This weekend’s North London Derby could prove decisive in terms of Tottenham and Arsenal’s ambitions come the end of the 2023/24 season. For Ange Postecoglou’s side, a win is a must as they look to close in on Aston Villa in the battle for Champions League football.
Currently six points behind Villa but crucially having two games in hand, Spurs could potentially trail Unai Emery’s team by a further three points by the time the North London Derby kicks off as the Midlands club are in action on Saturday evening. Arsenal are also in desperate need of the points as they challenge for the Premier League title.
Currently top of the pile with five games left to play due to their superior goal difference, Arsenal’s position in the standings could be slightly different come 2pm on Sunday as the Gunners, Liverpool and Man City all have midweek fixtures and the Reds’ game this weekend is on Saturday afternoon. Heading into the derby showdown, Postecoglou has some big decisions to make in regards to his team. football.london takes a look below at some of the dilemmas facing the Australian.
Udogie replacement
The first decision Postecoglou has to make is selecting Destiny Udogie’s replacement for the Arsenal fixture. The Italian left-back will play no part in the remainder of Spurs’ season after undergoing surgery on a quadriceps injury sustained in training.
Ben Davies will perhaps be leading the way to start at left-back in place of Udogie given that is his natural position. Postecoglou also has Emerson Royal to consider as the Brazilian has played in the role on a handful of occasions this season.
One wildcard option available to the boss is to play Micky van de Ven there, although that would mean breaking up his impressive partnership with Cristian Romero to solve the left-back issue. The Dutchman has played in the role previously for Wolfsburg and also during his youth career, thus giving Postecoglou another possible option when it comes to replacing Udogie.
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Porro question
All connected with Tottenham will be hoping that Pedro Porro is named in the starting XI to take on Arsenal on Sunday. Starting in the previous game against Newcastle United, the Spaniard was replaced not long after the break after feeling something in the first half.
Postecoglou will be in front of the media on Friday to preview the Arsenal game and the boss will be quizzed on Porro’s fitness. With 15 days between Tottenham’s defeat at Newcastle and this weekend’s derby clash, Porro will hopefully have had sufficient time to recover in order to take his place in the team against the Gunners.
If not, Tottenham’s back four will look rather different without their usual full-backs.
Midfield combination
Tottenham’s midfield was undoubtedly their biggest strength earlier in the season when they were winning games consistently and sitting top of the Premier League. However, you could probably argue now that it is the team’s weakest position.
The Lilywhites have struggled to find the right balance in midfield in 2024 and we may once again see Postecoglou make a change or two for the Arsenal showdown. Pape Matar Sarr was a substitute last time out against Newcastle but he could quite easily come into the team as his energy and work rate are going to be required in the middle.
That will probably see Rodrigo Bentancur drop back down to the bench, with question marks then surrounding Yves Bissouma’s place as he was hooked on 57 minutes at St James’ Park. James Maddison was also poor in the 4-0 drubbing but it’s hard to see the England international dropping out of the XI as Postecoglou has only given Giovani Lo Celso minutes here and there.
Son’s position
Son Heung-min has endured a rather frustrating past three games at centre forward for Tottenham with no goals coming his way. The Spurs captain didn’t even register a shot on goal in the Newcastle defeat nor attempt a dribble forward.
If Tottenham are to secure a top-four finish come the end of the season and a Champions League place that comes with it, Postecoglou must find a way of getting Son back to his very best and that means a decision over whether he continues through the middle or reverts to the left flank. Having faced teams operating with a low block in their past three fixtures, the 31-year-old could possibly get more joy up front this weekend due to Arsenal’s style of play.
Without Richarlison for the past two games through injury, the Brazilian could return to the matchday squad this weekend and in turn give Postecoglou something to think about. A start for the ex-Everton man would see Son return to the left and that may prove key to getting the club’s star man back to his very best.
Netting seven goals against Arsenal in the past, hopefully this weekend’s game sees the South Korea international return to the scoresheet in such a crucial game for both sides.
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