Tottenham receive Cristian Romero boost from Argentina ahead of North London Derby against Arsenal

Thomas Frank has received a timely injury boost concerning Cristian Romero ahead of Tottenham’s clash with Arsenal after the international break. The Spurs captain will benefit from some extra rest as Argentina have postponed their upcoming friendly against India.

The World Cup holders are currently training in Spain before facing Angola in Africa on Friday. Initially, Lionel Scaloni’s squad—who topped the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers—had been set to play two international friendlies this month, including one against India in Kerala on November 17. However, that fixture was called off in late October, meaning Argentina will only play once before domestic football resumes.

This comes as welcome news for Tottenham, who only recently got Romero back to full fitness after an adductor injury kept him sidelined for several weeks. The defender made a brief substitute appearance in the 1–0 loss to Chelsea before returning to the starting lineup against Copenhagen and Manchester United. With the India match now postponed until March 2026, the 27-year-old will return early to Hotspur Way to prepare for the North London Derby.

Argentina have chosen not to schedule a replacement game, aware that many of their players already face heavy workloads. Even in the Angola match, Romero may not play the full 90 minutes, as Scaloni is expected to rotate his lineup and test new combinations.

Tottenham have already struggled with injuries this season, making Romero’s fitness a key factor in their campaign. Meanwhile, striker Randal Kolo Muani suffered a fractured jaw in the recent 2–2 draw with Manchester United, though he’s expected to avoid surgery and return sooner than first feared.

Defender Radu Drăgușin is also nearing full fitness and is expected to train with Romania during the international break, possibly featuring in a behind-closed-doors friendly for Spurs next week. His return will not be rushed, as he continues his careful recovery from ACL surgery in February. Additionally, Kota Takai is close to regaining fitness and could soon provide further defensive depth alongside Romero, Micky van de Ven, and Kevin Danso.