Ange Postecoglou faces his biggest challenge as Tottenham Hotspur head coach so far when his side visit Arsenal in the north London derby on Sunday.
Spurs have won four Premier League games on the trot under the former Celtic boss to sit second in the division, ahead of the Gunners on goal difference, and rallied late on to steal a win against Sheffield United last time out.
Here’s the team Postecoglou is likely to deploy at the Emirates, where Tottenham haven’t won a league game since 2010.
GK: Guglielmo Vicario – Club stalwart Hugo Lloris is still loitering around at Spurs having failed to secure a summer transfer but it’s Vicario who’ll line up between the sticks at the Emirates.
RB: Pedro Porro – Will face his sternest defensive test of the season but also look to influence proceedings in the attacking third.
CB: Cristian Romero – Is yet to taste victory in the north London derby and will need to be the commanding presence in an otherwise inexperienced back line.
CB: Micky van de Ven – His recovery pace will be examined by Arsenal’s flowing counter-attacks.
LB: Destiny Udogie – Seems to be getting better and better in his brief Spurs career. Will be tested going forward and back by Bukayo Saka.
CM: Pape Matar Sarr – Recently revealed he’s called Roberto Carlos when he goes back to Senegal. Spurs would love a screamer from distance similar to what the Brazilian full-back used to pull out.
CM: Yves Bissouma – Bissouma’s presence and positive form will make the midfield battle between the two sides more of a contest than it has been in recent years.
RW: Dejan Kulusevski – Stepped up to smash in Tottenham’s winner against Sheffield United on Saturday, matching his league goal haul from the entirety of last season in the process.
AM: James Maddison – Suffered five straight defeats to Arsenal towards the end of his Leicester career, having previously led the Foxes to three wins in four games between 2018/19 and 2020/21.
LW: Son Heung-min – Started up front last time out but was largely subdued. Richarlison’s impact from the bench could see Manor Solomon dropped and Son moved back out wide.
ST: Richarlison – A goal and an assist from the bench against the Blades has Richarlison back in starting XI contention. Has five league wins in 11 games against Arsenal.
