The Sun

ARSENAL face a make-or-break North London derby as they look to shrug off back-to-back cup defeats.

Mikel Arteta's side drew against Brighton before falling to a Carabao Cup semi-final defeat to Newcastle.

They then exited the FA Cup after a penalty shoot-out loss to Manchester United.

Yet all is not lost, because the Gunners have the chance to regroup and refocus their attention on the Premier League title battle, currently six points behind Liverpool.

However, their next match could be a season-defining game for them as they host bitter rivals Tottenham on Wednesday.

Ange Postecoglou's side have been in sticky form of late, beating Liverpool in the Carabao Cup before needing extra time to triumph over National League side Tamworth.

SunSport's Will Pugh and tactical guru Dean Scoggins have highlighted five areas how Spurs could KO Arsenal's title bid this season.

Organised chaos

There is a perception about Tottenham that they play a very wild style of football, and while this is true to a degree there is more than meets the eye within Postecoglou's system.

The Aussie manager's uniquely rigid attacking structure incorporates a left-hand set and a right-hand set of players.

And in the last few weeks, that system has - believe it or not - been adapting amid a flurry of errors from young and inexperienced players parachuted into the team due to an injury crisis.

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The current treatment room list means the likely centre-back pairing for this game will force Radu Dragusin to be paired alongside Archie Gray, with brand new goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky in goal.

Spurs will look to nullify their mistakes by playing out from the back even more than has been seen previously, with Yves Bissouma dropping into the space between them as they split to receive the ball.

In attack, Tottenham look to operate as a pair of wheels on either side of the pitch but without much crossover to the other flanks.

In this system, only the centre-backs, holding midfielder and striker are asked to stick to their main position, often allowing them to dominate possession due to overloads.

Unfortunately, this system can make Spurs susceptible to teams setting up against them, as Arsenal did at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium earlier this season.

Underlap, overlap, wandering free

Tottenham are a team who often do not look to generate chances through crossing from out wide, but do tend to score a lot with cutbacks.

This is often due to Spurs relying heavily on underlaps with the wingers hugging the touchline while the fullbacks - likely to be Pedro Porro and Djed Spence against Arsenal - invert centrally.

Spence, a right-footed full-back, has been particularly impressive deputising for Destiny Udogie at left-back in the last few weeks.

In a perfectly executed gameplan, this pair of wheels allow for the full-backs to move forward into a dangerous area before being able to find a cutback for a more central team-mate.

One of the main sources of Postecoglou's frustration this season has often come with Spurs giving the ball away and the wheels literally falling off.

But to that end the former Celtic boss has tweaked his tactics.

The first change to the system has been to concede some ground and move the team deeper to accommodate for Gray and Dragusin not being as quick as Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero.

The full-backs are also not going forward as quickly, with Porro in particular showing much more discipline in the last few weeks.

The third change has been to use to two pivots to collect the ball and build up instead of one, with Bissouma and one other dropping in to help the ball progress.

Sterling effort

It does not take a genius to figure out Bukayo Saka's absence from the Arsenal team has hit them hard.

The Hale End graduate has been a talismanic figure for the Gunners since breaking into the team, and was their spearhead across their last two title challenging campaigns.

While most teams may tend to split attacks more evenly across the field, Arsenal often played much more down the right, mainly due to Saka's excellence and his strong link with Martin Odegaard.

Ethan Nwaneri and Gabriel Jesus had both played in the role before getting injured themselves, which almost certainly means Raheem Sterling is going to be asked to play there against Spurs.

The former Liverpool and Manchester City star will be key for Arsenal if they are to get anything from the game.

What Arteta will ask the ex-England international to do is pick up the ball on the run, rather than with his back to goal, allowing him to then make a diagonal run into an interior position.

Movement like this will allow Sterling to crossover with Kai Havertz in a nightmare rotation for the Spurs defence, offer a lay off to Odegaard, or try and find Gabriel Martinelli as he bombs up the left flank.

The presence of Spence up against Sterling will create a unique opportunity for Arsenal to exploit, with Jurrien Timber potentially being allowed to go up the space left on the outside.

Sterling, 30, has flattered to deceive since arriving at the Emirates on loan.

He had an indifferent game against Man Utd on Sunday, but could have a watershed match against Spurs as he is finally given the chance to prove he can help the misfiring Gunners hit their mark.

