Tottenham lineup vs Arsenal confirmed – Danso included, Kudus returns, Xavi named among the substitutes.
Thomas Frank has named his Tottenham Hotspur lineup for Sunday’s Premier League trip to the Emirates Stadium, marking his first competitive North London Derby in charge. The Spurs boss has made five alterations to his side to take on Arsenal.
Ahead of the clash, Frank confirmed in his pre-match press conference that several players had returned to training, including attackers Mohammed Kudus and Randal Kolo Muani — the latter set to play with a protective mask after a fractured jaw — as well as midfielders Pape Matar Sarr, Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and defenders Ben Davies, Kota Takai and Radu Dragusin, who gained minutes in an under-21 friendly against Leyton Orient last week.
Frank previously oversaw a win against Mikel Arteta’s team during a summer friendly in Hong Kong, but this will be his first official derby meeting of the season, taking place at Arsenal’s home ground.
For this match, he has opted for a back three of Kevin Danso, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, with Djed Spence and Destiny Udogie operating as wing-backs and Pedro Porro named among the substitutes.
Xavi Simons also starts on the bench, while Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha anchor the midfield. Mohammed Kudus returns to the starting XI with Wilson Odobert supporting Richarlison in attack. Kolo Muani, Gray and Bergvall contribute to a strong bench that also includes Xavi.
Tottenham’s starting lineup to face Arsenal:
Vicario; Romero, Danso, Van de Ven; Spence, Bentancur, Palhinha, Udogie; Kudus, Odobert; Richarlison.
Subs: Kinsky, Porro, Gray, Sarr, Bergvall, Xavi, Johnson, Tel, Kolo Muani.
