GIVEMESPORT

Key Takeaways

Emmanuel Petit nearly signed with Tottenham in 1997 and met with Lord Alan Sugar in London.

Arsenal caught wind of the meeting and convinced the Frenchman to make the move to Highbury.

Petit would go on to win the Premier League and FA Cup in his first season.

Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has revealed that he was close to signing for arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur before the Gunners swooped in at the last minute to hijack the deal. The Frenchman was an imposing midfielder in his prime. Blessed with physical prowess and unquestionable technical talent, the former World Cup winner would become a crucial part of what many believe to be one of the best Premier League sides in history.

Alongside compatriot Patrick Vieira, the pair made a formidable partnership in the centre of the park. However, had history played out differently, Petit could've been wearing the Lilywhites' famous colours instead, as the man himself revealed.

Petit Discusses Meeting With Tottenham

The midfielder flew to London to meet with Lord Alan Sugar

As legend has it, Petit was in London, meeting with Tottenham chairman Alan Sugar to discuss a possible transfer from Monaco to the Premier League. As negotiations progressed, Arsenal caught wind of the talks and swiftly sent a message to the player, advising him not to commit to anything with Spurs before listening to what Arsene Wenger had to say about the ambitious future he was planning for Arsenal at Highbury.

Given that Wenger had been pivotal in the midfielder's development at Monaco and had a reputation for nurturing talent, Petit was intrigued by the prospect of working with his former mentor again. Wanting to weigh his options carefully, he requested some time from Sugar to think over the offer, retreating to his hotel to consider his next move.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Across his time at Monaco and Arsenal, Petit featured 320 times under Arsene Wenger.

Speaking to talkSPORT, the 53-year-old explained what happened in his meeting with Tottenham's representatives, and how it came to be that he ended up joining their north London enemies instead after they paid for his taxi to Highbury:

"I had meetings on the same day with Tottenham and Arsenal and had a meeting with Tottenham in the morning, but when I came to England I didn’t know about the rivalry between the two clubs.

"When I left the Spurs stadium, they booked me a cab and the cab driver asked me for directions, so I gave him the Arsenal address and I didn’t realise that the cab was pre-paid by Spurs, so they knew where I was going!

"I’d told Spurs that I needed time to think about it but knew that I had to see Arsenal, as well as other clubs in Italy and Spain. I told everyone that I’d make my mind up and when I knew the answer I would give it, but after a couple of days I signed for Arsenal and it went into newspapers and all of a sudden the story came. I realised the pressure of the rivalry then."

The decision would ultimately pay dividends, as Petit would go on to grab silverware that very season for both club and country. Spurs on the other hand would finish in 14th, just four points off of the relegation zone. Instead of the eventual Arsenal signee, Sugar's money would finance other big-name arrivals, including Les Ferdinand and David Ginola from Newcastle off the back of the pair running Manchester United close in the title race during the 'I will love it if we beat them' season.

There was also the shock signing of German legend Jurgen Klinsmann, who brought his iconic goal celebration with him to the white side of north London.

Petit's Arsenal Career

The midfielder spent three seasons at the club

Petit's decision to make the move to Highbury was immediately justified as the Frenchman would go on to claim his first and only Premier League title that very season. That campaign brought a league and cup double to the red side of north London, with the French superstar playing 44 times and chipping in with two goals and nine assists.

Unfortunately, that would be the only pieces of major silverware that Petit would lift for the Gunners, as Manchester United's dominant treble the season after was followed by another successful title defence, while Chelsea would be crowned FA Cup winners in 2000.

After winning the European Championships in the new millennium, Petit would end his short but sweet stay at the club by moving to Barcelona. He left after making 118 appearances for the club, scoring 11 times and adding another 24 assists. He would return to England to finish up his career at Chelsea, finishing with a legacy as one of his country's greatest ever midfielder operators.

Tottenham Hotspur are among five Premier League clubs showing interest in Leeds United starlet Harry Gray, with Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Newcastle United also ‘very keen’ on the promising striker, according to TBR Football.

Spurs have focused on bringing in top football talents over recent months and are now eyeing another addition, with Archie Gray’s younger brother, Harry, among their targets.

