On Wednesday evening, Tottenham Hotspur will make the short trip to face Arsenal in the North London derby, for game week twenty one of the Premier League season.
Going to extra time against Tamworth, and having to bring on the likes of Dominic Solanke, Heung-Min Son, Dejan Kulusevski, and Djed Spence on to win the game, was far from ideal preparation. However, it has ended up being even worse for Arsenal.
Later on in the day, in fact the game had actually kicked off before Spurs' had finished - they hosted Manchester United for their third round tie. Despite United having ten men for nearly an hour of the game, they could only draw the game 1-1 after extra time, and were dumped out after a 5-3 penalty shootout defeat. Even though it is impossible to play with ten men, allegedly.
Key Arsenal forward ruled out of the North London derby
Five minutes before the break, Gabriel Jesus was taken off, having needed a stretcher. Since the game, it has been suggested that the forward has potentially suffered an ACL injury, which will obviously keep him out of Wednesday's game, as well as most of 2025.
As a result, their numbers in attack have become even more bare than before. Their injuries are nothing like Spurs have endured, let's make that clear. However, the absences they do have all appear to be in the same area - on the right hand side.
To begin, Bukayo Saka picked up a hamstring injury before Christmas, resulting in surgery, and an absence of at least two months. Next in line on the right hand side was 17-year old Ethan Nwaneri, whom has played with Mikey Moore for the England age groups. In their draw away to Brighton and Hove Albion, he also picked up an injury - and will miss the North London derby as a result.
So, all three of their right-wing options will be out for the game. As mentioned above, it is not like having three of your starting back four out, as well as your goalkeeper - making it four out of five from the defensive unit - but useful for Spurs all the same.
Furthermore, whilst both teams games went to extra time, Arsenal had a hell of a lot more first teamers out there. The likes of Gabriel, William Saliba, Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Martinelli all played for two hours. This could be an opportunity for Ange's side, whom drew this fixture 2-2 last season.