Sports Mole

Tottenham Hotspur have received an astounding eight injury boosts ahead of Sunday's critical North London derby battle with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League.

Spurs boss Thomas Frank has been grappling with a fitness crisis for weeks on end, and the Lilywhites were without 10 players for their 2-2 draw with Manchester United just before the international break.

The Europa League champions were then dealt another two blows after kickoff two weekends ago, as Randal Kolo Muani firstly suffered a serious facial injury, which was confirmed to have been a jaw fracture.

Spurs then saw midfielder Pape Sarr sustain a knock while on international duty with Senegal, while fellow lynchpin Lucas Bergvall could not take part in the Red Devils draw as a result of the concussion he sustained against Chelsea.

Spurs receive eight injury boosts for Arsenal contest

However, Frank confirmed at his pre-game press conference that all three are on course to be fit for the Emirates showdown, saying: "They are good, most of them.

"Pape trained today, is ready. Lucas trained today, ready and available. Kolo Muani trained today, available with a mask he needs to play with.

In addition, ACL victim Radu Dragusin is now on the cusp of a competitive return after playing a friendly with the Under-21s during the hiatus, while Mohammed Kudus (knock), Ben Davies (thigh), Kota Takai (quad) and Archie Gray (calf) are all in team training.

"Radu is in full training. Played his first 45 minutes in nine months last week. Trained fully today. He is very close to being selected. Kota and Ben both trained with the team today. Archie trained with the team today," Frank added, before saying on Kudus: "He trained today and is available."

Which Tottenham players are still out injured?

An unprecedented eight injury boosts means that Tottenham's squad is suddenly looking a whole lot healthier, but Frank will still be without a handful of players for his first taste of a North London derby.

Creators Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison remain on the sidelines due to their knee injuries, while Yves Bissouma is on the mend from ankle surgery, and no timeframe has been placed on his comeback.

In addition, Dominic Solanke is still not ready to return from an ankle procedure of his own, and Frank was also loath to say when the striker might return, adding: "Dom's not ready yet, he had an article where he spoke about it.

"It's the same, we are very aware that when we put him out there we want to be as sure as can be that there are no setbacks going forward. I'm comfortable he will soon be ready but I don't want to put a timeframe on it."

Tottenham lie four places and eight points worse off than Arsenal in the Premier League table and are bidding to end a run of three successive derby defeats in Sunday's Premier League main event.

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Former Arsenal right-back Bacary Sagna has spoken about Gabriel Magalhaes’s absence from the Gunners' squad for Sunday’s North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur.

The strong centre-back sustained a thigh injury during international duty with Brazil, which could sideline him for one or two months.

Although the prognosis is still uncertain, the defender will definitely miss the first North London derby of the 2025-26 season.

Arsenal aim to at least preserve their four-point lead at the top of the Premier League table after the November international break.

Although they will face the busy festive period without their star defender, Sagna has backed his former teammate to find solutions.

North London derby: Sagna expresses confidence in Arteta without Gabriel

Despite the unfortunate timing of the injury, the former full-back still believes Arsenal will have enough quality to secure a victory, especially playing at the Emirates Stadium.Â

“Gabriel is a rock, he’s so important to the squad,” Sagna told Standard Sport. “He’s a natural leader and on set-pieces, he's terrific. He’s been one of the top central defenders in Europe for a long time now.

“With William Saliba, he’s formed one of best central defensive partnerships I’ve seen for a long time. Â

“Mikel Arteta is so good at finding solutions, so I’m sure he’ll discover a way to get Arsenal set up well against Tottenham. Â

“But obviously not having Gabriel available is not good, with everything he can offer at both ends of the pitch. Â

“I still think they’ll have enough to win, especially at home. But the sooner Gabriel is back in the team, the better!”

North London derby:Â How can Arsenal replace Gabriel?

Arsenal have several options to cover Gabriel's absence, with Piero Hincapie or Christhian Mosquera likely replacements at left centre-back.

Hincapie is a left-footed defender, making him the most natural choice to keep balance alongside William Saliba, although his game time has been limited this season due to injury.

