Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou says he is empathetic to Arsenal’s injury plight, but has no sympathy for his north London rivals.
The Gunners will be without several key players, such as Bukayo Saka, Ben White, Ethan Nwaneri and Gabriel Jesus, for Wednesday’s Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium, while Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber are slight doubts.
Tottenham have had to deal with an even greater litany of injury issues this season, with up to nine players sidelined for the North London Derby, although Richarlison will return to the matchday squad.
Spurs boss Postecoglou has ‘no sympathy’ for ravaged Arsenal
“I don’t know how much sympathy they’ve all had for me – I am not sure… Certainly I have empathy which is probably a better word,” Postecoglou told his pre-match press conference.
“I understand how challenging it is for any team, irrespective of the size or quality. With all these things, it is where the injuries hit, the areas they hit and the significance of the injuries all make it challenging but I am sure Mikel is not going to let that get in the way of him putting out a team tomorrow night that can beat us.”
Postecoglou has struggled against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal since arriving to the Premier League, losing two and drawing one of their meetings. The Australian is determined to finally get one over the club’s most hated rival and reignite their season.
“I felt it was intense from the moment I arrived but at the same time I’ve never tried to be disingenuous about this stuff and say ‘this means the world to me’ when I have literally just arrived,” he replied when asked if the rivalry had intensified over the last year and a half.
