"It's already over" - Tottenham fans lose their minds as 2 key players fail to make starting XI against Arsenal
Tottenham Hotspur fans are fuming with Antonio Conte's decision to name Ivan Perisic on the bench and Rodrigo Bentancur unfit to face Arsenal. The two sides clash today in the north London derby on Sunday (January 15).
Both sides will be eager for a win, with the Gunners in the title race and top of the table. Meanwhile, Spurs are in a top-four fight and trail fourth-placed Newcastle United by three points.
Conte has opted to field a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Hugo Lloris starting in goal for the 440th time for Spurs. Matt Doherty and Ryan Sessegnon will provide width as wing-backs. Meanwhile, Christian Romero, Eric Dier, and Clement Lenglet will line up in a back three.
Pape Matar Sarr and Pierre-Emile Hojberg are in midfield, with Conte choosing a front three of Dujen Kulusevski, Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min. However, the omission of Bentancur and Perisic has infuriated fans.
Bentancur has been in fine form for Tottenham, scoring five goals and providing two assists in 21 games across competitions. The Uruguayan midfielder impressed for his national side at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
However, he is still on the injury list. Meanwhile, Perisic is on the bench. His omission which may come as a surprise given his experience playing in this sort of fixture. The veteran wing-back has played in the Derby della Madonnina for Inter Milan and Der Klassiker for Bayern Munich. The Croatian has featured 24 times this season, providing eight assists.
Here are some reactions from fans on Twitter following Conte's decision not to start either of the pair against Arsenal:
@SpursOfficial No Bentancur or Perisic.. it’s already over
https://t.co/3Te6iAAJPh
@SpursOfficial https://t.co/fLfqzY4j3T
@SpursOfficial Nice joke now reveal the real starting eleven with Bentancur and Perisic
@SpursOfficial This is how I feel https://t.co/wKgIhDpQHt
@SpursOfficial Bentancur was meant to be back by new years, doesn’t even make the squad…
What on earth is this medical team.
@SpursOfficial No Perisic or Bentancur https://t.co/SsEN2ZDLVf
@SpursOfficial Good one lads. Let's see the real team
Arsenal boss Arteta hopes to end side's long wait for win at Tottenham
Arsenal have failed to win away at Tottenham since a League Cup 2-1 victory in 2015. It has been a fixture dominated by Spurs at home. The last time the Gunners beat their rivals away from home in the league was in 2014.
Gunners manager Mikel Arteta is hoping to finally end his side's poor run of form in the derby at Spurs, saying (via the club's website):
“In the last few years, there were places we haven’t won for 15, 17 or 20 years. I would like to do it all at once. We haven’t been able to do that, so we have a great challenge and opportunity on Sunday to get that done."
The Spanish coach talked up his team's motivation to beat Tottenham. He explained how the squad are excited and in a good position to do so:
"That’s the challenge that we have. We have to beat them at their place. I think the players are in a really good emotional state. We are excited; we are enjoying playing together, and we are in a good position. So we have to improve a lot of the things we still have to do, and we have to maintain the things that have taken us this far.”
A win for Arsenal will send them eight points clear of second-placed Manchester City after 18 games.