Arsenal defender Jan Vertonghen has brushed off reports that his absence from recent Spurs lineups was because of concerns over his fitness, or a fall out with his manager.
The Belgian was a surprise omission from the match day squad for the opening game against Aston Villa, and spent the following two games sitting on the bench.
Speculation over a fall out with Mauricio Pochettino followed, with reports that the defender could be on his way out of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before the close of the European transfer window.
However, Vertonghen was recalled to the starting lineup by Pochettino for the North London Derby, and the 32-year-old has reiterated his manager's claim that the decision was a tactical one.
"No, no, no – I came back fit. I played in every pre-season game and I didn't miss a [training] session," Vertonghen told the Evening Standard .
"Like the manager explained before the first game against Villa, it was a tactical decision and I respect that decision. We players have to accept his decisions. I'm very, very happy to be back."
"When you don't play, you realise how important it is and it's extremely important for me. I've been so long with the guys, I love the club and I just want to play as much as I can.
"I feel great and I just want to help the club to win trophies."
The 2-2 draw with Arsenal is now followed by a two week break from Premier League football, but despite being named in the Belgium squad for their European qualifiers, Vertonghen is already looking forward to be back playing club football.
"I don't feel like we need the [international] break," he added.
"We love to play football together and I think everyone can't wait for two games a week to get back in that good feeling. With Tottenham I prefer to play every three or four days."
Vertonghen, along with other defenders in the Spurs team struggled to contain Arsenal's attacking players in periods of the game, with Alexandre Lacazette beating the defender for the Gunners' first goal, but the centre back denied any rustiness due to lack of game time.
"I'm experienced and fit enough to get back into the rhythm and it was just the goal before half-time that gave them the spirit to get back in the game," he said.
"If we just killed the first half and go into the dressing room with that good feeling it's a different game.
"It was very frustrating. We did well, we defended well, we were good in possession, created loads of chances, were 2-0 up so it was just great in this derby away. So we have to go in the dressing room 2-0 up."
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