Tottenham players at risk of suspension as Romero leads tightrope list

Tottenham return to Premier League action this weekend facing the toughest assignment of their season: a trip to the Emirates Stadium to face an in-form Arsenal side in the first north London derby of the campaign. Spurs haven’t beaten their rivals in more than three and a half years, collecting just one point from their last six derbies, and now risk losing four in a row to Arsenal for the first time since 1989.

As if the challenge wasn’t steep enough, the injury list has spiralled at the worst possible moment. Pape Matar Sarr became the latest casualty over the international break, leaving Thomas Frank potentially without 12 first-team players for Sunday’s showdown. The club remain hopeful that number drops — with Mohammed Kudus among those nearing a return — but Spurs are bracing themselves for a selection puzzle.

Suspensions are yet another layer of complication. Four Spurs players enter the derby just one or two yellow cards away from a ban, amplifying the pressure in a fixture where discipline is notoriously hard to maintain.

The Premier League’s suspension rules remain unchanged:

Spurs currently have four players walking that line.

No player is closer to a ban than the Tottenham captain. Romero has picked up four yellow cards in his last eight matches, leaving him one booking away from missing a crucial fixture.

His aggressive defensive style makes him a magnet for cards — something Spurs cannot afford to flare up in the derby given their stretched squad.

The most influential attacker in the squad this season, Kudus sits on three bookings. His availability is already touch-and-go due to injury, and a suspension would further undermine Spurs' attacking threat during a congested festive period.

Signed for his elite ball-winning, Palhinha is unsurprisingly racking up cautions. His consistency breaking up play means he is always at risk in high-stakes games.

Danso has quickly become a key figure at the back, but his card tally reflects the amount of defensive work Spurs have endured during their injury-hit run.

Having followed Tottenham closely under Thomas Frank, one thing stands out: Spurs often rely heavily on Romero’s emotional intensity and Palhinha’s tactical aggression. In our view, that creates an unavoidable risk — particularly in derby matches where the atmosphere drives players to the edge.

There is also a nuance this situation exposes: Spurs’ defensive injuries mean backup options are thin. Losing Romero or Danso to suspension would force makeshift solutions that could unravel the tactical structure entirely. Kudus’ situation is similarly delicate; he is central to Spurs' attacking rotations, and his blend of power and unpredictability is not easily replicated.

Ultimately, Spurs’ season may hinge as much on who is available as on how they perform.

After the derby, Spurs host Fulham before travelling to Newcastle — two fixtures where suspensions could cause serious disruption. If Tottenham manage to navigate Arsenal without losing key players to either injury or bookings, they give themselves a real chance of stabilising before Christmas.

But if Romero or Kudus pick up bans now, Spurs risk entering December with their squad stretched beyond control, potentially derailing the momentum built earlier in the campaign.

Spurs face Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday, before hosting Fulham and visiting Newcastle in early December. Thomas Frank must manage both fitness and discipline carefully to avoid a winter spiral.

👉 Spurs fans — who can least afford to miss a match through suspension right now?