Tottenham handed boost ahead of North London derby

In a big boost for Tottenham, Arsenal key midfielder Declan Rice will be suspended for the North London Derby that takes place the week after the international break, having picked up two yellow cards in the 1-1 draw against Brighton and Hove Albion during the Saturday Lunchtime game.

Rice had been booked in the first half for a late challenge and was given a second yellow card early in the first half for kicking the ball away in frustration. Arsenal were 1-0 up at the time, but could not hold on and the shares were spoiled with a 1-1 draw.

In the North London Derby back in April. Tottenham could not deal with Declan Rice's inswinging corners from the left, conceding two goals from it, costing them a win that would have prevented all of the drama that came with Spurs' penultimate game against Manchester City a few weeks later.

He adds a lot of physicality to the midfield that will be brutally missed in a game as intense as the North London Derby. New signing from Real Sociedad Mikel Merino will also miss the game, having picked up a shoulder injury in training, so Arsenal's midfield is currently looking pretty depleted.

Tottenham handed boost ahead of North London derby

With the above two players out, Arsenal have a desperate situation regarding a second box-to-box midfielder for the game. They are almost certainly going to have to play someone out of position for the game, which could seriously play into Tottenham's hands.

Due to the rules of the game, quite controversially, you are unable to appeal a red card if it was accrued from two yellow cards, so it is 100% confirmed that Rice will be unavailable for the North London Derby.

With the above factors considered and the fact that the game is at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, this game comes as a massive opportunity for Spurs to rock the apple cart and get one over their fiercest enemy early on in the season.