Despite being right-footed, Mosquera has impressed when called upon and has previously played comfortably on the left side of central defence.

Another tactical possibility involves shifting Riccardo Calafiori from his in-form left-back position into centre-back, which would require a replacement on the flank.

While less likely for the centre-back role, Ben White could also be an option to provide experience, partnering with Saliba.

Ultimately, the decision will depend on Arteta's confidence in match fitness and his tactical approach to dealing with Spurs’ attack.

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Tottenham transfer target Ivan Toney is reportedly prepared to take a pay cut in order to return to the Premier League in January.

The 29-year-old is currently plying his trade with Al-Ahli in the Middle East, scoring five goals from seven Saudi Pro League appearances so far this season.

Recent reports suggested that Toney would be unable to secure a switch back to England in the New Year, citing issues surrounding his wages.

After playing an important part for England at Euro 2024, the striker is desperate to get back in contention for a spot at next summer's World Cup.

Toney has performed well by his standards in Saudi Arabia, netting 41 goals across 59 matches since switching West London for Al-Ahli in August 2024.

Tottenham-linked Toney 'ready to take pay cut'

According to TEAMtalk, England international Toney is preparing to do anything he can to secure a spot in Thomas Tuchel's squad next June.

The report claims that the 29-year-old is pushing hard for a return to the Premier League during the January window, with Spurs the current front runners in the race for his services.

It is understood that Toney is willing to slash his weekly wages in half to £200,000 in order to ply his trade in England for the second half of the term.

As well as Tottenham, it is believed that West Ham United and Chelsea are considering possible moves for the former Brentford marksman.

Everton are also supposedly keen on signing Toney in January, with the Toffees seeking assurances over the player's long-term commitment to the Merseyside club.

Toney's England game

First things first, it is undeniable that Bayern Munich sensation Harry Kane will lead the line for England at next summer's World Cup barring a heartbreaking injury.

Consequently, there is currently a race to play second fiddle to the Three Lions legend in North America - one which Toney is losing out in the more time he spends in Saudi Arabia.

Dominic Solanke has issued an update on his injury ahead of Tottenham Hotspur's Premier League clash against Arsenal this weekend.Â

The former AFC Bournemouth striker is the most expensive signing for Spurs to date, but he has struggled badly with his fitness.Â

Solanke has made only substitute appearances this season, all in August, and has been missing for the past few months due to a recurrent ankle injury.Â

Thomas Frank initially suggested that the England striker's injury is not serious, but he has since undergone surgery.Â

Solanke opens up about his injury situation

The Spurs boss suggested at the start of November that he hopes to get Solanke back in action before the end of the year, but as of now, there is no clarity about when he can return.Â

Solanke himself has now made it clear that he is unsure when he can return to playing for Spurs, but he is hopeful it will not be too long.Â

“It’s been very difficult,” Solanke told The Athletic. “At first, I didn’t think I would be out for too long but we didn’t really understand the extent of the injury. I was trying to get back as quickly as I could but it didn’t happen, so I had to have surgery.

“Since then, I have been working to get back. I’m not putting a timeline on it because I’ve been telling everyone ‘I’m going to be back soon’ for the last few months. I’m taking it day by day but hopefully I won’t be much longer.”

While the 28-year-old is slowly edging towards a comeback, he will reportedly miss the crucial Premier League clash against Arsenal after the international break, and will not be available for the Champions League clash against PSG.Â

Solanke, however, has seen external specialists over his injury, and he has reportedly returned to gym work; so, it should not be long before he can return to complete training with the squad.Â

Tottenham injury problemsÂ

Spurs have badly missed the former Liverpool striker, and they failed to create enough open, clear-cut chances without him.Â

Tottenham have also missed James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski this season; both are recovering from long-term injuries.Â

Frank, who is under great pressure following a series of poor performances in the Premier League, especially at home, hopes to get back Mohammed Kudus and captain Cristian Romero in the north London derby.Â

Back with a bang from the final international break of 2025, Tottenham Hotspur hit the road for a North London derby date with bitter rivals Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.

Thomas Frank's men entered the last hiatus of the calendar year on the back of a chaotic 2-2 draw with Manchester United, which prolonged their pitiful home sequence and left them fifth in the Premier League table.