Art stoppers

There is a perception around Arsenal that they have failed to hit the same heights as they did last season, having struggled to score in open play in many games this campaign.

Despite going out of the FA Cup, Arsenal still have the chance to make a Carabao Cup final if they can muster a heroic performance against Newcastle at St James' Park.

They can also close the gap on the top of the league if some results go in their favour, which would serve to turn the current negative narrative of the club around.

Arteta has built the bedrock of his team on being defensively sound, and are actually set up in such a way that they have an extra player screening to prevent counter-attacks.

Declan Rice and one of Mikel Merino or Thomas Partey are often the players charged with this duty, but the key to unlocking Spurs may need to come from Arteta taking the shackles off of his team.

While Arsenal have a dangerous attack on paper, the lack of movement from midfield - while often proving defensively sound - hurts their chances of open play goals due to there not being enough movement to give opposition defenders cause for concern.

Consequently, this has led to their attack becoming stodgy due to it being too rigid.

However, to break down Spurs, Arsenal may need to unlock one of these screening players to make runs beyond the defence and give the defence food for thought.

King Dom's come

Toothless Tottenham needed to bring on talisman Dominic Solanke to beat Tamworth in the FA Cup.

There was a lot of debate over whether he would be a better signing for them than Ivan Toney, but 11 goals and six assists already this season have proven Solanke to be the right deal.

But there are still many aspects of his game which do not get the credit they deserve, such as his effort, ability to track, pressing and overall world class team ethic.

Solanke is often overlooked for a lot of the off-ball work he makes to open space up for team-mates.

These exploits can include his runs forcing a defender to commit to marking him or pinning defenders.

Against Arsenal he is likely to target William Saliba rather than Gabriel Magalhaes in the air.

Spurs will look to use the England international as a key pivot player up front, using him to play off the two wheels on either side of their attack.

Solanke is often able to unlock defences when he has runners such as Brennan Johnson going beyond the defensive line in behind, with this ability being integral to a number of goals through pre-assists.

The 27-year-old will be key for Spurs' front-footed defence against Arsenal, while his team-mates know if they can use him to his best he will help them create a dangerous chance even if he is not the one to finish it off.

And it is thanks to the likes of Solanke, that the last game Arsenal would want at the moment is Tottenham.

ANDY PEAKS repeated the mantra before, during and after the greatest two hours of his football career.

“Believe in yourselves. Believe. Believe. Believe. I tell you week in, week out, people don’t want to come here. THEY certainly don’t want to be here. Stay in the game and see where it takes you.”

They were supposed to be Lambs to the slaughter — but for 120 glorious, sweat-drenched, fist-clenched minutes tiny Tamworth roared like lions.

And I was privileged to be at the heart of it all as SunSport was given the kind of access rarely seen at this level.

We love the FA Cup and, after Tamworth’s heroics, I am sure the nation has fallen head over heels for this unique, historic competition all over again after witnessing this epic David-versus-Goliath tie.

I spent the week shadowing Tamworth manager Peaks, general manager Scott Rickards, club secretary Archie Baynham and the players, those red-and-black-clad warriors who went toe-to-toe with Tottenham.

I was with them, scraping ice off cars at 10.30pm on Thursday in -4C conditions after their ONLY training session of the week.

If that is what they could produce after just 90 minutes of preparation to face Ange Postecoglou’s millionaires think what they could have done if they were full-time?

Peaks’ team included a taxi driver, building surveyor, bricklayer, marketing executive, financial adviser, engineer, teacher, sandwich-maker and even a zip salesman.

But he has somehow found a way to mould this group of part-time warriors into serial scrappers and serial winners after back-to-back title wins.

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I shared breakfast with the squad after they gathered at nearby Drayton Manor Hotel, within the grounds of the theme park, before the white-knuckle ride of their lives.

And I sat with them on the team coach during the short hop to The Lamb, when over-eager security staff stopped us at the entrance — to make sure the luxury coach with Tamworth FC emblazoned on the front was indeed what it said on the tin.

That comedy moment lightened the mood among the players ahead of the biggest game of their lives. The tension built during the pre-match warm-ups.

I walked by the Spurs dressing room and witnessed some of their star players being strapped up on the treatment table they had brought with them - in the chilly corridor outside.

And I was there to hear Peaks demand that his players believed this could be their day during his inspirational pre-match team talk.

I was with them, scraping ice off cars at 10.30pm on Thursday in -4C conditions after their ONLY training session of the week.

