London Evening Standard

Riccardo Calafiori has been passed fit to start at left-back after recovering from the hip issue which forced him to withdraw from the Italy squad last week.

Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli are back in the squad and on the bench, but there is still no Martin Odegaard.

Arsenal are without Gabriel on Sunday, when they can move six points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Gabriel has injured his thigh and will be out for weeks, although that could yet prove to be longer and he is due to have another scan to confirm the timeline.

“It is clearly a blow because it is our leader in our backline, and it is never a positive thing,” said Arteta.

“The good thing, as you mentioned, is that we have very good options and people have to stand up now and do the job.”

Calafiori has been struggling with a hip issue and had not trained before the weekend, having pulled out of the Italy squad last week.

Odegaard has been out since the start of October, Madueke has not played since September and Martinelli has been sidelined since October.

When asked about Odegaard, Gyokeres, Madueke, Havertz and Martinelli on Friday, Arteta said: “We put a lot of energy during the international break, with all the medical staff as well, to try to bring them [back] as quick as possible.

“So, tomorrow we have another training session, see how some of them are feeling, whether it is a bit too close to bring them into this game or we feel they can have a contribution in the game. Tomorrow we will have more clarity.

“It is the final stage and now it is when there is contact around them, when they have to be pushing to do very unpredictable things that they haven’t done. I think they are going to be with us soon. I don’t know if Sunday is going to be too soon.”

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Mikel Arteta’s side top the Premier League table after 11 games and are unbeaten in 14 across all competitions.

They were pegged back in the last minute by Sunderland in a 2-2 draw last time out, as Brian Brobbey struck in injury time.

Spurs, meanwhile, conceded a stoppage-time equaliser of their own against Manchester United, as Matthijs de Ligt snatched a point for ten-man United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Arsenal will be without Gabriel but could welcome back a couple of key players, with Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli both nearing returns.

There are question marks over Viktor Gyokeres and Martin Odegaard, while Riccardo Calafiori is a doubt following the international break.

As for Tottenham, Dominic Solanke’s comeback trail remains slow, while Radu Dragusin and Mohammed Kudus could both be included here.

TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage starting at 4pm GMT.

Live stream: Sky Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Sky Go app and website.

Thomas Frank is confident Tottenham's owners will deliver on their ambitious words in the upcoming transfer windows, but warned they must prove it is more than "big headlines".

The younger generations of the Lewis family have taken on an increasingly active role at Spurs this year and led the decision to remove Daniel Levy in September.

It was announced last month that the majority owners had injected £100million of new capital into the club, though it is understood that is not just a transfer kitty.

Those funds will also go towards the day-to-day running of the club as well as paying off fees for transfers that have been made in previous windows.

The Lewis family have emphasised this is a new era at Spurs and that they want more consistent success, and Frank expects that to be backed up with actions.

“They definitely said they are all in for the club, that they want to be here for the long term and they want to have success," he said.

"That’s, of course, a little bit big headlines. We’ll see what happens in the future, but I’m confident they will back us to do everything we can to build a successful club. It’s very, very difficult to give a specific answer.

"I’m very good at talking up here, but it’s about showing it out there on the pitch consistently after setbacks. The same with them.

Spurs spent around £180m in the summer window bringing in the likes of Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons, but there were six Premier League clubs who splashed out more than that.

Frank's side take on league leaders Arsenal in the north London derby on Sunday and the Gunners have strengthened significantly in recent years.

Declan Rice is the club's record signing at £105m and Frank was asked whether Spurs would ever spend that much on one player.

"It’s very evident that every successful club - not for one year, over five, six, seven years - to build you need a combination of time and doing the processes. Depending on where the team come from, of course.

"But to stay up there is still very difficult. So time and process, and, then of course, investment. If you want success in football, you need to invest in players. Hopefully, do it cleverly and we want to do it smart, so we don’t invest too much on the wrong players.

"But you need to invest. £100m, I don’t know. Let’s see. I don’t think we are close to spending £100m, put it that way way. But I don’t know, let’s see what happens in the future.”

Retro 80s chocolate bar ‘better than KitKat’ back on UK shelves after 20 year hiatus

Retro 80s chocolate bar back on UK shelves after 20 year hiatus

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Sarr returned to Tottenham earlier than expected after being forced off early for Senegal in the second half of their friendly defeat to Brazil last Saturday.

Speaking of the trio in the pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon, Frank confirmed Kudus is available and that Spurs have also been handed other positive injury news.

“He's ready, available. Lucas trained today. Ready, available. Kolo Muani, yes. Trained today. Available, of course has a mask [he] needs to play with.”

Frank also added that Sunday’s derby comes too soon for Dominic Solanke, but that Radu Dragusin, Archie Gray, Ben Davies and Kota Takai are all nearing returns.

On Solanke, Frank said: "Dom is not ready yet. I think he also had an article recently where he spoke about it. So we are very, as I said, the same.

“Very aware that when we put him out there, we want to be absolutely sure, as sure as we can be, that no setback going forward. So I'm comfortable he will soon be ready, but I will not put a timeframe on it."

Frank added: “Radu, very happy. Full training in everything for a couple of weeks. Played his first 45 minutes in nine months. Very happy with that. Trained fully today.

“He's definitely getting very close to be able to be selected. Now it's just a matter of performance and probably a few more game minutes to be fully, fully available.

Gunners could be without eight first-team stars as Spurs may miss 12

Arsenal and Tottenham injuries

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Arsenal welcome Tottenham to the Emirates Stadium this weekend in what is traditionally one of the more exciting fixtures of the Premier League season.