Ange Postecoglou has welcomed the likes of Gray, Lucas Bergvall, and Yang Min-hyeok in recent months and shows no signs of stopping his pursuit to recruit top talents.

Bergvall and Gray have both impressed Postecoglou in pre-season and deservedly featured in Spurs’ start to the Premier League campaign, making brief appearances off the bench in August.

With Harry Gray now on their radar, Tottenham aim to continue their impressive run of signing promising starlets and have already informed Leeds of their intention to sign the 15-year-old striker.

Gray is already playing in the U18 Premier League, where he scored eight goals in 11 appearances last season.

Spurs ‘Inform’ Leeds of Gray Interest

Among five Premier League clubs ‘keen’ on the youngster

According to TBR Football, as many as five Premier League sides are monitoring Gray, who has impressed with solid displays in the U18 Premier League, despite only turning 16 next month.

Arsenal, Newcastle, Chelsea and Liverpool are also interested in the young "wonderkid", who has been described as "exceptional".

The 15-year-old’s standout performances have positioned him as one of the brightest young prospects in English football, and Spurs hope Harry will follow in his brother Archie’s footsteps to North London.

Gray’s impressive form earned him a spot in Daniel Farke’s senior team for pre-season, as he was among six youngsters who participated in a training camp in Germany, alongside Sam Chambers, Charlie Crew, Harry Christy, Luca Thomas and James Debayo.

Speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post in July, Leeds teammate Joe Rothwell praised Gray, suggesting the 15-year-old has a bright future ahead of him:

“I’ve been really impressed with what Harry’s been doing. For such a young lad, he looks like a really mature player. Bright future for him.”

Reguilon ‘at Risk’ at Tottenham

Galatasaray remain an option

Tottenham Hotspur defender Sergio Reguilon faces a potential extended absence from first-team action until the start of the new year if he does not secure a move away from the club, GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed.

Joining Galatasaray appears to be the 27-year-old’s most viable option at the moment, with the Turkish giants keen on acquiring the left-back before the transfer deadline on Friday.

Since joining Spurs in 2020 from Real Madrid, Reguilon has made 52 appearances for the Lilywhites in the Premier League but spent last season on loan at Manchester United and Brentford.

Alongside Djed Spence, the Spaniard was excluded from Ange Postecoglou’s 23-man squad for the Europa League.

Tottenham Hotspur star Sergio Reguilon is in serious danger of being out of contention for game time until the turn of the year if he does not seal his Hotspur Way exit while he is gaining interest from Fenerbahce before the transfer window slams shut for Turkish Super Lig outfits, GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed.

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou was not afraid to splash the cash ahead of last month's deadline, with Dominic Solanke being the most expensive acquisition thanks to completing a switch worth up to £65million from Premier League rivals Bournemouth, but departures were also sanctioned.

Emerson Royal's move to AC Milan for £13million resulted in Tottenham's full-back options decreasing, particularly after Ryan Sessegnon also left following the expiry of his contract, but it has still become clear that Reguilon is not in the picture for regular action if he remains in his current surroundings.

Reguilon Could Miss Out on Spurs' Squad List

North Londoners remain determined to offload left-back

Reguilon is at risk of finding himself in the football wilderness for the coming months if he cannot decide on an exit plan, according to GMS sources, as Tottenham are poised to freeze him out amid serious doubts over whether he will be included in the north Londoners' 25-man squad for the first half of the Premier League season.

Top flight outfits need to submit their list of registered competitors by Friday, but Spurs have been eager to offload the left-back after he has entered the final months of his £53,000-per-week contract and fallen by the wayside since Postecoglou moved into the hot-seat as Antonio Conte's successor last year.

GMS sources have been informed that the Greek-Australian tactician sees no future for Reguilon at Tottenham, thanks to Destiny Udogie being his first-choice option on the left-hand side of the backline, and there are no plans for him to be given a chance to revive his career in the capital.

The six-cap Spain international joined Spurs in a deal worth up to £32million from Real Madrid in September 2020, but he spent last season on loan with Manchester United and Brentford due to falling down the pecking order, and he has been on the market since his return to north London.