Then it was out to the roar of 3,000 Tamworth fans… and the murmurs of 800 Tottenham supporters who were probably still rubbing the sleep from their bleary eyes.

Mighty Tottenham towered above fifth-tier Tamworth - a massive 96 places above them in the football pyramid.

The build-up for both sides couldn’t have been much more polarised.

Tamworth got home, bleary-eyed at 2.30am on Wednesday morning following a 1-0 FA Trophy defeat at Sutton United.

Spurs warmed up with a 1-0 win over Liverpool in the semi-final of the Carabao Cup.

But first, there was an unexpected hiccup as kick-off was delayed for five minutes after one of the nets became unclipped from its hooks.

Spurs stars looked bemused as a ladder and net technician were called for.

However, Lambs winger Beck-Ray Enoru - usually a Sales Assistant for Zara - sprang into action, clambering on to the shoulders of giant defender Jordan Cullinane-Liburd to save the day.

Job done, Tamworth’s army of fans in the Shed chanted: “We are Tamworth… we fix our own nets!” And then we were off.

Tamworth got off to a flyer when Enoru almost found the Spurs net with a shot which goalie Antonin Kinsky did well to save.

First-team coach Tim Dudding turned to me and said: “No matter what happens now… at least we’ve had a shot.”

He needn’t have worried. By the end of a dramatic afternoon, Tamworth had rattled off 13 shots to Tottenham’s 17.

As Peaks supped tea from a cardboard carton, it soon became evident something special was brewing.

That was different class. You’ve all been part of an unbelievable day. Be disappointed because we came so close to rewriting the history books.

Andy Peaks

Jas Singh - whose partner gave birth to a son on Saturday night - was defiant in the Tamworth goal, defying James Maddison more than once.

Tom Tonks hurled in his trademark Howitzer long throws and Kinsky looked uneasy as he missed one completely, before going on to regain his composure.

At half-time, honours even, Peaks urged his team for another big push: “Everyone’s performed their role. You’ve out-battled them, you’ve shut them down, we look a threat when we get it.

“More of the same. More of the same. Do not switch off.

“They’re probably going to get a rollicking because they’ve not hurt you.”

As we settled down for the second half Peaks turned to me, smiled and said: “At least they’ve not got much on the bench to bring on.”

However, Tamworth forced Postecoglou to send on all of his big guns as Lucas Bergvall, Dominic Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski, Son Heung-min and Djed Spence entered the fray.

“We wanted Arsenal… we wanted Arsenal,” Tamworth fans taunted.

Ange kept his cool throughout but he breathed a sigh of relief when Tom McGlichey’s shot was blocked then Kinsky saved crucially to deny Cullinane-Liburd in the dying seconds.

The deadlock was finally broken 11 minutes into extra-time when Spurs scored following a controversial free-kick, harshly awarded by ref Peter Bankes.

Villain of the day Pedro Porro shaped up to shoot but slid the ball around the wall instead and in the chaos which followed the ball ricocheted off Nathan Tshikuna’s knee and landed in his own net.

It was a cruel blow but Peaks reminded his side at the break: “Keep believing - you’ll get one chance.”

It fell to McGlinchey whose audacious chip flew just over with Kinsky stranded.

Sadly for the Lambs, Kulusevski and Brennan Johnson took theirs to flatter the visitors with a 3-0 win.

Afterwards, Peaks was full of praise for his heroes.

He told them: “That was different class. I don’t think you realise how good you were at times.

“You’ve all been part of an unbelievable day. Be disappointed because we came so close to rewriting the history books.

“The general performance, the attitude, they are raving on commentary about how good you were. Well done.”

This was Peaks performance without a shadow of a doubt.

FANS slammed a “cruel” FA Cup rule change that saw non-league Tamworth denied a money-spinning replay at Tottenham.

Ange Postecoglou’s Premier League giants were taken to extra time by their hosts after the initial 90 minutes ended in a 0-0 draw.

Tamworth did their fans proud as they brilliantly kept a clean sheet in normal time while also recording 13 shots of their own.

But Spurs’ might and squad depth paid dividends later on when they took the lead through a 101st minute own-goal from Nathan Muya Tshikuna.

Dejan Kulusevksi then made it 2-0 six minutes later.

And Brennan Johnson sealed an emphatic 3-0 win for the visitors with a goal at the death.