However, no side has performed better on the road than Spurs in the current English top-flight campaign, in which the Lilywhites have accrued 13 points from a possible 15 away from home - a stark warning to their more revered hosts.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up all of Tottenham's injury and suspension issues ahead of their showdown with the Gunners, who hold an eight-point advantage over their near neighbours.

Pape Sarr

Status:Â Minor doubt

Type of injury:Â Knock

Possible return date:Â November 23 (vs. Arsenal)

Pape Sarr is the newest name on Spurs' injury list after suffering a knock while on duty with Senegal, but there are no serious concerns about his condition, and he ought to be available for the derby.

James Maddison

Status:Â Out

Type of injury:Â ACL

Possible return date:Â Unknown

Creative hub James Maddison is not expected to play a single minute of football this season due to an ACL injury, one that has also crushed his hopes of representing England at next summer's World Cup.

Dejan Kulusevski

Status:Â Out

Type of injury: Knee

Possible return date:Â November 29 (vs. Fulham)

Frank revealed at the end of October that fellow knee victim Dejan Kulusevski was yet to return to training on the grass following the knee problem he picked up at the end of last season, so an appearance on Sunday is out of the question.

Dominic Solanke

Status:Â Major doubt

Type of injury:Â Ankle

Possible return date:Â November 23 (vs. Arsenal)

Dominic Solanke has been recovering from a minor surgical procedure on his ankle, but at the time of writing, the striker has not been ruled out of the trip to the Emirates.

Ben Davies

Status:Â Major doubt

Type of injury:Â Thigh

Possible return date:Â November 23 (vs. Arsenal)

Ben Davies was the victim of a thigh injury during Wales' October fixtures, and it remains to be seen if the experienced defender is fit to return for the all-capital clash.

Radu Dragusin

Status:Â Major doubt

Type of injury:Â Knee

Possible return date:Â November 23 (vs. Arsenal)

Radu Dragusin is almost there in his recovery from an ACL tear and played in a behind-closed-doors friendly during the international break, so there is a slim chance that he could make the bench in North London.

Yves Bissouma

Status:Â Major doubt

Type of injury:Â Ankle

Possible return date:Â November 23 (vs. Arsenal)

Yves Bissouma was stretchered off with an ankle injury - which he has since undergone surgery on - while representing Mali in October, and his chances of featuring in the derby are considered slim to none.

Archie Gray

Status:Â Major doubt

Type of injury:Â Calf

Possible return date:Â November 23 (vs. Arsenal)

Archie Gray has been dealing with a calf strain for the last few weeks, and his status for the Arsenal trip remains unclear while Frank is yet to address the media.

Kota Takai

Status:Â Major doubt

Type of injury:Â Thigh

Possible return date:Â November 23 (vs. Arsenal)

Summer signing Kota Takai is yet to make his competitive debut for Spurs due to a combination of foot and thigh injuries, but his comeback is thought to be close, and a place in the matchday squad on Sunday is not beyond the realm of possibility.

Lucas Bergvall

Status:Â Minor doubt

Type of injury:Â Head

Possible return date:Â November 23 (vs. Arsenal)

Lucas Bergvall did not represent Sweden this month due to the concussion he sustained in the loss to Chelsea on November 1, but he ought to have finished the necessary protocol period by the time the derby comes around.

Mohammed Kudus

Status:Â Minor doubt

Type of injury:Â Knock

Possible return date:Â November 23 (vs. Arsenal)

Mohammed Kudus did not feature in the Man Utd draw or either of Ghana's two matches this month as a result of a knock, but there is optimism that he will be fit to face the Gunners.

Randal Kolo Muani

Status:Â Out

Type of injury:Â Jaw

Possible return date:Â Unknown

Randal Kolo Muani is understood to have suffered a jaw fracture during the draw with the Red Devils a couple of weeks ago, and while he does not require surgery, it is unclear when he will be back to 100%.

TOTTENHAM'S SUSPENSION LIST

Tottenham have no players banned for this Premier League contest, but Cristian Romero is one booking away from a suspension.