Joining Galatasaray appears to be Reguilon's most viable option due to former Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho showing interest in the final days of the Turkish transfer window, GMS sources have learned, but there are question marks over whether he is keen on embarking on a fresh challenge in the Super Lig.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Sergio Reguilon has made 77 Premier League appearances, with 52 of them being for Tottenham Hotspur

Reguilon Has Been Guilty of Dropping Levels

Spaniard will find it difficult to get up to speed under Postecoglou

GMS sources have been told that Reguilon's levels have dropped a significant amount since falling by the wayside at Tottenham, resulting in it being increasingly difficult to see him getting up to speed and on board with the direction his current employers are heading in under Postecoglou.

Although the 27-year-old has made 67 appearances in a Spurs shirt, racking up 10 goal contributions along the way, he has never featured under the former Celtic chief as his most recent outing came all the way back in April 2022 when a 1-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion was suffered.

There is uncertainty over Reguilon's motivation as he is not pushing for a move despite facing the serious possibility of watching on from the sidelines until 2025, GMS sources understand, and there is not an obvious short-term solution at Tottenham unless Postecoglou makes a major U-turn on his stance.

Respected journalist Ben Jacobs recently told GMS that the ex-Atletico Madrid man was the subject of interest during the summer, with negotiations mainly framed around a loan with an option or obligation to buy, but Spurs' decision to refuse to alter their demands resulted in his route out of north London being blocked.

Tottenham Hotspur and Uruguay midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur has been charged by the Football Association (FA) for an alleged breach of their rules after the 27-year-old’s comments saying that his club captain Son Heung-min and his cousins “all look the same” emerged earlier this year.

In an interview, which was aired in June, with Uruguayan TV, the central midfielder made the offensive remark when asked whether he could get Son’s shirt for the presenter. Bentancur replied by saying he could get a jersey from his skipper’s cousin because they “all look the same”.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Son is Tottenham’s second-longest active serving player, having joined the club in August 2015.

Following negative reaction online, the ex-Juventus man was quick to apologise for his comments: “Sonny brother! I apologise to you for what happened, it was just a very bad joke! You know I love you and I would never disrespect you or hurt you or anyone else! I love you brother!”

Could be banned between six to 12 matches

Since the interview in the summer, Bentancur has been able to continue playing under the stewardship of Ange Postecoglou with all parties – Son included – looking to draw a line and move on from the incident.

He has racked up two Premier League appearances this campaign, featuring in the 1-1 draw against Leicester City and the 2-1 loss to Newcastle United. He missed the 4-0 victory over Everton – sandwiched in between the aforementioned duo of fixtures – thanks to a head injury.

Now, with the help of the north Londoners and all those involved, the FA have charged the Boca Junior graduate with their statement reading: “Rodrigo Bentancur has been charged with an alleged breach of FA Rule E3 for misconduct in relation to a media interview.”

“It's alleged that the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder has breached FA Rule E3.1 as he acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words and/or brought the game into disrepute.

“It’s further alleged that this constitutes an ‘aggravated’ breach which is defined in FA Rule E3.2 as it included a reference, whether express or implied, to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin.”

The Athletic’s report has suggested that Bentancur, 27, has until September 19 to state his case and respond to the charge. Despite that, the 65-cap Uruguay international has been cleared to feature in this weekend’s all-important north London derby. Per journalist Alasdair Gold, he could also face a ban between six and 12 matches if the punishment is upheld.

Tottenham’s Statement and Son’s Response

The club were in full support of their captain

Tottenham, back in June, released a statement in support of their captain, who is widely regarded as one of the best wingers in the Premier League, suggesting they are doing everything they can to support the FA’s case. It read:

“Following a comment from Rodrigo Bentancur in an interview video clip and the player’s subsequent public apology, the Club has been providing assistance in ensuring a positive outcome on the matter.

“This will include further education for all players in line with our diversity, equality and inclusion objectives. We fully support that our captain Sonny feels that he can draw a line under the incident and that the team can focus on the new season ahead.”