However, many fans feel Tamworth were denied a proper reward for their efforts in the normal 90.

Old FA Cup rules meant a draw between sides in that time resulted in a replay.

Had those still applied today, it would have seen Tamworth travel to London for a money-spinning adventure at Spurs’ £1billion stadium – which holds 62,850 compared to their Lamb Ground at 4,000.

FA Cup replays were scrapped only in April last year following a scheduling agreement with the Premier League.

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And taking to social media, fans blasted the “cruel” change that denied the Staffordshire side their time in the sun.

One said: “Tamworth grafted for a 0-0. A replay would see them right for five years, but because the big boys get tired, replays are scrapped.”

Another declared: “The FA and Premier League has taken away the glory of a replay for Tamworth, it would have meant so much footballing wise and financially.”

One noted: “Tamworth not getting a replay which would likely bank them £1m is all wrong.”

Another added: “Robbing the players of their small piece of fame and robbing the local clubs of ££.”

Live Blog

UP FOR THE CUP

FA Cup LIVE SCORES: Tamworth vs Tottenham on NOW plus updates from Newcastle vs Bromley and Crystal Palace vs Stockport

THE FA Cup third round has produced some huge upsets so far - and plenty more could be on the cards today.

Tamworth, who are the lowest-ranked side left in the iconic competition, welcome Premier League giants Tottenham in one of Sunday's early kick-offs.

SunSport will bring you the very latest from all of today's FA Cup third round ties, including high-flying Newcastle's clash with League Two Bromley.

Kick off times: 12pm/12.30pm/3pm/4.30pm

Explainer: Whenis FA Cup 4th round draw?

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Follow our live blog below...

HT: Tamworth 0-0 Tottenham

The referee brings the first-half to a close.

It has been entertaining and the non-league side have held their own.

Ange Postecoglou will know that they are are very much in a game here in this cup match.

Tamworth 0-0 Tottenham

Spurs are knocking the ball around, looking to stretch the hosts.

They force a corner to test the Tamworth defence.

Hull City 0-1 Doncaster

Despite the hosts' dominance in the first-half, they take the lead through Luke Molyneux.

The Tigers have it all to do now.

Goal - Luke Molyneux (Doncaster)

Tamworth 0-0 Tottenham

Tamworth need to hold out until the interval.

They deserve to be on level terms given their performance so far.

Tamworth 0-0 Tottenham

Spurs get into all sorts of problems as Kinsky is way out of his goal.

The visitors manage to scramble it clear for a throw-in.

Tamworth 0-0 Tottenham

Tamworth are dropping off Spurs a little now, not pressing the way they have for the majority of the half.

The hosts seem like they would benefit from the half-time breather now.

Tamworth 0-0 Tottenham

He seems confident enough to come and claim them.

That is more than can be said of the usual first-choice keeper Vicario.

Tamworth 0-0 Tottenham

The hosts fool eveeryone as they take it short and Enoru gets to the byline before trying to cross.

It is well blocked, at the expense of a corner.

Tamworth 0-0 Tottenham

That will give them some confidence in this game.

Maddison is down on the near side but gingerly gets back to his feet.

Tamworth 0-0 Tottenham

Maddison receives the ball and skips past his man, giving him some time and space in front of him.

He looks to bend one in the far corner but Singh gets down well to turn it around the post.

Tamworth 0-0 Tottenham

They have restricted Spurs to many efforts at goal.

Apart Maddison's speculative effort, Singh has had little to do.

Tamworth 0-0 Tottenham

Enoru will be hoping it is nothing too serious.

Another long throw from Tonks is half-cleared by the visitors.

HT: Hull City 0-0 Doncaster

It is all square in the other early kick-off this afternoon.

The hosts have dominated possession and had the majority of the chances.

However, Donacaster are creating opportunities themselves and as long as the scores are level, are very much in this game.

Tamworth 0-0 Tottenham

They are just lacking that final pass to unlock Spurs.

This is by no means a comfortable start to the game for the visitors.

Tamworth 0-0 Tottenham

He looks to thread a ball through for Maddison but it is slightly overhit and runs out for a goal kick.

Brief glimpse of goal for the visitors.

Tamworth 0-0 Tottenham

When Spurs get time on the ball, the gulf in class is there for all to see.

However, when the hosts get on top of the vistors and in their faces, they look uneasy.

