Tottenham – Arsenal Preview

By: Martin | April 19th, 2011

Tottenham

Position: 5th, 14-11-6 (53 points, +8 goal differential)

Home Form: 8-6-1 (+10 goal differential)

Recent Form: LDDDW

Last Meeting: Arsenal 2 – Tottenham 3 (November 20, 2010)

Derby time.

This is a weird one. It’s obviously always a massive match when Arsenal and Tottenham get together, but does this one have a slightly anticlimactic feel to anyone else? A couple of months ago, I remember looking at the fixture list and thinking “wow — we’ll be going into White Hart Lane looking to push on for the title” and thinking what a massive match that was going to be. But alas, it was not to be. I can’t help but think back to some of the points we dropped that we should not have, and how much bigger a match this could potentially be, and get depressed about the whole thing.

Still, the reality is that we have not much to play for other than to ensure St. Totteringham’s Day comes as early as possible this season, and with Liverpool pushing on to possibly qualify for Europe, it would be a bit nice at least to do our part to put them out of Europe entirely next season. And there’s always the matter of pride, especially after the humiliating capitulation in the second half to Spurs at the Emirates.

Way back in September, we had one of our matches of the season against Spurs at White Hart Lane, when we came back to win 4-1 in extra-time. That kick-started our Carling Cup run and gave us a lot of confidence. Conversely, one of the low points of the season was when Spurs beat us at the Emirates, especially because the first-half of that match was one of our best halves of the season that saw us up 2-0. But Bale scored a goal on the counter, van der Vaart converted a penalty, and then Younes Kaboul, of all people, scored the match winner to see us shell-shocked and pointless at 3-2. Revenge for that is most definitely a motive in this one.

And that’s good, because we can use all the motivation we can get. The team has looked really rudderless the last 2 months, and needs to avoid a repeat of last year’s performance, where once our title hopes dimmed we went into an absolute tailspin the last few months of the season that saw us looking at a possible 5th place finish going into the final match of the season. It was absolutely maddening, as if the team had completely given up, and we cannot afford a repeat of that performance.

We know Spurs well enough that I won’t go through a position-by-position breakdown for them. They’ve got a good keeper in Gomes, a backline I think is pretty shaky when King and/or Dawson are out injured (which is all the time) (although in their defense, only 5 Premiership sides have conceded fewer goals than Spurs), they’ve got some deadly exciting midfield players in Modric, Bale, and van der Vaart, and those guys will no doubt give us a handful. Up front they’ve got two tall strikers/aerial threats in Peter Crouch (who has a very good scoring record against Arsenal) and Roman Pavlyuchenko, as well as Jermaine Defoe, a more straight-forward fox in the box type.

We’ve had trouble with them in recent seasons — we had the 4-4 draw where we blew a 4-2 lead in injury time a few years back, and then the second-half collapse this season. Let’s hope that doesn’t continue tomorrow, because it would be a tough pill to swallow if we went the season without a league victory over Spurs.

In team news for us, apparently only Flaps is out injured. However, a lot of the other first-team guys are coming back off lay-offs and, even though they are apparently fit to train, are not match fit enough to play — Almunia, Denilson, and Vermaelen fall into this category. Still, we are oddly healthy for this time of year. Sagna and Song are both available and supposedly completely healthy, so I expect to see both of them start. Here’s my best guess at a lineup:

Wojo

Sagna-Djourou-Koscielny-Clichy

Diaby-Song

Walcott-Cesc-Nasri

van Persie

Bench: Lehmann, Squillaci, Gibbs, Wilshere, Arshavin, Bendtner, Chamakh

Wojo definitely starts in goal. So long as Djourou is healthy enough to go, he’ll start alongside Koscielny on the backline. I think Clichy keeps his place over Gibbs, although Gibbs hasn’t played in a while and I think Wenger would like to suit him up again before the end of the season. And the big question was whether or not Sagna is fit enough to play — since he is, I think he has to start, although Eboue really has been decent enough in the last couple of matches notwithstanding his little practical joke at the end of the Liverpool game.