Attached to the X (formerly Twitter) post was Son’s response to his club teammate’s comments. The South Korean sensation suggested that he and Bentancur had spoken and that it was a situation he was willing to sweep under the carpet for the betterment of the north Londoners’ season aspirations.

Key Takeaways

The name 'Hotspur' originates from the famed English knight Sir Henry Percy, known for his fierce character on and off the battlefield.

Tottenham Hotspur's inception includes a unique blend of local pride and historical homage.

'Spurs' is a widely used nickname for Tottenham Hotspur, originating simply from shortening the club's full name, but reflects the club's constant drive and action.

Tottenham Hotspur, commonly known as Spurs, are one of only six clubs never to have been relegated from the Premier League. Given their longstanding presence in English football’s top tier, you’d think fans and the media would have settled on calling them either ‘Tottenham Hotspur’ or ‘Spurs’ by now.

Unusually, Tottenham are the only club in England regularly referred to by their nickname, with ‘Spurs’ becoming a common shorthand in the sport. Yet, there’s something undeniably more professional and traditional about saying the full name, Tottenham Hotspur - a name that emits pride, history, and a sense of glory. But why exactly is the ‘Hotspur’ part of their name? Let’s dive into the history of one of the biggest football clubs in London.

The Origin of ‘Hotspur’

Sir Henry Percy's influence

When you think of Premier League club nicknames in football, the historical origins aren’t usually the first thing that comes to mind. However, the name ‘Hotspur’ has a unique and fascinating backstory that begins with Sir Henry Percy, an English knight known for his fiery and fearless character on the battlefield. Percy’s reputation for speed and tenacity earned him the nickname ‘Hotspur’- a reference to the hot spurs on his boots which he used to drive his horse forward with incredible speed.

Percy’s legacy extended beyond the battlefield and into English literature. The knight was mentioned by none other than William Shakespeare, who featured him as ‘Harry Hotspur’ in the play King Henry IV, Part 1.

Even today, the echoes of Percy’s importance are close to home for Spurs fans. Percy House, now home to the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, was built by his descendants and stands right next to the Tottenham Hotspur stadium.

The Birth of 'Tottenham Hotspur'

A name rooted in 19th-century tradition

Tottenham have a unique history, dating back over 140 years. But what made the folk of 1882 add the word ‘Hotspur’ to the name of their local football club? Well, what if we said ‘Hotspur’ came before the word ‘Tottenham’?

In 1882, a group of schoolboys from Tottenham High Road formed a cricket club called Hotspur Cricket Club. Seeking a sport to occupy them during the winter, they established Hotspur Football Club.

Led by 13-year-old captain Bobby Buckle, the youthful squad sought guidance from local teacher John Ripsher, who became the first president of the club. However, by 1884, confusion arose as their mail was frequently mixed up with that of another London club called Hotspur FC. To resolve this, the club rebranded by adding ‘Tottenham’ which honoured the local area in which the club was founded.

Thus, Tottenham Hotspur Football Club was born. A team with a mix of local pride and a nod to Percy’s bold, aggressive spirit. It’s a blend that still shines through today in the club’s fast-paced, attacking style of play, famously known as ‘The Tottenham Way.’

Why 'Spurs'

A nickname born out of convenience

While many clubs have nicknames, none are used as frequently as ‘Spurs’ for Tottenham Hotspur. You rarely hear Arsenal called ‘The Gunners’ or Manchester United referred to as ‘The Red Devils’ in everyday conversation, but Tottenham’s nickname has become almost synonymous with the club itself.

However, unlike the grand history behind the name ‘Hotspur,’ the nickname ‘Spurs’ has a far simpler origin - it’s just shorter. Over time, fans and commentators have grown accustomed to this smaller version and find it easier to say than the club’s full name. Some might call it lazy, but it has become an integral part of the club’s identity.

The word ‘spur’ itself carries two meanings. One being the small spike that urges a horse forward, and two, something that prompts or drives an action. These definitions perfectly embody a club that constantly seeks to be on the front foot.

