Udogie's absence puts Ange on the spot over Saka

BY THE time Tottenham host Arsenal in Sunday's crunch north London derby, Mikel Arteta's side will have played four times since their rivals' last fixture the 4-0 defeat at Newcastle on April 13.

- Dan Kilpatrick

So there is a certain irony that Spurs have still managed to pick up more injuries than Arsenal in the past fortnight, after news over the weekend that Destiny Udogie will miss the rest of the season following surgery on his left quadriceps.

The Italian is expected to be sidelined for about three months, ruling him out of the European Championship and potentially the start of pre-season.

Udogie pulled up in training last week, the latest in a long list of Spurs players to succumb to a muscle injury in Ange Postecoglou's first season.

Postecoglou's Celtic squad suffered similarly, and the manager has said injuries are an inevitable consequence of his players adapting to the demands of his high-intensity football.

Udogie has been a near ever-present for Postecoglou this season, missing only four games in total (two through injury and two due to suspension), and his absence is a significant blow to Spurs' hopes of ending Arsenal's title ambitions and overhauling Aston Villa in the race for the top-four.