Ange Postecoglou delivers Richarlison injury update ahead of Tottenham v Arsenal
Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that Richarlison is “available” to feature for Tottenham against Arsenal.
Spurs will welcome their North London rivals to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday (28 April).
Mikel Arteta’s side will look to take a big step closer to the Premier League title in hostile territory, while Postecoglou and his players will be doing everything in their power to derail Arsenal.
Tottenham have been dealt an injury blow in the past week, with Destiny Udogie set to miss the remainder of the season after undergoing an operation.
However, Postecoglou has somewhat made up for this blow by providing Spurs fans with a much more positive fitness update, confirming that both Richarlison and Pedro Porro are “available” for the clash with the Gunners (Spurs’ Official X, 26 April).
And Tottenham supporters will be delighted by the update on Richarlison, in particular.
Richarlison could make the difference for Tottenham against Arsenal
Richarlison has suffered from injury problems in recent weeks and hasn’t started a match for Tottenham since they were beaten 2-1 at home by Wolves on Saturday 17 February.
He has been limited to minutes from the bench over the past couple of months and was absent entirely for Spurs’ last two matches.
Up until this setback, the Brazil international had enjoyed a much more productive second season with Tottenham, having so far found the back of the net 10 times in the Premier League under Postecoglou.
As per fbref, the 26-year-old ranks in the 91st percentile of his positional peers in the Premier League this season for the number of non-penalty goals he has scored (0.66 per 90) as well as for his total shots (3.80 per 90) and shots on target (1.51 per 90).
Richarlison is a handful for opposition defences, ranking once again in the top nine per cent of Premier League forwards this season for the number of touches he has had in the opposition box (7.28 per 90).
Despite playing up front, the Tottenham number nine always puts in a shift defensively, ranking in the top one per cent for the number of blocks he has made (2.10 per 90) and passes he has blocked (1.71 per 90), as well as the top three per cent for the number of shots he has blocked (0.39 per 90).
Richarlison will show fight and put in a shift defensively, which is exactly what will be needed on Sunday.
In other Tottenham news, the club have been urged to complete the signing of a player who will “guarantee” a top-four finish next season.
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