With that history lesson wrapped up, remember Sir Harry Hotspur the next time you hear 'Come On You Spurs' ring around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Or maybe think of 13-year-old Bobby Buckle, whose youthful leadership helped kickstart the club’s incredible journey.

Tottenham Hotspur's decision to omit Djed Spence from their Europa League squad has raised eyebrows, with Football London journalist Alasdair Gold labelling it a "big risk".

Speaking on the Gold and Guest Talk Tottenham podcast, Gold highlighted Spurs' recent challenges in balancing homegrown quotas with foreign player limitations, with Spence becoming the latest victim, alongside Sergio Reguilon, to miss out on a spot in their European squad.

Tottenham could only name 23 players instead of the usual 25 due to a lack of club-trained options, leaving both defenders out and restricting Ange Postecoglou’s options on the flanks, with just Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie as natural full-backs.

GIVEMESPORT sources have been informed that both Spence and Reguilon were among the players Tottenham were ready to sell this summer, but they remained at the club beyond the transfer deadline. Spurs’ summer business saw multiple fringe players depart, including Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Emerson Royal, and Oliver Skipp, while a club-record fee was spent on Dominic Solanke, a long-awaited reinforcement up front.

Spence Left out of Europa League Squad

Sergio Reguilon also misses out

Gold, speaking on the Gold and Guest Talk Tottenham podcast, described Spurs’ decision to omit Spence from their Europa League squad as a "big risk":

“It's a big risk of a decision. Obviously, guesting, I've been banging on about the whole homegrown numbers, foreign player issues, all of this for a little while now.

“It kind of feels like it's our hobby more than work. We are just always on top of those numbers. And yeah, it was always going to be the case that they were going to have to make quite a big decision.

“One of them's not too big a decision, Sergio Reguilon, we're going to talk about him a little bit. But the other one was going to be someone who was going to have to miss out.”

Spence, who has been praised as 'unstoppable', worked hard during the summer to win back Ange Postecoglou's trust after two short loan spells at Leeds United and Genoa last season and had already made two substitute appearances in the 2024/25 Premier League campaign, amassing a total of 18 minutes of action in August.

The 24-year-old, who joined Spurs from Middlesbrough in 2022, has played only 61 minutes of competitive football for Tottenham up to this date and is yet to start for the club since his arrival two seasons ago.

Spence can expect his playing time to increase, although not necessarily in his preferred role, with most of his minutes in pre-season having come on the left side of defence. The London-born full-back made his last appearance for Spurs in a 4-0 victory against Everton, coming on for the injured Destiny Udogie.

Reguilon Was Close to Spurs Exit

Lille were interested

Tottenham outcast Sergio Reguilon was close to completing a summer move to Lille, journalist Ben Jacobs revealed to GIVEMESPORT.

The 27-year-old full-back was "ready to go" to Lille on a season-long loan, but Tottenham were tough on the exit terms and insisted on an obligation to buy. According to Jacobs, Spurs' demands were too high for Lille to agree to, and Reguilon had no option but to stay in north London. His deal with the club expires in June 2025, but he could yet leave this week with interest from Turkish clubs including Fenerbahce, where Jose Mourinho could look to sign him again after initially taking him to N17.

Tottenham Hotspur thought they had made a superb youth signing for their future when they brought then-Leeds United winger Jack Clarke to north London back in 2019, not knowing that he wouldn't developed as hoped - and that reportedly came at the expense of signing current West Ham United star Jarrod Bowen from Hull City, which could have seen their trajectory change massively.

Tottenham signed Clarke after he broke into Leeds' first team back in the 2018-19 season, but the winger only made four appearances for Tottenham before a plethora of loans back at Leeds, Stoke, Queens Park Rangers and Sunderland - where he made his breakthrough as a player. However, things could have been much different for both club and player had he not been signed - with Pleat reportedly preferring Tottenham to sign Bowen, according to Alisdair Gold.

Gold: Pleat Wanted Bowen Over Clarke

The West Ham captain could have been playing in a white shirt

Speaking on the Gold and Guesty podcast, the Football London journalist stated that whilst Pleat had a huge involvement in the signing of players from down the lower leagues, one glaring miss they saw was choosing Clarke over Bowen - against Pleat's recommendation. He said:

"David Pleat, he's recommended some good players over the years. I think Dele was a big one of David Pleat's, and I certainly know of a few situations over the years where Spurs went in a different direction to the player that David Pleat told them to go for, and the player that he told them was the better option.

