Tottenham Hotspur have received a significant boost ahead of the north London derby, with forward Mohammed Kudus prioritising his recovery for the Arsenal clash over international duty with Ghana.
Injury Blow and Recovery Timeline
The 25-year-old winger sustained a knock during Tottenham's defeat by Chelsea on November 1, which subsequently ruled him out of important fixtures against FC Copenhagen in the Champions League and the Premier League draw with Manchester United.
Ahead of the Manchester United match, Spurs manager Thomas Frank described Kudus's availability as "touch and go," but the player ultimately didn't make the squad. This decision now extends to his international commitments, with Kudus withdrawing from Ghana's squad for their friendlies against Japan on Friday and South Korea on Tuesday, November 18.
Strategic Decision for Arsenal Showdown
The club's decision appears strategically sound, eliminating both the risk of aggravating his minor injury and the extensive travel required for two friendly matches. This aligns with Frank's post-United match optimism, where he stated he was "very confident that he should be available for the next one" - referring to the highly anticipated trip to the Emirates Stadium to face arch-rivals Arsenal on November 23.
Frank will be particularly eager to reintegrate the Ghanaian international, who has already made 15 appearances for Tottenham since his summer arrival.
Broader Tottenham Injury Picture
While Kudus's situation looks promising, Tottenham are managing multiple fitness concerns. There's potential for several returns after the international break, with Dominic Solanke, Ben Davies, Radu Dragusin, Yves Bissouma, Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall, and Randal Kolo Muani all hoping to be available for the Arsenal fixture.
Cristian Romero is expected to be fine after his substitution against Manchester United, though James Maddison remains out until well into 2026 with a knee injury. Dejan Kulusevski is nearing a return but won't feature against Arsenal.
Frank admitted he's still searching for his ideal attacking combination, acknowledging after the United draw: "We are searching to find the right balance up front." He pointed to positive moments in their forward play and emphasised the ongoing work to improve player relationships and find the perfect blend.
The manager explained his tactical approach against United, which involved deploying two strikers to target crosses, a plan that nearly paid off early when Richarlison missed a significant chance. Frank also praised substitute Wilson Odobert, noting he's "stepping up and doing things that look right."
