13 players to miss Tottenham vs Arsenal as two stars face late fitness test

Injury concerns are set to impact both Arsenal and Tottenham for the North London Derby with one team in a far worse predicament

Arsenal and Tottenham head into the North London Derby with very different injury problems. The two bitter rivals are set to clash on Sunday afternoon, with three points a must for both given their respective title ambitions and relegation fears.

Mikel Arteta's side have had far less rest having played out a 2-2 draw with Wolves on Wednesday evening. Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka were both forced off in that game.

The Gunners boss has however, confirmed both are available while also admitting that Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard have a good chance of returning. He said: "Well, we have to wait until tomorrow, but there is a big possibility that they [Havertz and Odegaard] are available for the game."

As Arteta points out, either featuring in training on Saturday will likely determine their availability with late fitness tests potentially required for the duo. That will not be needed for Mikel Merino however, with the Spaniard a long-term injury absentee after undergoing surgery on his foot.

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Max Dowman is also expected to be unavailable despite Arteta admitting earlier this month that he is set to re-join training soon. The Arsenal academy ace has missed the last two months with an ankle injury.

On the other side of north London, Igor Tudor has nearly as many senior players out injured as available for training. That was confirmed as such by the club's new interim head coach and he also admitted there was a fresh fitness concern.

He said: "Very particular moment as you know this very rare situation that you find with 10 players injured, with big injuries also.

"We made training with 13 players. Probably no [for injury returns vs Arsenal]. Solanke, Dominic, had some problems with his throat, but he made today some training. So, all others, probably someone next week." Tudor later admitted that Richarlison is back but that Pedro Porro is still out.

The Lilywhites therefore need Solanke available for Sunday, especially having lost another attacker to a serious injury last week with Wilson Odobert rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament. He joins James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski as a player to miss a significant period because of a knee injury.

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That duo have not played a minute of competitive football this season, but are hoping to return before the end of May. The latter scenario also applies to Rodrigo Bentancur, with the midfielder out of action due to a hamstring injury.

It is, however, unclear exactly when he will be able to return. But Tudor does know when Cristian Romero will be available for selection. He is currently serving a four-game ban after picking up a second red card of the season against Manchester United, with the club captain available to return for the trip to Liverpool in mid-March barring any injury issue between now and then.

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Tottenham are particularly struggling for options in defensive areas, with Destiny Udogie and Ben Davies missing. Kevin Danso is pushing to be back from a bizarre toe problem before the next international break, which kicks off late next month.

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