Tamworth 0-0 Tottenham

It looked like it was going to cause Kinsky some issues but Gray gets a block in to put it behind for a corner.

The Tottenham keeper collects the resulting cross well.

Tamworth 0-0 Tottenham

He shifts it onto his left-foot and lets rip at goal.

The keeper seems to have it covered as his effort narrowly goes over the crossbar.

Tamworth 0-0 Tottenham

It is exactly what you need to do as the underdog in these games.

High-tempo and give the visitors no time on the ball at all.

Tamworth 0-0 Tottenham

Kinsky struggles under pressure but is awarded a free-kick.

The ball ran through and actually hit the far post.

Keepers are protected far too much by officials now.

Tamworth 0-0 Tottenham

The youngster has a chance to make a real impression here today.

Tamworth relieve the pressure as they look to get the ball downfield.

Tamworth 0-0 Tottenham

We have none of the usual lower-league vibes where the playing surface acts as a leveller between the teams.

Tottenham are trying to get into their groove early on.

Tamworth 0-0 Tottenham

This is the beauty of the FA Cup.

It cares not for position of statue in the league pyramid, just two teams going toe-to-toe looking to book a place in the next round.

SPURS are facing a big window to give Ange Postecoglou the help he needs after so many of his first team have been laid low with injury.

His defence has been decimated with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario out until late February with a fractured ankle.

While centre-backs Cristiano Romero, Micky van de Ven and Ben Davies are not scheduled to return until the end of this month.

But they have had issues in attacking positions too with Richarlison missing for most of the season, while youngsters Wilson Odobert and Mikey Moore have also been absent.

What do Tottenham need?

The first need has been addressed: they have brought in a new goalkeeper.

And not just a back-up, but someone who is ready to challenge Vicario for a starting spot right now, in the form of Czech rising star Antonin Kinsky.

The 21-year-old joined from Slavia Prague for £12.5million plus add-ons and signed a six-and-a-half-year deal.

He went straight into the side for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at home to Liverpool and was hugely impressive as he kept a clean sheet on his debut.

But Spurs are looking at more signings this month, whether that be on loan or permanent.

Centre-back and up top are two key areas, and in a perfect world they would like a wideman too.

Destiny Udogie’s long-term hamstring issue means they are short at left-back as well.

Young South Korean winger Yang Min-hyeok, 18, was signed in the summer but has only just arrived at the club, though his focus right now is on adapting to his new environment.

Who is the perfect buy?

Spurs like Jamie Gittens, the 20-year-old English winger making waves at Borussia Dortmund.

The former Manchester City academy starlet came on in last season’s Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid.

And this term he has been a regular starter with nine goals in 18 starts in all competitions.

He would be just the kind of player to add some star quality to the left-hand side of Spurs’ attack, where Son Heung-min has sparkled for so long but this term has largely faded.

But the England Under-21 man, previously known as Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, would be very expensive.

Dortmund are sixth in a congested Bundesliga but are still very much in the hunt to finish in the top eight of the Champions League table phase.

While the chances of them selling two wingers in one window seems slim, given team-mate Donyell Malen could leave for Aston Villa.

Who is more realistic?

Randal Kolo Muani is on the market at Paris Saint-Germain with the striker - best known for his 2022 World Cup final miss - available on loan.

The France international, 26, could not get into the team when Kylian Mbappe was there and now is struggling for game-time as Luis Enrique prefers a false nine.

Eight goals in 27 games for his country underlines his talent though and Postecoglou has already spoken publicly of how he needs to bring in another forward.

You cannot blame him given Richarlison’s fitness had proved unreliable during his time at the club since joining from Everton for £60m in 2022.

Muani has other suitors though, including Juventus and in the Bundesliga - though SunSport understands Chelsea are NOT interested.

Spurs could make a compelling case for the former Eintracht Frankfurt man, who can also play out wide.

They are also believed to like the look of current Eintracht goal-getter Omar Marmoush but he looks to be heading to Manchester City.

Tottenham could also move for young Irish striker Mason Melia, 17, who has shown big potential and will likely leave St Patrick’s Athletic this month.

At the back, they have been credited with an interest in Uzbeki speedy centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov, who looks set to depart Lens in the winter window.

How are the finances looking?

Strong. Chairman Daniel Levy cops flak from supporters regularly, particularly when results are poor as they have been of late.

But the supremo can claim to have no profit and sustainability compliance issues, unlike other clubs.

It means money is there to be spent in this window if they want to.

