Ah, the ever famous and exhilarating North London Derby between the superior Arsenal and the average Tottenham Hotspur. I’ve only gone and managed to get myself tickets in the Clock End for this one, so one day before hand, I thought I’d express my views and predictions on this juicy encounter.
Arsene Wenger added in his press-conference: “You enjoy it after the game if you win. Before you have the tension and you have the focus to prepare and to give your team the best chance to win the game. That’s what you focus on.” And quite frankly, that’s exactly how I feel right now. And hope to feel tomorrow, too. I’m a little nervy going into tomorrows game off the back of the unlucky Southampton defeat, but nonetheless I’m expecting a completely different atmosphere, team selection and game from the Arsenal tomorrow.
Going into the game:
Arsène Wenger has presided over 43 north London derbies in nearly 18 years at Arsenal. He has an enviable record – winning 21 and losing just six of those local scraps for supremacy. Fans will say this year is different year after year after year… and well… so on. But if anything, I think this year’s game seems a lot more winnable than last years for sure. Indeed, the Gunners did lose to Southampton in the League Cup, but unbeaten in the Premier League so far shows Arsenal’s resilience this campaign, also drawing at home to last season’s champions, Man City. Unfortunately, injury wise we have been unlucky, AGAIN, with the likes of Debuchy and Giroud ruled out until the New Year, and last seasons Derby hero, not because of a fine strike but the two nil gesture he provided to the Spurs fans in the FA Cup tie, Theo Walcott.
Spurs, however, won their mid-week tie vs Nottingham Forest despite falling behind in the second half. They begun their campaign, or should I say Eric Dier, begun their campaign by leading the side to a winning start at Upton Park as they ran out 1-0 winners at the haunted Upton Park and spanking newly promoted QPR 4-0 at home. Since then, Spurs are yet to win in the Premier League putting immense pressure on new manager, Mauricio Pochettino, to restore some confidence in the Spurs faithful. Bizarre rumours of a ground share with the Gunners has emerged in the press this week as Spurs have had a set back in being granted rights for building their new stadium. Nonsense, and let’s hope the atmosphere and performance edges the Whites out of the ground tomorrow!
Previous Encounters:
Well, three years ago, Robin Van Persie and Bacary Sagna were the two key goalscorers as Arsenal ran out 5-2 winners at the Emirates in what seemed like a once in a lifetime scoreline for a derby of this calibre. Ha, the following season, new boys Santi Cazorla, Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud all capped off… yep that’s right, ANOTHER 5-2 victory at the Emirates. This time helped by an Adebayor red card… haha. The reverse fixture didn’t go Arsenal’s way however, losing 2-1 in a drubbing at White Hart Lane, before AVB added that the Gunners were in a “negative spiral”. How did that one pan out for you Andre?
Well Arsenal then qualified for the Champions League ahead of Spurs despite the uncertainty and, like every summer, we were promised a very large surprise. A new player over £16 million? YOU GUESSED IT! But it wouldn’t come until we signed Sanogo on a free and Flamini alongside him. Chaos. Outrage. Shambles. We lost 3-1 to Villa at home. Chaos. Outrage. Shambles, and on we went to face Spurs. Funnily enough, in a feisty encounter and brutal grudge match, Oliver Giroud pipped the Hotspur with a neat front post finish. £100 million spent from Spurs, and still no win over Arsenal. My favourite game was our FA Cup tie last year in which we won 2-0. We gifted starts to the likes of Gnabry and Oxlade Chamberlain, and in a 2-0 win to kick off the memorable FA Cup run, Rosicky scored a goal I will never forget. What a worldy. So with all of that taken into account, Arsenal can be confident of a win and who knows. Maybe the psychological factor of their dominant history may play a part. Le Proffeseur seems to think so.
Overall Prediction and Round Up:
These games are my favourite of the season. This fixture is so special to the Arsenal fans and it’s certainly the first fixture I scan down the list to find when the Premier League games are released. And yes, I can’t believe I’m going to it.
Whether it be back in the day when Ian Wright was twisting and turning in the box, Freddie was getting aggressive or Thierry Henry was taking on Groves and Perry and sticking it past Casey Keller in the Tottenham goal. Of course, then running back to celebrate in front of the Spurs fans. Yes, we’ve had some epic memories. Theo’s 2-0, winning the league at the Lane and the heart-stopping 4-4. This one will be different.
It’s Mesut’s home derby debut tomorrow, and it’s also Danny Welbecks’, Calum Chambers’ and Alexis Sanchez’s first taste of this bitter clash. And with the aforementioned names all set to start, I can only see a 2-0 win for the Gunners. If I were Wenger, the return of the 4-2-3-1 would be significant in my pre-game plan, with Özil in behind Danny Welbeck to pull the strings and stun Spurs with the pace we can offer. But until then, I sit in excitement and nervousness, like every other Gooner right now. Expect red cards. Expect goals, and more importantly, expect a cracking post from me tomorrow on my summary.
Thanks for reading,
Liam Baldock
In The Mixer 