Tottenham birthday boy Sandro shows he's game for a laugh but will he be all smiles in Sunday's north London derby vs Arsenal?

By Luke Augustus

PUBLISHED: 11:20 EST, 15 March 2014 | UPDATED: 11:20 EST, 15 March 2014

 

Tottenham were in jovial mood ahead of the visit of rivals Arsenal on Sunday.

Sandro appeared to fall victim to a prank from his team-mates after posting a picture to his Instagram account.

The Brazilian international turned 25 on Saturday and took to the social media website to show how he celebrated his birthday - with what appears to be cake on his face.

Birthday: Sandro took to his Instagram account to show the prank he got from his Tottenham team-mates

Birthday: Sandro took to his Instagram account to show the prank he got from his Tottenham team-mates

On the ball: Sandro (left) battles for the ball with Benfica's Ruben Amorim (right) in Thursday's Europa League

On the ball: Sandro (left) battles for the ball with Benfica's Ruben Amorim (right) in Thursday's Europa League

The defensive midfielder is looking for a double celebration this weekend as his side look to bounce back from successive defeats against Chelsea and Benfica in the Premier League and Europa League respectively.

Those results mean it will likely be another season without a trophy at White Hart Lane, with the club's top-four ambitions also hanging by a thread ahead of the north London derby.

 

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Ahead of the Arsenal clash, Spurs' boss, and former player, Tim Sherwood wants this weekend's fixture to be a 'blood and thunder' encounter as he believes it will give Tottenham the edge.

'It is a fantastic occasion - always was to play in these games,' the former midfielder told Spurs TV.

Leader: A brace from captain Luisao on Thursday has given Benfica a 3-1 first-leg Europa League lead vs Spurs

Leader: A brace from captain Luisao on Thursday has given Benfica a 3-1 first-leg Europa League lead vs Spurs

Debutant: Sunday's derby against Arsenal will be Spurs' boss Tim Sherwood first at White Hart Lane

Debutant: Sunday's derby against Arsenal will be Spurs' boss Tim Sherwood first at White Hart Lane

'It is my first time as a manager at the Lane to be standing opposite Arsene Wenger and hopefully I will get one over on them.

'I don't think there is much blood and thunder these days - I want it to be more of that.

'I think that gives us the edge. We are possibly more functional than they are, but if they get into their stride we know they can be very dangerous, so we need to knock them off their stride.'

Focused: Arsenal players in training on Saturday ahead of Sunday's encounter at Tottenham

Focused: Arsenal players in training on Saturday ahead of Sunday's encounter at Tottenham

Injured: Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor is a doubt for Sunday's derby against his former club

Injured: Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor is a doubt for Sunday's derby against his former club

Emmanuel Adebayor, Kyle Walker and Mousa Dembele are all struggling to be fit for Sunday's match, while captain Michael Dawson will be absent due to a hamstring injury.

Etienne Capoue, Erik Lamela and Vlad Chiriches have also been sidelined, although Gylfi Sigurdsson could be involved after training on Friday.

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Yeah, well, happy birthday Sandro, but now you have egg on your face after giving it up to Arsenal today. Spurs gave it some but that was just huffing and puffing. Was a prime time today to take on Arsenal and beat them, to respond to the Chelsea loss, the Benfica loss, Sherwood's anger, criticism, this game came at the right time, with Arsenal under pressure to get a win with Chelsea losing, Man City and Liverpool winning. The scoreline says it all, just the one goal in it when there should have been 5 at least from such a fixture, such a battle. What does it mean? It means the team is not structure properly, and Sherwood cannot do it. He has neither the time nor the experience because Levy will seek a coach at the end who has. Like Man Utd, the coach needs to bring in his own players and embed them. Sherwood is on the hang-ons of AVB, and probably Levy too. A new coach will change all of that.

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I'm a Spurs fan but I am just tired of seeing these articles where players come out and tell everyone "we are gonna do this,,,that...blah!" Shut up!! get on the pitch and play football without folding and losing 3 or 4 -1. Then maybe i'll start believing again

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Many Spurs supporters have become disillusioned and won't renew their season tickets if we lose heavily for a third game in a row.

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Another year older, ANOTHER season wasted. So what do they have to be "jovial" about? They will let all Spurs fans down today with another dismal display against the Woolwich. They're a bunch of sulky-overpaid prima-donnas who seemingly care more about partying. I'm a Spurs fan who will almost be supporting the nomads today. I can't support these mercenaries anymore!

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Tottenham Hotspur...forever destined to play in the Europa League on 'Spursday' nights

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Looks like a facial.

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Beat these totts and the PL is yours!

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Great player, should be captain...

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Great player? He has a cockerel on his shirt!

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Knock yourself out with the liquor, and be in a terrible shape for the game

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Bunch of overpaid muppets.

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Talking of overpaid muppets, isn't your forum meant to be lanky blokes playing netball for 50 million a year? Probably makes arsenal the closest thing to your sport.

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We will beat Arsenal if Harry Kane is left back. Left back in the changing room, that is.

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