Tottenham forward unlikely to make it for North London derby against Arsenal

There are growing concerns over the fitness of several key Tottenham players for the North London derby against Arsenal, particularly Richarlison, whose availability remains uncertain. According to reports from football.london, the Brazilian forward may not be ready to feature in the clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a potential setback for boss Ange Postecoglou.

Richarlison being out could be a real headache for Spurs, particularly with Dominic Solanke also missing from the recent 2-1 loss to Newcastle at St James' Park. Solanke, who’s been on the mend, was meant to spearhead the attack, but his injury meant Postecoglou had to shuffle things around up front. Now, with the derby just around the corner, there’s still uncertainty over Tottenham’s attacking setup.

Adding to the concern, Micky van de Ven, a crucial component of Tottenham’s defensive setup, also missed the Newcastle game after picking up a knock in the 4-0 victory over Everton.

Tottenham forward unlikely to make it for North London derby against Arsenal

Van de Ven, who had to withdraw from the Netherlands squad during the international break due to his injury, has been working on his recovery at Hotspur Way. His availability for the derby is still in question, but reports suggest that he is making progress and could potentially be fit for the match.

Postecoglou will be particularly anxious about Van de Ven’s fitness, as the Dutch defender’s pace and recovery skills are integral to Tottenham’s high defensive line. Without Van de Ven, the Spurs’ backline could be vulnerable to Arsenal’s attack, which has the capability to exploit any weaknesses, as Newcastle did on a few occasions during their recent encounter.

The uncertainty around these crucial players has left Spurs supporters on edge, especially with the big derby coming up. To add to the drama, Arsenal are also sweating over the fitness of their captain, Martin Odegaard.