"I'm not going to name loads because otherwise it looks really rubbish, but one of them, I'm pretty sure, when they signed Jack Clarke, that David Pleat was suggesting Jarrod Bowen.

"Obviously, Jarrod Bowen has gone on to be a very effective Premier League player. Jack Clarke still could, now at Ipswich Town, but when you looked back it kind of seemed like one was the more obvious deal."

Bowen Fail a Blessing in Disguise for Hammers Star

Bowen has won a trophy at West Ham - and Tottenham haven't

Whilst Clarke has had a slightly delayed start to his career when it looked like he would properly take off at Tottenham following his move from Leeds, the winger has been one of the Championship's best players over the past two seasons and his move to Premier League new boys Ipswich Town has been fully deserved.

The York-born star notched nine goals and 12 assists for Sunderland in the 2022/23 campaign as the Black Cats made the Championship play-offs, whilst his more ruthless role for the club last season saw him score 15 in the second-tier - and despite only making one substitute appearance for Ipswich in the Premier League following his move late in August, there is potential there.

Bowen, of course, is four years older, but he would have had potential in his early twenties when it came to Tottenham preferring Clarke - and with 44 Premier League goals in just 162 games for the Hammers since, he's proven to be an inspired signing of the club that dragged them into top half regulars and Europa Conference League winners.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Jarrod Bowen has 12 caps for England, but hasn't scored in any appearances.

As club captain at the London Stadium, it's unlikely that Bowen will move on in the future, but if he had joined Tottenham, it would be interesting to see how his career would have panned out with West Ham having won a major trophy and Spurs having failed to do so since 2008.

Hammers chiefs recently rewarded him with a brand new long-term contract, with the belief that if a club came in to sign him it would cost at least £100million.

Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Chelsea are all interested in signing full-back Vanderson, who has attracted several admirers following his impressive displays for Monaco.

According to CaughtOffside, the Premier League trio are all keen on acquiring the promising 23-year-old, who was linked with a move away from Monaco during the summer.

Vanderson’s situation is one to watch, despite the Brazil international signing a new four-year agreement with the club earlier this year. Chelsea have had issues at right-back for a while, as their first-choice option Reece James has struggled with injuries in recent years and is currently out with another hamstring issue, with Malo Gusto stepping in for the absent Englishman.

Tottenham were linked with Vanderson during the summer window but eventually opted against adding a new right-back this summer after Emerson Royal’s departure to AC Milan, with youngster Archie Gray and Djed Spence both able to play there.

While Chelsea reportedly have the strongest interest, Man United remain keen on the Brazilian, who would likely be an upgrade on Diogo Dalot and could provide extra depth on the right-hand side following Noussair Mazraoui’s arrival and the sale of Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Premier League Trio Eye Vanderson

He was considered by Spurs this summer

Vanderson, valued by Monaco at around £33 million, was linked with a move to the Premier League in the summer transfer window, with Fabrizio Romano reporting in June that Tottenham were considering replacing Emerson Royal with the 23-year-old Brazilian.

It appears that Vanderson remained on Spurs' radar even after the transfer window closed, with Chelsea and Man United also in the race for his signature and they could look to make their move in 2025.

The 2001-born ace has featured in all three of Monaco’s games this season and provided a game-winning assist in the Ligue 1 outfit’s 1-0 victory over Saint-Etienne on the opening day of the new season. The 23-year-old is looking to bounce back from a season hampered by injuries, having been out for almost two months during the 2023/24 campaign, making only 20 league appearances.

Vanderson joined Monaco in January 2022 from Gremio and has been a regular starter for Les Monegasques over the past two and a half seasons, emerging as a complete full-back known for his "obscene pace".

Reguilon ‘Had Options’ for Spurs Exit

Tottenham ‘made it very difficult’

Tottenham outcast Sergio Reguilon had options to depart north London this summer, but Spurs were ‘tough’ on the terms of the Spaniard’s exit, journalist Ben Jacobs has exclusively told GIVEMESPORT.

