Mikel Arteta has a injury crisis to overcome in midfield (Image: Getty)
Ex-Tottenham star Rafael van der Vaart could be left with egg on his face if his former side are beaten by Arsenal over the weekend.
Spurs will be hoping to damage their fierce rivals’ title hopes on Sunday, and they may not have a better opportunity to claim bragging rights in north London.
Mikel Arteta’s options in midfield appear scarce, with Declan Rice currently serving a one-game suspension after his red card against Brighton. Captain Martin Odegaard is also ruled out through injury after sustaining an ankle problem whilst on international duty. Mikel Merino remains sidelined with a shoulder problem.
A victory over Tottenham would therefore be a major sign of intent from Arsenal given their injury problems, especially after their chances of winning the Premier League were recently played down by former Netherlands international Van der Vaart.
He told BetMGM: “Many think Arsenal will be the ones to serve it up to Manchester City, but I don’t agree. City and Liverpool look the two best sides to me.
“It’s so hard to keep going again and again, season after season, and I look at the Arsenal team in the long-term and worry about them. I can’t see Arsenal winning the Premier League this season.
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Rafael van der Vaart has played down Arsenal’s title chances (Image: Getty)
“I was really impressed by Liverpool when they beat Manchester United – they looked so stable and everything looked very easy. City are definitely the favourites, but don’t write off Liverpool.”
Liverpool’s faultless start to the season has certainly laid down a marker in the early stages of the title race, but Arsenal’s two charges will spur the club on further, fuelled by the disappointment of playing second fiddle to City.
Martin Odegaard suffered an ankle injury whilst playing for Norway (Image: Getty)
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Van der Vaart is hoping to be proven right over the weekend as he believes that Ange Postecoglou’s side have been given the ideal opportunity to capitalise on Arsenal’s misfortune at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. He concluded: “I give Tottenham a real chance on Sunday. It doesn’t matter what team you are, if you lose two or three really good players, particularly all in the same position, it makes things really hard and I really think Spurs can take advantage of it.
“If there’s ever a time for Spurs to show what they are about this it’s now and it’s the sort of result Ange [Postecoglou] needs to show that he’s a manager that can take Tottenham to the next level.”
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1948144/Tottenham-news-Arsenal-Rafael-van-der-Vaart-north-London-derby