Could anyone be on their way out?

Being so stretched right now, it is more about adding players than losing them.

Sergio Reguilon, 28, is out of contract in the summer and was expected to move on this month.

Although even that may not be definite now given Udogie is expected to be out for another six weeks.

If they get the right players through the door, youngsters like Will Lankshear and Alfie Dorrington could be loaned out to gain experience.

If everything went to plan, how could Tottenham line up after the January window?

TAMWORTH have rolled out the red carpet for Tottenham’s millionaire superstars — by painting the away dressing room navy and white.

But that is where the similarities between Spurs’ £1billion stadium and the National League minnows’ home ground end.

For Son Heung-min and Co will walk into a tiny Portakabin housing one L-shaped bench, a battered and torn massage table, one rickety tactics board, a plastic bin and a portable electric heater.

Their cramped dressing room for Sunday’s David v Goliath FA Cup third-round-tie in Staffordshire also contains two small sinks, a dinky mirror, two toilets and six showers.

But Tamworth’s Lamb Ground stadium manager Andy Jones warned: “The only problem they’ll have is if they try to use all six at the same time.

“Then the pressure drops and the water becomes a trickle!”

SunSport was given a VIP tour around the Lambs’ home on Thursday.

The dressing room’s leaky corrugated roof has been fixed to prevent Ange Postecoglou’s players getting soggy as they put their kit on.

But there is no underfloor heating beneath the ancient lino.

And only one portable heater as a second would trip the electric circuit and plunge the players into darkness.

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Spurs' crumbling dressing-room door also comes with its own letter box, but it does have a brand new door handle and lock after freezing temperatures caused the key to snap.

Tamworth striker Dan Creaney, 30, said: “Spurs won’t like our changing rooms — even we don’t like them.

“We also have six showers — but only three of them work!

“Perhaps some of the Spurs lads will enjoy the experience because it will make them feel grateful for what they’ve got . . . but they won’t like our place.”

Tamworth have already KO’d League One Huddersfield in the first round.

And Creaney added: “Huddersfield certainly didn’t like coming here and there aren’t many National League teams who do.

“The fans are really good at the Lamb and they get on the oppositions’ backs. Spurs are in for a difficult day. The stick they’ll get from our 12th man might just help us get a result.”

In the away dugout there are just four plastic back-less seats for Postecoglou and his coaching staff with a wooden bench for the subs.

But the fifth-tier hosts plan to place an additional 12 social-club seats to accommodate the Aussie’s team.

Lambs boss Andy Peaks hopes Spurs hate every minute of their stay in Staffordshire.

He said: “Spurs’ players and manager deserve our respect, but when the game starts we’ll be what we need to be — horrible and nasty and in their faces.

“I’m sure they will know what to expect because it’s been talked about so much.

“We’ve got to make it as difficult as we can and, hopefully, they have a few players who don’t fancy it and we have 11 players who play out of their skin.

“Spurs will find it really intense because our supporters will be really close to the pitch and right behind the away dug-out.”

RODRIGO BENTANCUR will miss at least 12 days after his concussion against Liverpool.

The Uruguayan suffered a horrific fall when stooping for a header in the sixth minute of Wednesday’s 1-0 Carabao Cup semi-final first leg victory for Tottenham.

It is understood the Spurs player knocked himself out as he hit the turf, before receiving oxygen and getting carried off on a stretcher after eight minutes of treatment.

Bentancur was sent to hospital for further checks, which are believed to have flagged up nothing beyond a concussion.

Boss Ange Postecoglou confirmed on Friday that the midfielder would be out “for a couple of weeks”.

SunSport understands the 27-year-old cannot play for 12 days due to concussion protocols.

Bentancur was concussed earlier in the season and missed one game in August.

But this time he will miss Sunday’s FA Cup trip to Tamworth, Wednesday’s North London derby at Arsenal and the following Sunday’s visit to Everton.

On Bentancur’s fitness, Postecoglou replied: “He’s back home and he’s fine.

“Thankfully, it looks like a concussion and nothing more than that.”

Meanwhile, Spurs are being linked with the chase for Paris Saint-Germain striker Randal Kolo Muani.

The 27-cap Frenchman is also reportedly interesting Manchester United.

AC Milan are also said to be keen - but Juventus are rated the favourites to land the 26-year-old.

It's understand PSG will demand either a permanent exit or a loan with an obligation to buy - if he leaves this month.

