the tape
By no means are the positions static, as Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane are afforded more license to roam freely, showcasing their acute wherewithal and ability to read play. Moussa Sissoko should be preferred to Heung-Min Son, purely because of his superior defensive acumen. Pochettino will want to shore up his defence against a team who knows how to find the back of the net, especially at the Emirates.