Arsenal and Tottenham head into the international break full of frustration and anger.
It was another weekend of drama in the Premier League, with Arsenal’s draw against Brighton perhaps being one of the main talking points and wasteful Tottenham losing at Newcastle United.
Declan Rice was sent off in a controversial fashion as Arsenal dropped their first points of the campaign, but their rivals will be equally as annoyed.
Tottenham missed big chances against Newcastle and they now head into the north London derby after the international break with question marks over their head.
Ian Wright is slightly worried going into the game, with Mikel Arteta’s side picking up four points during this fixture last season.
Arsenal’s win at Tottenham in April was a standout, with Rice playing a key role in the middle of the park following his club-record transfer.
But Wright pointed out that it’s a ‘big blow’ Arsenal will be without Rice because he is ‘so integral to everything we are doing’, as he told Premier League Productions (31/08/24 at 2:40 pm).
The issue for the Gunners is that they can’t even appeal Rice’s red because he was shown two yellow cards, even if everyone in Arsenal colours, including Arteta, was furious with the sending-off.
You sense it just puts extra spice into an already fiery, attacking, passionate, all-action and hard-fought north London derby.
Declan Rice suspended for Tottenham game
“Yeah, it’s a big blow,” said Wright about Rice being suspended for the north London derby. “I think it’s a big blow for us simply because he is so integral to everything that we are doing.
“If Declan (Rice) is on the pitch for the second half (against Brighton) then we would probably win that game. He is a big miss. I think you could see that in the way that we played in the second half. But to get a point is such a big point now.”
Arsenal’s midfield against Tottenham
It needs to be noted that Arsenal have won at Tottenham without Rice in midfield before, so there is no reason why they can’t do it again.
Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard will be certain starters, it’s just a case of who sits alongside them and if it’s the obvious choice of Jorginho.
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Arsenal signed Mikel Merino before transfer deadline day, but he picked up an injury in his first training session, so there is no chance for him to feature.
Jurrien Timber has impressed since returning for Arsenal and he is versatile enough to go into the middle of the park, but you just sense Arteta will go with the experience of Jorginho.
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