The 27-year-old spent last season on loan at Manchester United and Brentford and remains on the fringes under Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham.

According to Jacobs, Spurs’ stance ‘made it very difficult’ for Reguilon to leave, as the Premier League club held out for a permanent departure or a loan with an obligation to buy at the end of the season.

The Spaniard has 12 months left on his current deal and is yet to make an appearance this season. Reguilon was recently left out of Tottenham’s squad for the Europa League group stage too, cementing the fact he has no future in north London.

Brennan Johnson and Wales recorded a vital 2-1 win over Montenegro in a rainy Niksic on Monday evening, as their unbeaten Nations League campaign continued - but the Tottenham Hotspur winger didn't receive his share of praise after being thought to have lacked a 'killer instinct'.

The 23-year-old is eligible to play for Wales through the maternal side of his family, with his mother being from the nation and his grandparents hailing from central Wales - and despite England youth caps, he chose to represent the Dragons back in 2020. But although he's arguably the most valuable player in the squad in terms of transfer value, Johnson has failed to get firing for Craig Bellamy's side just yet - and earned a scathing review for his substitute outing in Montenegro.

Johnson Yet to Show 'Killer Instinct' For Wales

The winger seemingly needs to show more for the national side

In what was Wales' first win since their emphatic 4-1 win over Finland to make the EURO 2024 play-off vs Poland - a run stretching four games without a win, including a shambolic 0-0 draw with Gibraltar back in June - many including goalscorers Keiffer Moore and Harry Wilson earned praise from Welsh website 'Y Clwb Pel-Droed' for their outings in Eastern Europe.

However, Johnson was not one of the lucky recipients of a glowing review, instead earning a solemn 5/10 rating for his performance after coming off the bench for Burnley's Connor Roberts, with the fan page stating that his 'killer instinct' has yet to be seen in a Wales shirt. It read:

"5/10. An early substitution for Wales replacing Connor Roberts. He failed to offer much going forward for Wales as the killer instinct is still yet to be seen in the national side."

Johnson Has Proven Himself in The Premier League

Johnson joined Tottenham last season in a £47.5million move from hometown side Nottingham Forest, after he had enjoyed a decent first campaign in the Premier League with the Reds under Steve Cooper.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Johnson's father, David, earned four caps for Jamaica - scoring twice for the 'Reggae Boyz'.

Moving to Forest at the age of just eight years old, Johnson made his debut with the club back in 2019 - though with only a handful of appearances, he was loaned to Lincoln City - where he enjoyed his breakthrough spell at Sincil Bank.

From there, Johnson has gone on to become an important player for both clubs; 19 goals in 53 appearances for Forest the following season saw them promoted to the Premier League for the first time in 22 years, and a decent first spell in the top-flight saw Johnson feature in every single game with eight goals to boot, as they stayed up in the penultimate game of the campaign with a win over Tottenham's bitter rivals, Arsenal.

He wasn't as productive for Tottenham in his first campaign, but he still managed five goals in 32 games for the north London outfit in the Premier League, though it was his 10 Premier League assists under Ange Postecoglou that really showed his credentials.

But despite his club form, Johnson has never quite hit it off for Wales. He's only scored three goals in 30 caps, and with Wilson, David Brooks and Daniel James to compete with on the wings, there could be a case for the Tottenham forward to be put on the bench when everyone is at full fitness.

Key Takeaways

Tottenham host fierce rivals, Arsenal, in the highly-awaited North London Derby this weekend.

Ange Postecoglou could have a largely strong squad at his disposal, despite late injury scares.

Arsenal are facing a midfield injury crisis with Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino expected to miss the game and Declan Rice suspended.

The stage is set for the North London Derby this weekend, which will see bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal battle it out in the Premier League. Players will be returning from the international break and diving straight into what could well be one of the highlights of the season, and a strong result is paramount for either side.

