Tottenham Hotspur's new coach, Thomas Frank, has made headlines ahead of Sunday's North London derby against Arsenal with some strong words, though not quite as inflammatory as banishing "traitors". While he didn't call for any Arsenal players to be banished, his comments certainly added spice to the already heated rivalry.

Frank acknowledged Arsenal's strength and progress, admitting they are "a little bit ahead" of Tottenham in their development. He credited Mikel Arteta for building a strong and competitive squad, noting their investment in players over the past few years. "I don't want to praise them too much, Arsenal in general," Frank stated, "But also we can't hide or look away from that. Right now they're at the top of the table in the Premier League".

Despite acknowledging Arsenal's strengths, Frank expressed confidence in his own team's ability to compete and win on Sunday. "In one game, I'm 100% sure we'll be very competitive. And of course we can win on Sunday," he asserted. He emphasized the importance of the derby, stating, "This is the big one... I'm very, very, very aware there's two games in a year that's even more important and this is the first of them".

Frank also highlighted Tottenham's improved away form and their ability to score goals on the road. He pointed out that disrupting Arsenal's organization would be key to creating scoring opportunities. A significant factor in the game, according to Frank, will be the battle of set-pieces, where both teams have shown strength this season. Arsenal currently holds the record for the highest goals scored from set-pieces so far this season. "They're strong, we're strong. That will be a battle in itself," Frank said.

In a boost for Tottenham, Frank confirmed the availability of several key players who had been injury doubts. Pape Matar Sarr, Lucas Bergvall and Randal Kolo Muani are all fit to face Arsenal. Mohammed Kudus is also in line to return after missing the last two games. Kolo Muani will play with a protective mask to protect his fractured jaw. Frank also provided updates on other players, including Radu, Kota, Ben and Archie, who are getting closer to full fitness.

While Tottenham faces a tough challenge against their in-form rivals, Frank's positive injury news and confident statements suggest they will be ready to battle for a crucial victory in the North London derby.