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TOTTENHAM midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur will not be allowed to return to training until he gets the green light from doctors.

The 27-year-old collapsed on the pitch during Tottenham's Carabao Cup semi-final against Liverpool on Wednesday.

Pedro Porro rushed to his aid before he received treatment from club doctors and paramedics.

Bentancur was subsequently taken off on a stretcher with oxygen and transported to a nearby hospital.

After undergoing some medical examinations, he returned home on Wednesday night.

The midfielder gave fans an update on social media, writing: "All good, guys! Thank you for the messages!!! Congratulations for the victory boys!!!"

Bentancur will now be set for a period on the sidelines while he recovers.

According to the Daily Mail, he will not be allowed back to the club's training ground until he is given the medical green light.

Spurs doctors will stay in regular contact with the midfielder to ensure he is not rushed back.

Tottenham went on to beat Liverpool in the semi-final first leg earlier this week.

Lucas Bergvall scored a late winner to give his team the advantage going into the second leg at Anfield.

Discussing the incident with Bentancur after the match, Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou said: "I don't have all the information.

"My understanding is he is conscious and he was conscious when he got to the dressing room. We took him to hospital to get him checked over.

"It was worrying and always a concern but from what I know hopefully he will be OK."

CALLUM COCKERILL-MOLLETT realised a footballer's life is full of unexpected twists when he was released by Walsall as a 22-year-old.

That's when he decided to turn part-time with Tamworth and move into a business that has even more ups and downs… selling ZIPS for a living!

Now, the football-playing businessman can't wait to get his teeth into Tottenham Hotspur, when he faces Ange Postecoglou's Spurs in the FA Cup on Sunday.

The former Republic of Ireland Youth international told SunSport how he became the Lambs' very own Lord of the Flies!

The left-back revealed: "In my final season at Walsall there was a massive turnover of players and everyone who was out of contract was allowed to leave.

"I had some interest from other full-time clubs but most of them would have involved relocating to the other side of the country.

"When nothing concrete actually materialised I decided to turn part-time.

"So that summer I went in with my dad, Neil and started working full-time in his zip business.

"I'd spent time around the factory while I was playing so I had a rough idea of what the business was about.

"Footballers retire early and I knew I wouldn't go down the coaching route, so I always had the zip business in the back of my mind.

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"Now I help my dad run the company.

"We have around 30 staff and we are a wholesale manufacturer of zips.

"You can't come in and buy one or two zips from us, we deal in hundreds or thousands at a time.

"We buy the raw materials from abroad and we create all kinds of zips.

"Jacket zips, pocket zips, shoe zips, zips for jeans - you name it, we can produce it.

"But our biggest sellers are probably sofa zips which are used in sofa cushions.

"We supply some of the biggest sofa brands in the UK."

Cockerill-Mollett admits it's hard to convince people he's not joking when he tells them what he does for a living.

"When I was full-time with Walsall and people asked me what line of work I was in, you can't really say anything other than: 'I play football.'

"People kind of look at you strangely when you say that.

"But now when I say: 'I sell zips,' people still look at me even more strangely!

"Their first reaction is: 'What do you mean you sell zips?'

"If they're wearing a jacket I'll point to the zip and say: 'You know this thing here - someone's got to make them!'

"It's only when friends and family see our big factory in Leicester that they realise it's quite a serious business.

"The company is called Zipex UK and we are one of the only manufacturers who still make zips in the UK.

"Most people import them from China.

"But we are one of the few firms you can call and say I need 116cm in this type of zip and we can make thousands of them.

"I suppose we're flying the flag for Britain."

However, on Sunday Cockerill-Mollett will be flying the flag for Tamworth as they look to pull off an FA Cup giant-killing act against Premier League giants Tottenham.

Tiny Tamworth are currently priced at 2,500/1 rank outsiders to win this year's FA Cup.

Yet Leicester-born Callum kicked off his pro career with Walsall in 2016 - the year Claudio Ranieri's Leicester City stunned the world by beating Spurs to famously romp to the title.

That 5,000/1 shot was dubbed the Greatest Sporting Miracle of all time.

Now Foxes fan Callum hopes to create another sensational shock on Sunday, with The Lambs priced at 15/1 to beat Spurs.

"When you're non-league you're hoping to draw one of the Premier League big boys," he said.

