Spurs receive new Pape Matar Sarr fitness news after worrying setback ahead of Arsenal clash.

Senegal boss Pape Thiaw has eased concerns over Pape Matar Sarr after the midfielder picked up an injury against Brazil, offering Tottenham a major lift ahead of next week’s North London Derby. Sarr began Saturday’s 2-0 loss at the Emirates but was withdrawn in the second half after a heavy challenge. He was helped off by medical staff and looked uncomfortable, adding to worries for Thomas Frank, who already has 12 senior players out injured.

Thiaw later played down the issue, saying: “He took a knock and didn’t feel right, so he came off as a precaution, but I don’t think it’s anything serious.”

Arsenal, meanwhile, were handed a scare of their own when Gabriel limped out of Brazil’s friendly. The 27-year-old defender went down around the hour mark with a thigh issue and was replaced after treatment. When Carlo Ancelotti was asked about the severity and whether Arsenal fans could relax, he admitted he couldn’t reassure them:

“Is it bad? I don’t know. It’s an adductor problem. The medical team will check tomorrow. We’re disappointed — you never want players to get injured.”

Gabriel’s absence would be a significant setback for the league leaders, who have built their strong start on a defence that has conceded just five goals in 11 Premier League matches. The centre-back had looked sharp before the injury, making crucial interventions, and he previously missed the end of last season with a hamstring issue that kept him out of the Champions League run-in.

Should Gabriel be unavailable, it would be a major boost for Frank, who has begun well in north London but is still trying to fine-tune Spurs’ attacking setup.

After last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Manchester United, Frank said they are still working on finding the right mix up front: “There were some positive moments in attack. We’re always trying to improve the connections and find the perfect blend, and I think we saw some small steps forward.”

He explained their approach: “Against United, we wanted Kolo Muani and Richarlison as a front two to attack crosses, an area we felt could hurt them. It worked well for the first big chance Richarlison had from Brennan Johnson’s cross. That was a key part of our plan, and we need different profiles for different matches.”