Tottenham takes on Arsenal in what promises to be a pulsating battle at White Hart Lane.
Arsenal sits in thirteenth spot in the Premier League with seven points from six matches. What is more is they have played a game less than their North London rivals who are currently sitting pretty in sixth with nine points from three games. Tottenham demolished Liverpool, 4-0, in their previous outing. Emmanuel Adebayor, a former Gunner struck twice.
Arsenal beat Bolton, 3-0, in their previous outing in the Premier League and was helped by a red card to a certain extent just like Tottenham. Spurs, in fact, were helped by two red cards. Liverpool had a man sent off before the half hour and another at just over the hour mark. Luka Modric, a player who didn’t exactly want to stay, played a wonderful match and scored.
These two sides played each other thrice last season. In the Premier League, the Gunners succumbed, 2-3, at home. Arsenal let a 2-0 lead turn into a 2-3 loss. The match at White Hart Lane had a similar feel to it. Arsenal let a 1-3 lead turn into a 3-3 draw. The match in the Carling Cup provided the greatest of joys for the Gunners as they won that one 4-1.
Arsene Wenger has been talking about Tottenham in recent days. In his fifteen year tenure at Arsenal, he has never finished below Tottenham. This is what he had to say about them:
"To me, Tottenham have always been direct rivals, since I am here, every year we played them. They always have good teams. They had Ginola, Sheringham… they always had great players.
It [the rivalry] is enjoyable but anyway, you will always have people you compete with when you want to be in the top four."
Thomas Vermaelen will not be back in this match. Neither will William Gallas for Spurs. According to Wenger, Laurent Koscielny will not be ready for this match. Yossi Benayoun and Sebastien Squillaci are both fit.
However, Squillaci lacks match fitness. Late decisions will be made as far as Gervinho and Theo Walcott are concerned. Walcott seemingly has a better chance of being fit in time for the derby.
How this match will play out is anyone’s guess. One thing is for sure: it should be an attack feast and one for the neutral. Both sides have plenty of attacking talents at their disposal. Both sides can play with plenty of flair. Most importantly, there isn’t a single player who doesn’t want to win this derby badly.
Emmanuel Adebayor will be out to prove once again that Arsenal was wrong to let him go. Adebayor hasn’t settled in anywhere since he left. His spell at Manchester City was sub-par. He didn’t play up to his standards with Real Madrid when he spent some time there on a loan spell. He will be hoping that North London, a different side of the area of-course, offers him a place where he can settle down.
Arsene Wenger turns 62 in October. According to him, he is up for another ten or fifteen years as manager of Arsenal. And he can only do that if he starts winning again and helps guide Arsenal to a top-four finish.
Arsenal beat Bolton, 3-0, in their previous outing in the Premier League and was helped by a red card to a certain extent just like Tottenham. Spurs, in fact, were helped by two red cards. Liverpool had a man sent off before the half hour and another at just over the hour mark. Luka Modric, a player who didn’t exactly want to stay, played a wonderful match and scored.
These two sides played each other thrice last season. In the Premier League, the Gunners succumbed, 2-3, at home. Arsenal let a 2-0 lead turn into a 2-3 loss. The match at White Hart Lane had a similar feel to it. Arsenal let a 1-3 lead turn into a 3-3 draw. The match in the Carling Cup provided the greatest of joys for the Gunners as they won that one 4-1.
Arsene Wenger has been talking about Tottenham in recent days. In his fifteen year tenure at Arsenal, he has never finished below Tottenham. This is what he had to say about them:
"To me, Tottenham have always been direct rivals, since I am here, every year we played them. They always have good teams. They had Ginola, Sheringham… they always had great players.
It [the rivalry] is enjoyable but anyway, you will always have people you compete with when you want to be in the top four."
Thomas Vermaelen will not be back in this match. Neither will William Gallas for Spurs. According to Wenger, Laurent Koscielny will not be ready for this match. Yossi Benayoun and Sebastien Squillaci are both fit.
However, Squillaci lacks match fitness. Late decisions will be made as far as Gervinho and Theo Walcott are concerned. Walcott seemingly has a better chance of being fit in time for the derby.
How this match will play out is anyone’s guess. One thing is for sure: it should be an attack feast and one for the neutral. Both sides have plenty of attacking talents at their disposal. Both sides can play with plenty of flair. Most importantly, there isn’t a single player who doesn’t want to win this derby badly.
Emmanuel Adebayor will be out to prove once again that Arsenal was wrong to let him go. Adebayor hasn’t settled in anywhere since he left. His spell at Manchester City was sub-par. He didn’t play up to his standards with Real Madrid when he spent some time there on a loan spell. He will be hoping that North London, a different side of the area of-course, offers him a place where he can settle down.
Arsene Wenger turns 62 in October. According to him, he is up for another ten or fifteen years as manager of Arsenal. And he can only do that if he starts winning again and helps guide Arsenal to a top-four finish.