"When Spurs name came out after ours I was a bit shocked and then my phone never stopped ringing.

"It's a bit surreal but it is what it is. When you've made it through three rounds, as we have we deserve a bit of glamour.

"We've earned our Spurs, so to speak, beating Macclesfield, Huddersfield and Burton Albion.

"As a Foxes fan I will never forget that famous title win. I celebrated with all the Leicester supporters at Victoria Park, when the team came on stage and Kasabian played.

"So I know miracles can happen and I wouldn't mind getting James Maddison's shirt on Sunday if he plays - but I think quite a few of the lads are thinking the same way."

Whatever happens on Sunday, it will be business as usual for the only Cockerill in the Tamworth camp, when he makes a speedy return to the zip trade on Monday!

IT took just 18 minutes for Antonin Kinsky to show off the fancy footwork Spurs have sorely missed from their goalkeeper in the last six weeks.

The confident Czech, signed on Sunday from Slavia Prague, performed a clever keepy-uppy to get himself out of the danger he had been put in by team-mate Radu Dragusin.

Romanian Dragusin had let a dangerous ball bounce, but instead of panicking, Kinsky cleverly lifted the ball over an advancing Diogo Jota and caught it.

It was a promising snapshot of his ball-playing ability which was on show here throughout his debut.

And one that will have come as a big relief to fans who have watched from behind their sofa as poor old Fraser Forster has attempted to play AngeBall in Guglielmo Vicario’s absence.

Kinsky's former Slavia team-mates sat down to watch his Spurs bow while on a warm-weather training camp in Marbella, with the club's X account hailing their 'King'.

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou has decided to persevere with playing out from the back ever since No1 Vicario fractured his ankle in November.

And though Forster has made some good saves in the meantime, playing smart, short passes under pressure is not his strong suit.

That was made abundantly clear when the 36-year-old made not just one but TWO horrendous errors that led to goals in the last round of the Carabao Cup last month, which Spurs just about won 4-3 against Manchester United, despite leading 3-0 at one point.

With Vicario not expected back until late February, Spurs decided to act and brought in 21-year-old Kinsky this month for £12.5million on a six-and-a-half-year deal.

His agent Viktor Kolar revealed how tough the negotiations were to get the deal over the line in an interview with Flashscore.

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It included how chairman Daniel Levy himself flew over to Prague to get things moving alongside Spurs’ technical director Johan Lange.

Kolar said: "Our team was still sitting at a petrol station in Prague until almost 10 pm of December 31, because everything was closed on New Year's Eve.

“The subsequent development was that on January 1, Daniel Levy flew in himself and the two-day negotiations in Prague began. He had Johan Lange with him.

"The negotiations were intense, stretching late into the night.

“But it worked, and I’m happy about that. It was a beautiful test to see if people and organizations this dominant can find their way to each other."

Kolar also detailed how his client chatted the move over with Czech goalkeeping great Petr Cech before signing on the dotted line.

Kinsky then went on to become the most expensive Czech keeper ever, with his £12.5m deal surpassing the £10m Arsenal paid Chelsea for Cech in 2015.

Kolar added: “Toni can consult on things with Petr, and talk about the goalkeeping stuff.”

Kinsky was thrown straight in here against high-flying Liverpool for what was a pivotal match in Spurs’ season - and Postecoglou’s tenure.

The blond stopper looked cool throughout his bow - and not just in his short-sleeved keeper top.

His presence seemed to calm down an injury-hit defence which has seemed jittery of late too, with some accurate passes and solid saves.

There was one hairy moment soon after his keepy-uppy where he tried to play out from back and his pass hit Archie Gray but he got away with it.

But for the most part Kinsky seemed assured, summed up by how he smartly started the move which led to Dominic Solanke sliding Spurs ahead - only to be ruled out for offside.

Solanke shrugged off the disappointment by teeing up another blond bombshell in Spurs' team, Lucas Bergvall, for an opener that did stand - much to Kinsky and his new team-mates' delight.

Kinsky then produced his save of the night to turn an inventive flick from Liverpool sub Darwin Nunez round the post in stoppage time.

Postecoglou had said it was not just his footwork that convinced Spurs to sign the youngster - and so this stop proved.

Kinsky completed his debut with a warm embrace from his sister, who looked emotional in the stands next to supporters.

It is early days, but on this evidence Spurs fans can be confident that their new man between the sticks has what it takes to play the high-risk football their manager insists on.