Tottenham Hotspur’s captain has recently highlighted a particular Arsenal player as a key threat in their upcoming North London Derby, though it’s not the expected names like Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, or Kai Havertz. Despite notable absences from Arsenal’s lineup—such as Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard—the Spurs skipper singled out this player due to his history of causing trouble for Tottenham’s defense in previous encounters. Although he did not reveal the exact name, it’s clear this individual has left a strong impression on the Tottenham captain, who believes his presence could impact the outcome of the match.
Arsenal’s striker Gabriel Jesus, who has been dealing with a groin injury, might surprisingly be fit to play against Tottenham this weekend. Many had initially assumed that Jesus would be unavailable for the match, given his recent injury status. However, according to Arsenal pundit Charles Watts, there is a chance that the Brazilian forward could return in time for this crucial game. Watts shared on his YouTube channel that while it was widely expected that Jesus would miss the derby, his return to action has not been entirely ruled out.
Jesus made a brief cameo appearance during Arsenal’s season opener against Wolverhampton Wanderers, coming on in the closing moments of the match. However, he has been sidelined since then due to his groin issue. Initially, the injury was expected to keep him out of action for an extended period, leading many to assume that Sunday’s high-stakes game against Spurs would be played without him. However, with the match approaching and Arsenal facing an injury crisis, the possibility of Jesus returning to the squad has emerged as a potential boost for manager Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal’s current injury situation is dire. Martin Ødegaard, one of their key playmakers, is out after sustaining an injury while on international duty with Norway. Additionally, midfielder Mikel Merino suffered a freak accident during his first training session after the international break, further depleting Arteta’s options in the middle of the park. Another blow came when Riccardo Calafiori picked up an unusual injury while representing Italy, adding to the growing list of unavailable players.
In the midst of these setbacks, the possible return of Gabriel Jesus could offer some much-needed hope for Arsenal. Charles Watts has expressed that while it is unlikely Jesus will start the match, his availability, even for a substitute appearance, could be a positive development for Arteta as he navigates through a challenging week filled with injuries and difficult selection decisions.