Ange Postecoglou's men arrive into preparations for the match hoping to amend a rocky start to the campaign, having recorded just a single win and a draw in their opening three fixtures. On the other hand, Arsenal charged through their first two league ties against Wolves and Aston Villa, but a controversial red card decision for Declan Rice on their third matchday ultimately resulted in a stalemate.

It's tough to imagine a single draw being detrimental to their prospective title challenge, but amid a plethora of availability issues ahead of a busy schedule coupled with flawless recent performances from Manchester City and Liverpool, there is a sense that failure to get a result this weekend could risk puncturing their title ambitions. Ultimately, major bragging rights are also at stake here, alongside all else, and with just a few days until the clash, here is all the team news and possible selections for Tottenham vs Arsenal.

Spurs Team News

Returns possible for Solanke and Van de Ven

Much of Spurs' performance woes this season could be brought partially down to a select few first-team unavailabilities. New signing Dominic Solanke incurred an ankle injury on his debut against Leicester City, and he subsequently missed his side's following two fixtures. The setback may not be major, however, as speaking prior to the Newcastle United tie, Postecoglou revealed that the 26-year-old was "close" to a return but was excluded because of caution. An international break has passed, which could imply that he may be back in contention to start.

Similarly, Micky van de Ven also missed his side's third fixture against Newcastle, but Postecoglou revealed that the injury was "nothing serious". Still, the Dutchman did not travel for international duty, which should deem him fresh and ready for the North London derby.

In contrast to the aforementioned two, Richarlison remains sidelined after an injury in training kept him out of the trip to St James' Park. Postecoglou indicates that a return could be possible later in September, but an appearance from the Brazilian against Arsenal is highly unlikely. A recent injury update revealed that Mali international, Yves Bissouma limped off due to an injury while on international break, and while the extent of the injury remains unknown, it would be a massive blow for Spurs ahead of an important match.

Spurs Predicted XI

Solanke in but Bissouma to miss out

With just Richarlison and potentially Bissouma expected to miss out, Postecoglou could have a stronger squad at his disposal, compared to his rival manager, and there's little doubt he doesn't field his absolute best players in such a high stakes fixture if possible.

Gugliermo Vicario should start between the sticks, as usual, with a defense of Destiny Udogie, Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero and Pedro Porro in front of him.

A midfield trio of Rodrigo Bentancur in place of Bissouma, Malang Sarr and James Maddison should cause problems for Arsenal and a front three consisting of Dejan Kulusevski, Heung-min Son and Dominic Solanke is likely as good as it gets for Spurs.

Arsenal Team News

Availability crisis at the Emirates

Declan Rice saw red last time out at the Emirates, against Brighton, which means he will not be involved in the upcoming derby, which in itself was a serious blow to Mikel Arteta's team selection. Newly-signed Mikel Merino is yet to experience life in an Arsenal matchday squad, after a shoulder injury in his first training session ruled him out for a few weeks, and he remains unavailable as well.

Joining the midfield duo in the treatment room will be Martin Odegaard who went down in pain whilst on international duty with Norway. He entered his plane back to London on crutches, which is far from what Arsenal fans will be wanting to hear, and the skipper misses out this weekend.

Elsewhere in defense, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney are both yet to feature for Arsenal this season, and are likely to miss out. Riccardo Calafiori recently suffered a setback after colliding with Ousmane Dembele in the Nations League, and he has returned to the club for evaluation, though given his lack of experience with the squad, it is unlikely he is pushed to start anyway. In attack, Gabriel Jesus missed the last two fixtures, but he could be in line to make a return this weekend.

Arsenal predicted XI

Arteta forced to re-think team selection

The back half of the Arsenal XI should not see much change, given most of the injuries to the defensive department are among those who likely wouldn't start regardless. David Raya should be set up behind Jurrien Timber, Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba and Ben White as expected.

However, in midfield, it's a different situation entirely. Having played every minute so far, Thomas Partey should take his spot in the midfield, and Kai Havertz could be asked to drift down from his usual center-forward role to support the physicality in midfield. For the third slot, it's likely Arteta will turn to his experienced minds and pick Jorginho - this double pivot with the Italian alongside Partey should at least shore up some of the structure in the absence of Rice.