‘I’d be stunned’: Alasdair Gold says ‘excellent’ Tottenham player is almost guaranteed to start in North London Derby

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Football.London’s Alasdair Gold says he would be ‘stunned’ if Tottenham Hotspur defender Clement Lenglet doesn’t start in the north London derby against Arsenal this weekend. 

The ‘excellent’ Lenglet has got off to a decent start to his Spurs career since making the switch from Barcelona on a loan deal.

Lenglet has started in Spurs’ last two Premier League games after Ben Davies picked up an injury in the clash against Sporting Lisbon last month.

The 27-year-old has certainly benefited from Davies’ absence and now Gold has suggested he is set to start against Arsenal on Saturday. 

Lenglet almost guaranteed to start

Speaking on the Last Word on Spurs YouTube channel, Gold provided an update on the fitness of Davies ahead of Saturday. 

“It’s going to be a tough one, because three to four weeks was what I was told on him,” he said.

“It’s a little hairline fracture on his leg, just below his knee. It’s a tough one because Spurs are being very quiet, everyone within Spurs is being very quiet but it would be tough to throw him back into that.

“He is your experienced guy and knows this fixture inside out but unless he’s been able to get any training days under his belt it kind of feels that he would be a bit underprepared.

“Personally I’d be stunned if it wasn’t Lenglet.” 

Lenglet has brought some much-needed composure to the Spurs backline and is an excellent passer of the ball.

It may be a slight concern for Conte that the Frenchman has never played in a north London derby before. But Lenglet has played at the highest level with France and Barca, so he should be up to the challenge.

Lenglet has looked comfortable in Tottenham’s back-three so far but will be facing his toughest test to date at the Emirates on Saturday.