Major Boost for Spurs as Key Forward Declared Fit
Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has received a significant lift ahead of Sunday's crucial north London derby against Arsenal, with forward Randal Kolo Muani unexpectedly cleared to play. The Paris Saint-Germain loanee, who suffered a blow to his jaw during Spurs' 2-2 draw with Manchester United on November 8, has been fitted with a protective mask and has returned to training.
Comprehensive Injury Update Ahead of Emirates Clash
Frank provided a largely positive squad update during his pre-match press conference. Pape Sarr and Lucas Bergvall have both trained and are available for selection. In defence, Ben Davies and Kota Takai have returned to training, while centre-back Radu Dragusin has taken a major step in his recovery from an anterior cruciate ligament injury sustained in January by participating in a behind-closed-doors friendly.
Further good news comes with the returns of Archie Gray and Mohammed Kudus, the latter having missed international duty with Ghana. However, Tottenham's treatment room still holds several key players. James Maddison, Yves Bissouma, Dejan Kulusevski, and Dominic Solanke all remain sidelined. Solanke, who has not featured since August 23 following minor ankle surgery, is being carefully managed to avoid any setbacks.
Frank's Derby Anticipation and Set-Piece Focus
Acknowledging the magnitude of the fixture, Frank expressed his excitement for his first competitive north London derby. "Super excited. Of course before I stepped into the club I knew about the north London derby, but it's when you're in it, you sense it and feel that this is important," he said. The Danish manager, who has only one win in nine competitive meetings with Arsenal, did secure a pre-season friendly victory over Mikel Arteta's side in Hong Kong this past July.
A fascinating subplot to Sunday's match at the Emirates will be the battle of the set-piece coaches. Arsenal's Nicolas Jover and Tottenham's Andreas Georgson both began their coaching journeys under Frank at Brentford. "Well, it is very simple. I educated both of them at Brentford," Frank remarked with a smile, highlighting the shared tactical DNA that will be on display.
