‘No Sympathy for Arsenal’: Tottenham boss on Gunners injury worries

Arsenal are set to be without Gabriel Jesus for period of time after the Brazil forward suffered a suspected ACL injury in the FA Cup defeat to Manchester United last Sunday.

Jesus have now joined the likes of Bukayo Saka and Ben White on the sideline but Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou says he has empathy rather than any sympathy for Arsenal’s own injury woes ahead of Wednesday’s North London derby.

Tottenham have had their share of injury problem this season and head to the Emirates on a run of one win in their last seven Premier League games. A win is needed to ease pressure on the team as they are currently 12th in the table at the start of the midweek round of fixtures.

Saka is currently out injured (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

“I don’t know, how much sympathy have they all had for me? I’m not really sure…” said Postecoglou when asked if he had any sympathy towards Mikel Arteta in the wake of the news of Jesus’ injury.

“I certainly have empathy, that’s probably a better word.

“I understand how challenging it is for any team, irrespective of the size or quality.”

Postecoglou joined Tottenham in the summer of 2023 and has lost two and drawn one of his three North London derbies in charge. However, the former Celtic manager described Wednesday’s match as “as big as they ever come.”

He admitted his side needed to get back to winning ways in the league quickly, said there would be “no better place to start” than at the Emirates.

“You understand it is a standalone fixture in that it means a hell of a lot to our supporters and to our club,” said Postecoglou.

“So that’s the focus and that is what we’ve got to hone in on in terms of us wanting to really bring our best performance on the day so we can make our supporters happy.

“It’s like being up in Glasgow, you’re well aware and know what it means and the ramifications of both the positive and negative.

“I’ve been on it for the first game. This year is as big as they ever come, especially for us and our season. We have to start winning games in the league and no better place to start.”