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Seeking four straight wins over their North London derby rivals for the first time in the Premier League era, Arsenal welcome Tottenham Hotspur to the Emirates Stadium for Sunday's headline act.

The international hiatus came at an ideal time for the Gunners, who lost their streak of successes and clean sheets in an agonising 2-2 stalemate with high-flying Sunderland in gameweek 11.

Nevertheless, Mikel Arteta's men still hold an unassailable four-point lead at the top of the Premier League standings for the time being, but Gooners are now lamenting the crushing absence of a critical name.

Here, Sports Mole rounds up Arsenal's latest injury and suspension news ahead of their clash with Spurs, who sit four places and eight points worse off ahead of Sunday's showdown.

Gabriel Magalhaes

Status: Out

Type of injury: Thigh

Possible return date:Â Unknown

Defender and set-piece extraordinaire Gabriel Magalhaes sustained a severe thigh injury during Brazil's recent friendly win over Senegal at the Emirates, and the centre-back is now facing between one and two months on the sidelines - a devastating blow for Arteta and co.

Viktor Gyokeres

Status: Major doubt

Type of injury: Muscle

Possible return date:Â November 23 (vs. Tottenham Hotspur)

Viktor Gyokeres is anticipated to return from his muscular problem soon, but at the time of writing, the Swedish striker remains a serious doubt for the North London derby.Â

Gabriel Martinelli

Status: Major doubt

Type of injury: Muscle

Possible return date:Â November 23 (vs. Tottenham Hotspur)

Gabriel Martinelli picked up a muscular issue against Crystal Palace in October, and the winger is also on the Gunners' touch-and-go list for the weekend's blockbuster.

Martin Odegaard

Status:Â Out

Type of injury: Knee

Possible return date:Â Unknown

There was hope that Martin Odegaard would be back in action for the all-capital clash this weekend, but Norway boss Stale Solbakken recently said that the Arsenal skipper was still some distance away from returning from a knee injury, suggesting that he will watch the derby from the sidelines.

Kai Havertz

Status: Out

Type of injury:Â Knee

Possible return date:Â Unknown

Kai Havertz has played just one match all season long due to his troublesome knee issue, and Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann recently revealed that he suffered a relapse in his recovery, so he will likely be missing for a little while longer.

Noni Madueke

Status:Â Major doubt

Type of injury:Â Knee

Possible return date:Â November 23 (vs. Tottenham Hotspur)

Noni Madueke suffered his own knee injury against Manchester City in September, which was expected to rule him out for around eight weeks, so there is a chance that he will be able to face his former youth side here.

Gabriel Jesus

Status:Â Out

Type of injury:Â KneeÂ

Possible return date:Â January 3 (vs. Bournemouth)

Gabriel Jesus is slowly being reintegrated into full training after his ACL tear, and the Brazilian attacker is on course for a first-team return at some point in the New Year.

ARSENAL'S SUSPENSION LIST

Arsenal have no players suspended for the North London derby.

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Tottenham Hotspur will only listen to permanent offers for Mathys Tel amid Roma's interest in signing him in January, the latest report has claimed.

Boss Thomas Frank will be busy preparing plans for his side's match against rivals Arsenal on Sunday, though he may also be making plans for the winter window.

The team are currently fifth in the Premier League with 18 points, just two points from third-placed Chelsea, and making additions could be key for the club's chances of finishing in the top four and securing Champions League football.

Spurs have been linked with offensive players, but any addition in January could lead to less playing time for the likes of Mathys Tel, who has only played 251 minutes of league football this term.

La Gazzetta dello Sport report that Tel is a target for Roma, but despite the fact the Frenchman is dissatisfied with his playing time, he will only be allowed to leave if permanent offers come in.

January transfer window: What type of player should Tottenham Hotspur target?

Frank has struggled to get the most out of Tottenham's attack so far, with the team only producing one shot on target against Chelsea when they lost 1-0 on November 1.

Tel has not had the chance to make much of an impact, but he did score a goal against Manchester United on November 8 in his side's last match, and he has averaged the second-highest goal involvement per 90 at the club (0.72).

