Arsenal reel from injury to key star ahead of North London Derby vs Tottenham Hotspur

But Tottenham have been handed a rare slice of good news before the Derby trip to the Emirates Stadium, as Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard is now unlikely to make it back in time for the game as according to a recent report by Football Insider. This news will be a massive relief for Thomas Frank, given how Odegaard has always been a tactical menace, especially every time that he plays Tottenham.

He has always come up with the goods against the Lilywhites. And his absence will be a massive boost for a Tottenham side that is still juggling a bit with selection in that second and third phase of play.

To put it into context, Odegaard has six wins in eight games against Tottenham. In those games he has contributed with two goals and an assist. So not having him tilts the margins (even if just slightly) towards the visitors. Without him, Arsenal don’t have as much momentum on that right channel, especially given how Eze has this left tilt, given his stronger right foot, which opens up certain angles for him that he wouldn’t have on the right side.

In addition to Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus is expected to remain on the sidelines. While there is a chance that all of Viktor Gyökeres, Kai Havertz, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli will be involved against Tottenham after the international hiatus. So the Gunners still have a lot of firepower in the final third, but they will just lack that control and poise that the Norwegian brings to the table.

TTLB Opinion

Arsenal not having Odegaard will be a massive boost for Tottenham given how they will not have their choreographer-in-chief for the North London derby. This will be fewer tactical headaches for Thomas Frank, as he is Arsenal’s most reliable chance creator, especially against compact blocks. This means that the visitors would be quite ready for hitting transitions without constantly fearing that they would pass through the seams.