Tottenham Hotspur will be boosted by the return of their new striker Dominic Solanke and defender Micky van de Ven for Sunday’s highly anticipated north London derby against Arsenal. Solanke, who arrived from Bournemouth in a record-breaking deal worth up to £65 million (USD 85.47 million), missed the last two matches due to an ankle injury sustained after his debut against Leicester City. Meanwhile, van de Ven was absent for the defeat at Newcastle United before the international break.
Manager Ange Postecoglou confirmed the positive news on Friday, stating that both players are back in full training. “Micky is all good, he’s trained fully over the international break. Dom (Solanke) is back with the first team, training today, so again, we’ve got training tomorrow, if they get through alright, I guess they’ll be available,” Postecoglou told reporters.
While Solanke and van de Ven’s return will be a welcome boost for Spurs, Postecoglou remains realistic about the challenge ahead, acknowledging Tottenham’s mixed start to the season. They have only secured four points from a possible nine, failing to convert enough of their 48 goal attempts.
“Results come sooner rather than later. We’ve got to stay consistent in our approach. We dominated all three games,” Postecoglou emphasized, seeking his first victory in the north London derby. “Results haven’t come but if we maintain that over 38 games we’ll be in a good position. We’ve got to keep at it. Stay focused on the important elements of our game.”
The last encounter between the two teams ended in a draw at Arsenal, but Spurs lost 3-2 at home after a disastrous first half. However, the tide may be turning as Arsenal, under Mikel Arteta, has re-emerged as a formidable force in the Premier League, challenging for the title. Postecoglou acknowledged Arteta’s impact, saying, “They have this confidence in themselves that they can challenge over the course of the season. They’re going to be a tough nut to crack, but it’s a great opportunity for us.”
The clash promises to be a thrilling encounter as both teams will be looking to gain a psychological advantage in the early stages of the Premier League season.