If Frank is unwilling to give the winger more of a chance in the team, then adding a player at the base of midfield could be beneficial given the Londoners have struggled to build out from defence.

Though a creative player could boost the team, the club are hopeful of welcoming back Dejan Kulusevski before the end of the year, and adding a passer deep in midfield may help unlock the talent of creator Xavi Simons.

What can Thomas Frank achieve in the Premier League this season?

The race for Champions League football looks set to be intense, with just four points separating Chelsea from 12th-placed Brentford.

Spurs have conceded 10 goals in the Premier League this term after 11 games, three fewer than they did at the same stage last season, though their tally of 19 goals scored is four fewer.

Tottenham have two more points than at the same stage of 2024-25, and it should be noted that they took just eight points from their next 12 top-flight fixtures.

Frank should be expected to comfortably guide his side to a better return in the same period, especially as nine of their next 12 come against teams ninth or lower.

If Spurs can avoid a poor stretch of results, then they may be able to enter the new year comfortably in the top four considering their Champions League rivals have so far been inconsistent.

Tottenham Hotspur have a gruelling set of fixtures after the November international break, including a Champions League away clash against Paris Saint-Germain.Â

Spurs have gone through a rough patch before the international break, failing to win in six home games in the Premier League thus far.Â

Thomas Frank's side has been jeered by the home fans in recent games, and the pressure will mount on the Spurs boss if they fail to pick up form immediately after the break.Â

Tottenham will face Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday, then travel to France to face PSG in the Champions League, before hosting London rivals Fulham in the league.Â

Spurs receive injury boost ahead of PSG clashÂ

Ahead of next Wednesday's match, PSG are reportedly sweating on the fitness of Ousmane Dembele and Nuno Mendes, both of whom are major doubts for the clash against Spurs.Â

The pair picked up injuries during their 2-1 loss against Bayern Munich in their previous Champions League game before the international break, and they were not called up for their national sides.Â

Dembele picked up a calf injury while Mendes sprained his knee, and both are major doubts for PSG's clash at home to Le Havre on Saturday.Â

According to a report from the Evening Standard, the pair have slim chances of playing against Tottenham next week, which should come as a huge boost for the north London club.Â

Dembele is the current Ballon d'Or winner and Mendes is arguably one of the best left-backs in the world, and losing both would be a significant blow for PSG.Â

Tottenham injury issuesÂ

Spurs are missing a host of players, with the likes of James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Radu Dragusin, and Dominic Solanke are long-term absentees.Â

Pape Sarr appeared to have picked up a knock during Senegal's 2-0 loss to Brazil, but he should be fine to play in the north London derby.Â

Arsenal expert Charles Watts has exclusively told Sports Mole his ideal replacement for the injured Gabriel Magalhaes, and it is not who many Gooners may think.

The Gunners were hopeful of receiving some positive injury news over the international period, with the likes of Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli stepping up their recoveries in the hope of being fit for daunting fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur, Bayern Munich and Chelsea later this month.

Instead, Mikel Arteta will be bemoaning the absence of critical defender Gabriel, who is feared to be facing one to two months on the sidelines with the thigh injury he sustained in Brazil's friendly win over Senegal at the Emirates a few days ago.

Gabriel's issue would seemingly open up a place in the team for the left-sided Piero Hincapie to slot into, but Watts believes that Cristhian Mosquera would be a better call, even though he is predominantly right-sided.

Asked who his top pick would be to replace Gabriel, Watts replied: “I can't give you a definitive answer to that because I don't know. I think I would probably go with Mosquera. I don't think I'd want to move Calafiori, because you’re shaking the defence up and hurting yourself twice.

“And Mosquera's not put a foot wrong. He's looked so strong. Yes, he's more predominantly right-sided, but he's played left-sided many times, and he's up to speed. He knows exactly what it's about. He’s earned that place.

Why Cristhian Mosquera deserves to replace Gabriel for Arsenal

“If it was a month down the line, then maybe I would be going Hincapie. But he's not going to get back until probably Thursday. He's going to have a lot of air miles in his legs. Maybe that will come into consideration.

