Jan Vertonghen expects goal-shy Tottenham to thrive against Arsenal

Striking claim | Spurs have gone four games without scoring a goal in open play
Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images
Tom Collomosse31 October 2016

Jan Vertonghen expects Tottenham's attackers to thrive against Arsenal despite four games without a goal in open play.

Spurs remain undefeated in the league this season but since beating Manchester City 2-0 on October 2, they have managed only draws with West Brom, Bournemouth and Leicester.

Those results mean Spurs are three points behind City, Arsenal and Liverpool, who all have 23 points.

Before Sunday's derby at Emirates Stadium, Spurs take on Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League at Wembley on Wednesday, knowing a win will give them a strong position in the group.

After winning seven of their last eight matches in the Premier League, Arsenal will be confident of securing their first league win over Tottenham since Mauricio Pochettino took charge in May 2014.

But Vertonghen insisted: "Normally we do well against teams like that. It will be a very intense game, with both teams playing positive, attacking football.

"At the moment we are probably unlucky in every game we play. We were the better team against Leicester and we deserved to win, but we just can't win at the moment.

In Pictures | Tottenham vs Leicester City | 29/10/2016

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"The teams we have played, like West Brom and Leicester, play the same way. They sit and they wait for a mistake.

"We've had some chances in all these matches and we have been unlucky not to take them."

With Harry Kane absent since the 1-0 win over Sunderland on September 18, Tottenham's goal threat has diminished, with Dele Alli's equaliser in the 1-1 draw at West Brom on October 15 their last goal in open play.

Kane is making good progress in his recovery from an ankle injury and Pochettino says he could be available either against Leverkusen or Arsenal - though the manager is habitually cautious when bringing back players from injury.

In Kane's absence, Vincent Janssen has often led the line and has scored in each of his last two matches - both from the penalty spot.

Vertonghen added: "He is a very good penalty taker and I don't think he is short on confidence.

"It is very good that he takes responsibility. He knows his qualities and he will score goals."

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