The resident Lilywhites in the Transfer Tavern are feeling some pre-match nerves ahead of their vital North-London derby clash with Arsenal tomorrow afternoon.
Mauricio Pochettino welcomes Arsene Wenger to Wembley tomorrow afternoon for the showpiece fixture of the weekend, and the Spurs fans propping up the bar in the tavern cannot express the important of victory highly enough. Tottenham are firmly in the race to finish inside the top-four this season after establishing some positive momentum in recent weeks.
However, as things stand, there are still 4 teams vying for 3rd and 4th place in the Premier League, one of which is Arsenal, but Spurs could effectively end their local-rivals top-four ambitions by recording victory tomorrow afternoon.
Ahead of their tantalising fixture, Tottenham received a massive boost as Toby Alderweireld was declared fit and ready to face Arsenal. The 28-year-old centre-back recently returned to first-team action after spending over three months on the sideline with a crippling hamstring injury, as he played 90 minutes against Newport County on Wednesday evening
Tottenham have coped relatively well in his absence due to the impact of Davinson Sanchez, but there is no doubt that a Vertonghen/Alderweireld partnership is the best on offer at the club when the Belgian pairing are on top form.
In response to the news that he is fit to face Arsenal, the Spurs fans took to Twitter to urge Pochettino to throw him straight back into the action with a derby start tomorrow afternoon.
However, a handful of supporters have half an eye on their Champions League fixture with Juventus next week and they suggested that Alderweireld should be kept fresh for their trip to Turin.
Here’s what the Spurs faithful have had to say about Alderweireld’s return on Twitter…
Toby has to start. However much I like Davinson. He is susceptible to a mistake it too in my opinion. Moura on the bench
— Kay Stanton (@KayStanton) February 8, 2018
Rest toby for juventus, i think we're gonna be fine with current home record. Sanchez already met aubameyang twice this season and should be fine
— Suryo (@jippooo) February 8, 2018
Team for Arsenal: Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Davies; Wanyama, Dembele; Eriksen, Dele, Son; Kane.
Bench: Vorm, Aurier, Dier, Winks, Lucas, Lamela, Llorente.
Poch will definitely start Dier though, and probably have Sissoko on the bench instead of Lucas…
— FTHFC (@FreddieTHFC) February 8, 2018
with Aubamayang now in the Arsenal team, we will desperately need him. Go on, Poch, throw your usual caution into the wind! #goToby
— sabina nardell (@lillun6) February 9, 2018
It's got to be Sanchez to the bench. Bit harsh on him maybe but we switched to a back 4 after getting thumped by City. Haven't lost since. I'd be surprised if Poch changes the formation now
— Stuart Longley (@stuartmlongley) February 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/LiberoArbitri/status/961731785339097090
I think he might be saved for Juve but I might be wrong
— I'm Permanently Offended (@therevno4) February 8, 2018
This makes me happy, jan and toby back together we will be a stingier defence than Italian teams form the early 90's
— Brian O' Donnell (@MousaAmongstMen) February 8, 2018
Cannot contain how happy i am to have toby back.
— Brian O' Donnell (@MousaAmongstMen) February 8, 2018
An obvious starter pic.twitter.com/06DEdDaj5J
— SteffA (@SteffWiAnd) February 8, 2018