“I wouldn't be surprised if Mikel goes with Hincapie though. Mikel's really bigged up Hincapie every time he's talked about his mentality, calling him a warrior, so it wouldn't shock me if it is Hincapie who plays there. Thankfully it's not, but if it was my decision, I would go Mosquera.”

Mosquera and Hincapie are just two of five players who could potentially fill the Gabriel void for Arsenal, who also have Riccardo Calafiori, Ben White and Jurrien Timber available, but Arteta has lost arguably an irreplaceable player in the Brazil international.

The Gunners have won 64% of their games with Gabriel in the team compared to just 40% when he has been absent, and footage of him limping off in Brazil's win triggered inevitable fan uproar online at Carlo Ancelotti's decision to play him.

The former Real Madrid manager issued an apology in his press conference as supporters questioned why Gabriel was risked for a friendly match, especially after reports claimed he was training separately in the lead-up to the match in order to manage his load.

However, with the World Cup just several months away and Gabriel seeking to cement his place in the Brazil XI, Watts defended Ancelotti's decision to risk the 27-year-old, whose problem can be attributed to bad luck rather than mismanagement.

Gabriel Magalhaes injury: Are Brazil, Ancelotti to blame?

“It’s still a big game," Watts replied. "There's about four games left before the World Cup, and you ask Gabriel if he wants to play in that game, he’s absolutely going to say yes. It wasn't like Gabriel was the only first-team player who was playing.

“It's a big game for Ancelotti. He's just arrived, not had many games and wants to see who he wants to be involved in the World Cup. It was at the Emirates as well – his own stadium - there was no way Gabriel wasn't going to be playing in that game. So I don't really buy into that argument.

“I get it, because it's incredibly frustrating. If you're a fan of the club whose player has just got injured, you're of course going to be like, ‘oh, why is he playing in a friendly?’ But never in my mind did I not expect Gabriel to play. He was front and centre of all the advertising for it. But it’s obviously incredibly, incredibly disappointing.

“I've seen the reports coming out from journalists around the Brazil camp who suggested that he was training on his own on Friday. I don't know if that that was the case. I don't know if Arsenal had been in contact with Brazil. It's ironic - normally you'd be saying it's because of all that jetting off halfway around the world, but he's not even left his home!

“It does come down to luck at times. I get the emotional reaction, but he was always, always going to play in that game. He’s only just really forced his way into the Brazil team as well. It’s not been that long since he was in and out the side. He doesn't want to risk that ahead of the World Cup.”

In brighter news, Calafiori is expected to shake off a minor hip problem in time for the North London derby this weekend, but there is a strong chance that Gabriel - who has scored two goals and provided three assists this season - has played for the final time in 2025.

Liverpool, Manchester City, and Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly interested in signing AFC Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, but one of them is ahead in the race at the moment.Â

Semenyo joined the Cherries in the January window of 2023 for a reported fee of £10m, and has gradually developed into one of the Premier League's most dynamic wingers.Â

The 25-year-old was linked with moves to Manchester United and Spurs during the summer transfer window, but the deals did not materialize; instead, he signed a new contract until 2030.Â

Interestingly, despite the contract extension, Semenyo remains in demand in the transfer market and is still linked with a move away from the Vitality Stadium in the January window.Â

Liverpool ahead of the race for Semenyo?Â

According to a report from TeamTalk, the Reds are leading the race at the moment to sign Semenyo, who has a £65m release clause in his contract.Â

The experienced attacker has been in superb form this season, having netted six goals and provided three assists in 11 Premier League appearances.

The report claims that Spurs are also ready to throw their hat into the ring, and the Cherries may soon face the task of waving goodbye to their talisman attacker.

The Reds are reportedly ready to meet the price needed to lure the Ghana international from the South Coast club.Â

Do Liverpool need Semenyo in January?Â

The Reds sold Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich in the summer window, and they did not replace him properly, despite signing three quality forwards to bolster their attacking department.Â

Semenyo can play on both flanks, and therefore, he can be a valuable addition in January, considering that Mohamed Salah could be out for a long time due to his participation at the AFCON.Â

Cody Gakpo and Federico Chiesa are other options for Arne Slot, while Florian Wirtz could be used on the left flank, depending on the system.Â