Fri Sep 13 21:35:44 UTC 2024: ## Tottenham Boss Warns of Undeterred Arsenal Threat Despite Injuries

Ahead of the highly anticipated North London derby on Sunday, Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has cautioned his players against underestimating Arsenal, despite the Gunners facing several key injuries.

Arsenal will be without midfielder Declan Rice due to suspension, while summer signing Mikel Merino is out with a shoulder injury. Captain Martin Odegaard is also expected to miss the game after sustaining an ankle issue on international duty.

However, Postecoglou dismissed the notion that Arsenal’s absences would create a golden opportunity for Spurs.

“God, that’s a hell of a trap to fall into if you think they’re reliant on two players,” he said, referring to Rice and Odegaard. “Two important players, but we were missing key players last year as well and we still managed to give significant performances.”

Postecoglou highlighted Arsenal’s consistent performance over the last two seasons and their deep squad depth. He emphasized the importance of focusing on Tottenham’s own performance and playing to their strengths.

“The key for us is the focus on our performance,” he said. “We know at our best and playing the football that we can, we can match them.”

Postecoglou also addressed Arsenal’s notorious set-piece prowess, a key factor in their 3-2 victory over Spurs in April.

He dismissed the tactics employed by Arsenal defender Ben White, who famously distracted Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario during corners.

“That’s the dark arts, isn’t it?” he said. “If he does, Vic can give them to him. I don’t know. They can deal with it. Rock, paper, scissors or whatever it takes. I’m not interested.”

The Spurs boss stressed that improvements are needed across all facets of their game, from set pieces to individual player performance, if they are to compete with the top teams.

While acknowledging Arsenal’s threat at set-pieces, Postecoglou emphasized that Tottenham’s focus must be on nullifying their strengths and maximizing their own.

“It’s not just about shutting them down in one area, it’s about nullifying their strengths and accentuating ours to overcome them,” he concluded.

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