It’s a strange twist in the tale of the North London rivalry. For one night at least, Tottenham Hotspur fans might find themselves cheering alongside their bitter rivals Arsenal. Why? Because a Spurs win against Manchester City on Tuesday could hand the Gunners a massive boost in the race for the top four.
Hotspur come into the game on a high after their dramatic comeback win over Burnley. City, meanwhile, are fresh off a convincing thrashing of Fulham that saw them reclaim top spot.
There’s a bit of a cloud hanging over Tottenham’s preparations though. Star striker Richarlison is out with a calf injury, joining a lengthy list of absentees that includes Timo Werner and Ben Davies. Midfielder Yves Bissouma is the latest to succumb to a knock, ruling him out of the team’s remaining games.
These injuries have forced manager Ange Postecoglou to get creative. Oliver Skipp’s experiment at left-back against Burnley might be short-lived as Emerson Royal could be brought back in. Injuries have also limited Van de Ven’s playing time, so expect to see him back in his central role.
Speaking of injuries, City boss Pep Guardiola might have a slight scare with Nathan Ake, who limped off early against Fulham. Thankfully, it’s not a serious issue and the Dutchman is expected to be fit. Jack Grealish, on the other hand, should be back after missing the last game with a bout of illness.
Guardiola has options at the back to cover for Ake if needed. He can bring back the ever-reliable Kyle Walker and shuffle his central defenders. With Spurs struggling at left-back, he might also be tempted to unleash the pacy Jeremy Doku on that flank.
Here’s a peek at how the teams might line up:
Tottenham Hotspur (Possible): Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Emerson; Sarr, Bentancur; Kulusevski, Maddison, Johnson; Son
Manchester City (Possible): Ederson; Walker, Stones, Dias, Gvardiol; Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne; Doku, Haaland, Foden
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings