Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank is facing a significant midfield shortage ahead of his first North London derby, with key player Pape Matar Sarr a major doubt for Sunday's crucial Premier League clash against Arsenal.
Midfielder's International Setback
The concern stems from an injury the 23-year-old Senegal international sustained while playing for his country against Brazil at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday. Sarr was forced off early in the second half of the match, casting immediate doubt over his availability for the weekend.
Initially, Senegal manager Pape Thiaw played down the severity of the issue, describing it as not a 'big deal' and stating Sarr's substitution was merely a precautionary measure. However, the situation appears more serious than first indicated.
Recovery Race Against Time
In a telling development, Sarr did not travel with the Senegal squad to Turkey for their subsequent friendly against Kenya on Tuesday night. Instead, the midfielder has remained in London to receive treatment from his club.
Thiaw explained the decision, saying: "We left him in London. He took a knock. So we felt it would be difficult for him to recover in just two days. Since we were in his home city, we preferred to leave him at the disposal of his club so he could receive treatment there."
This need for a dedicated recovery period makes Sarr a significant doubt for the derby at the Emirates Stadium, dealing a substantial blow to Frank's tactical plans.
Compounding Tottenham's Midfield Crisis
Sarr's potential absence exacerbates an already challenging situation in Tottenham's engine room. The squad is currently grappling with multiple midfield absences:
- Lucas Bergvall is still recovering from a concussion sustained against Chelsea.
- James Maddison remains a long-term injury absentee.
- Archie Gray is sidelined with a calf problem.
Frank has been a vocal admirer of Sarr, having used the player in all but one Premier League match this season. The manager previously praised him as "amazing" after Sarr scored the winning goal in a pre-season friendly against the same Arsenal opponents.
Frank remarked at the time: "It's so far the goal of the season! It was great. I know he won Player of the Match and, for me, he was Player of the Match. He took it so well and so quickly, saw David Raya was too far out of his goal and put it away."
With limited options available, Frank must now devise an alternative strategy for one of the most anticipated fixtures of the season, potentially without one of his most trusted midfield performers.
