Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal will be ‘fully ready’ for Tottenham challenge despite playing FOUR times since Spurs’ last fixture… as Gunners boss offers Jurrien Timber fitness update
- Arsenal have played four matches in nine days in a hectic April for the Gunners
- They travel to Tottenham knowing they will need a perfect end to the campaign
- Can Arsenal win a trophy for progress? The Gunners have recovered but there’s the final hurdle – Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off! podcast
Mikel Arteta was adamant that his side would be ready to face Tottenham on Sunday despite having played four times since Spurs last took to the field.
The Gunners travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday knowing that anything less than three points will present a sizeable hurdle in their Premier League title charge.
It has been something of a hectic period for Arteta and Co in the last few weeks, losing to both Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter finals and Aston Villa in the league before back-to-back wins over Wolves and Chelsea.
Meanwhile Tottenham approach Sunday’s North London Derby fresh, not having featured since a 4-0 pummeling by Newcastle on April 13.
However, Arteta was quick to suggest that fatigue will not be a factor for his side, and the visitors will be ‘fully ready’ for the clash against their oldest rivals.
Mikel Arteta insisted that his side will be ready for the North London Derby despite their hectic April
The Gunners face Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham on Sunday knowing that anything less than three points could scupper their title charge
‘I don’t know,’ he admitted when asked if he would rather have two weeks off or four games in a fortnight.
‘What I can tell you is that the boys are going to be fully ready to go to play against a great opponent.’
After defeat at the Emirates against Aston Villa earlier in the month, the Gunners have won their next two games by an aggregate score of 7-0.
Liverpool’s defeat in the Merseyside Derby on Wednesday now leaves Arsenal three points clear of the Reds.
However Manchester City, in typically merciless fashion, put four past Brighton to move just one behind the Gunners with a game in hand.
Therefore nothing short of perfection will be required by Arsenal if they are to get over the line as champions for the first time since 2003-04, when they did so unbeaten.
As such, it will surely be a huge boost to Arteta to have Jurrien Timber on the cusp of a return to the team, after the Dutch summer signing was ruled out for the season with an ACL injury on his debut back in August.
The Gunners have had an up-and-down April but come into the tie on the back of a 5-0 win over Chelsea
Jurrien Timber is close to a return to the Arsenal side, in a huge boost to Arteta and Co at the end of the season
‘We’re going to have to make that decision tomorrow after a training session,’ Arteta said when asked about the status of his versatile defender.
‘It’s very close, I don’t know if this is going to come to soon for him, but he’s very close.
‘Apart from Jurrien it’s going to be very close that we have everybody available. It elevates the training sessions and it’s going to be something very important.
‘It’s a good headache! You feel for the players because you see how much they want it. It’s always difficult but as well they’re fully ready to come on the pitch however we need them. There spirit is very good.’
