Tottenham injury news as four miss Arsenal with fresh boost and Perisic update

Tottenham injury news as Ange Postecoglou works around a late blow for Ivan Perisic ahead of the North London Derby against Arsenal

Ivan Perisic will not be available for Tottenham against Arsenal (Image: Francois Nel – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Tottenham are in a great place entering the North London Derby against Arsenal on Sunday. After five matches only Manchester City have more points than Ange Postecoglou’s side and Brighton are one of just two sides to have scored more than their 13 goals so far as well.

Spurs have well and truly turned things around on and off the pitch to be one of the neutrals’ favourites during the early stages of the season. Ahead of heading to a ground that has given little in the way of positive highlights recently, Postecoglou couldn’t have asked for better preparation.

During the week he made more good headlines after once more giving some strong answers at a fans’ forum event for the club and his attitude continues to win supporters over throughout the footballing world. However, there’s nothing more that the Australian would like than to gift his team a first win at the Emirates Stadium since 2010 in the Premier League.

The squad’s readiness heading into the game couldn’t be much better either. Postecoglou was able to give first minutes in a Tottenham shirt to summer signing Alejo Veliz for the Under-21 side in the week as he builds up match sharpness. The Argentine forward arrived at the cub with a knock and has been unavailable up until this point.

He could be in the squad selected for the short trip across north London after being involved in his first training session at the club last week. He hasn’t been part of a matchday group with the senior set-up yet but that could all change.

Also joining him on the training pitch is fellow South American star Rodrigo Bentancur. The Uruguay midfielder was part of the warm-ups last week with his teammates as he continues a long recovery from injury. He isn’t at a stage whereby he can join in with the full session yet but seeing him join up is another positive step on the road towards a return.

“Rehab it is the toughest bit. Talk to any player, it is not just the work but the solitary element of it. He was buzzing yesterday but it is good,” Postecoglou said ahead of the win over Sheffield United win last week.

“Fair to say he has a fair bit of work to do and great to have him involved. He was dejected of course when we had to pull him out of it after half an hour.”

Bentancur is one of just four players expected to miss the game against Arsenal as fellow long-term absentees Bryan Gil and Ryan Sessegnon remain out. There has been no recent update on their fitness and even once back it will take some time to get into the swing of things let alone be ready to make an impact on what is already a settled squad at Hotspur Way.

There was a huge blow handed to Postecoglou and his men during the week though as Croatian midfielder Ivan Perisic was ruled out for what is expected to be the remainder of the season after picking up an anterior cruciate ligament injury in training. The 34-year-old has featured from the bench in every game so far this season and has been a key part of the senior squad as an experienced member.

A statement from the club announced the shock news, saying: “Perisic has suffered a complex Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury in his right knee. The experienced Croatia international sustained the injury in non-contact training and will undergo surgery.

“Ivan will then commence his rehabilitation with our medical staff and is expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the season. Wishing you well in your recovery, Ivan.”

The former Inter and Bayern Munich man then took to Instagram himself, writing: “‘Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it or work around it.’ M. Jordan.

“Thank you for all your support. It means the world to me [Boar emoji, tornado emoji, praying emoji].” Perisic will leave a big hole in the squad due to his versatility across the backline, midfield and attack. It was his corner for Richarlison against Sheffield United that sparked the dramatic comeback and new answers will have to be found to accommodate without him.

From one missing to a body coming back, Giovani Lo Celso was out of the group against the Blades with injury but could be back in contention here. The Argentine has only played once in the league this season – as a second half substitute against Bournemouth – and has struggled to remain fit consistently across his Spurs career.

When it comes to those that are likely to make up the bulk of the squad for Sunday, though, Postecoglou has nearly all of his key options available. He may need each and every one of them.