The north London derby often brings drama and is a near-guarantee for goals, and on Sunday the Gunners are aiming to record a fourth consecutive win over Spurs for the first time since the late 1980s.

Recent seasons have marked a shift of power back in Arsenal's favour across north London, ending Spurs’ dominance after six straight seasons finishing above those in red. The Gunners are not only the clear favourites to win on Sunday, but also the pick of many to win the Premier League title this season.

But while this fixture will surely bring the excitement and thrills, as many as 20 players could be missing from the game due to injury. Here is the latest injury news for both teams.

Victor Gyokeres, Gabriel and Kai Havertz

Standard Sport

Arsenal

Gabriel could be sidelined until January with a thigh injury picked up while playing for Brazil during the international break.

Riccardo Calafiori was forced to withdraw from the Italy squad due to a hip issue.

Kai Havertz has suffered a “small relapse” after three months out with a knee injury, but hopes to play before the year is out.

Viktor Gyokeres remains a doubt to face Spurs after suffering a hamstring injury at Burnley on November 1.

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Martin Odegaard has endured an injury-hit season, which has prevented him from playing since early October, with the captain currently sidelined with a knee complaint.

Noni Madueke is pushing to be included in the derby matchday squad after nearly two months out with a knee injury.

Gabriel Martinelli has missed the last four Arsenal games with a muscular problem, so he is in a race to be fit to face Spurs.

Gabriel Jesus has been sidelined for almost a year with a knee injury, but is back in training amid hope of stepping onto a football pitch before the end of 2025.

Read all the latest Arsenal injury news and returns dates here.

Mohammed Kudus, Dominic Solanke and Lucas Bergvall

London Standard

Tottenham

Mohammed Kudus has missed Spurs' last two games with a knock and remains a doubt to face Arsenal.

Lucas Bergvall has been sidelined since suffering concussion against Chelsea on November 1, and then was sent home from Sweden's camp due to ongoing related complications.

Pape Matar Sarr suffered a knock while playing for Senegal and returned to Tottenham last week.

Dominic Solanke says there remains no timeline for his return from an ankle injury after undergoing surgery earlier this season.

Randal Kolo Muani picked up a nasty jaw injury during the 2-2 draw with Manchester United but reports claim he may play wearing a protective mask.

Archie Gray has missed the last three matches with a calf injury and is not expected back until December.

Radu Dragusin has been out since January with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury but came though a training-ground friendly unscathed last week.

Dejan Kulusevski has been out since the end of last season, but is hopeful of playing in December.

Kota Takai is still waiting for his debut after suffering a setback in training following a pre-season foot injury.

Ben Davies is sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained on international duty for Wales.

Yves Bissouma is recovering from surgery on an ankle injury picked up while playing for Mali.

James Maddison will likely miss the whole season with his own ACL injury.

Read all the latest Spurs injury news and return dates here!

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Spurs seek to take advantage of key man missing north London derby

Spurs face Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on Sunday

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Matt Verri

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For the first time in more than two years, the player of the match award for the north London derby will not be going home with Gabriel.

Tottenham have become sick of the sight of the Arsenal defender. The Gunners have won the last three meetings between the two sides and Gabriel has been player of the match in every one of those.

Spurs will be looking to avoid losing a fourth consecutive match against Arsenal for the first time since the 1980s and Gabriel's expected absence will help their cause.

The centre-back limped off during the international break with a thigh injury and reports suggest he could be out until January.

Gabriel celebrates during Arsenal’s win at home against Tottenham last season

Bradley Collyer/PA Wire

Arsenal are not short of options in defence, with Mikel Arteta having Piero Hincapie, Cristhian Mosquera and Riccardo Calafiori to choose from as replacements, but Gabriel is a crucial figure and Spurs must take advantage of the enforced change in defence.

Spurs should have beaten Manchester United before the international break but conceded a 96th-minute equaliser to Matthijs de Ligt, who found space at the back post to head in from a corner.

It is exactly the kind of scenario in which Gabriel thrives. He scored the only goal at Spurs last season and already has two goals and three assists in the current campaign.

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Arsenal's set-piece threat is one of their major weapons and Spurs' hopes of keeping them quiet from those situations are significantly boosted by Gabriel missing out.

Thomas Frank will also be plotting how to take advantage in attack. For all Arsenal have strength in depth, the breaking up of Gabriel's partnership with William Saliba will impact the defence.

The Spurs attackers can be expected to target whoever is alongside the Frenchman. Hincapie has played only 26 minutes in the Premier League this season, while Mosquera is only 21 and this would be his first taste of a north London derby.

Spurs are weakened themselves by Dominic Solanke still not available. Having him as a physical presence to test a reshuffled Arsenal defence would have been an obvious way for Spurs to capitalise on Gabriel's absence.

Richarlison is badly out of form and Mathys Tel’s strengths are not holding the ball up, so Frank will need to think of a different way to cause problems.

Richarlison is out of form but scored against Manchester United before the international break

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He could be tempted to shift to a back three to give him two strikers up front, as he did in what he called a “special operation” against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup. That night it was Mohammed Kudus alongside Richarlison and it worked superbly for Spurs.

Having Kudus in a more central role and potentially rotating with Xavi Simons would ask questions of Arsenal's centre-back pairing.

Normally it is Gabriel pushing up and Saliba sweeping behind him, but a fluid Spurs front line could catch a more unfamiliar defensive relationship out.

One of Frank's key attributes is devising specific gameplans for these kind of fixtures. It worked away at Manchester City in August and Spurs were minutes away from beating PSG.

If Frank is to become the first Spurs boss since Harry Redknapp to win away at Arsenal in the Premier League, exploiting the loss of Gabriel will be pivotal.

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