In midfield, I suspect Song will start — he played a bit at the end of the Liverpool match, and although he looked a little rusty, I think we need him in there to deal with the likes of Modric and van der Vaart in midfield. And although it certainly wouldn’t surprise if Wilshere keeps his spot given how great he’s been this season, and you know he’d really be up for a match against Spurs, I think he’s looked pretty worn-down the last few matches, and I think Diaby might just keep his spot, given that he’s been pretty good lately and we might as well get some good performances from him before he gets hurt again. And Cesc will play in the more advanced role.

Up front, it will be interesting to see if there’s any rotation. I can’t really see Robin van Persie losing his spot, so he’ll start. But it really wouldn’t surprise if Arshavin came into the lineup for either Walcott or Nasri — probably Walcott. But obviously it wouldn’t surprise a bit if Walcott keeps his spot, because he has been pretty effective lately.

So does this match matter? We are 6 points behind Manchester United, and are getting perilously close to being mathematically eliminated. More realistically, we are getting perilously close to putting Manchester United in a position where they can win the league with a win at the Emirates next weekend, and that is a sight I would really, really like to avoid, as that would be the real cherry on top of a disappointing season.

Looking behind us, we’re just 2 points ahead of Chelsea, and so there’s a real chance we could find ourselves in 3rd if we don’t take care of business in this match. There’s obviously no trophy for 2nd place, but it would be nice to at least be able to console ourselves that we were better than everyone except for United come season’s end. So there’s that to play for against. And then at the very minimum we need to finish ahead of Manchester City, who is 7 points back, so we don’t have to play in that stupid qualifying round to get into the Champions League group stage.

So even though it probably won’t revive our title hopes, it is certainly a game we have every reason to go into hungry and win. A win would see us go 13 points above Tottenham with 5 games remaining (although they’d still have a match in hand), and St. Totteringham’s Day would be well within sight.

Tottenham have been quite good at home, and have only conceded 12 goals at White Hart Lane, so they will be tough to break down — we won’t be getting all that many chances, so we really need to improve our cutting edge in the final third, both in terms of creating chances in the opposition area and making the most of the chances we do create. If there’s a silver lining, it’s that Tottenham may be in worse form than we are, and are coming off of crashing out of Europe in disappointing (but completely predictable) fashion, so their heads may not be in the right place for this one, either.

Although it’s not as big a match as it could, it’s still a very big match, and one that I badly, badly want Arsenal to win. Here’s hoping the players feel the same way. Let’s beat Spurs.

Come on Arsenal.

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Category: Arsenal News, Fixtures, Premiership, Preview, Tottenham

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Guestsdfdf

Immaculate Heart Of Mary College
Homey_Mills

I know this is totally unrelated to anything, but I found it interesting. On espn's site right now, there's a list of the highest earning athletes from each country in the world. There are 182 countries listed. Amazingly, Man City has the highest-paid athlete from 7 different countries, while Man Utd has the highest-paid athlete from 6. Only one country's highest paid athlete plays for Arsenal, however. That would be Chamakh from Morocco.
Double down

It's the hope that kills ya
Come on Arsenal!
Gigi_man

we need to think of the game, forget about title race because apparently it makes us nervous.
and not even think of maintaining the 2nd position (which is our real fight now), because it can also make us nervous.
I read an interesting quote from Del Bosque and one from Tostao (Idont know if the latter has been or is coaching). They both agreed in saying that as much as a coach has a tactic, he must tell his players that in the pitch some decisions have to be made and be made to win and that coaches have been given too much in our days (Tostao).
I say this because at times it seems that the players dont shake off any tactics even though its not working.
Patoux21

This is probably the best starting-line we can have apart from Diaby instead of Wilshere but Diaby proved he can be a regular starter (when he's healthy) and maybe Vermalaen (if he was healthy) for Kosh.
So we definitely have to win this game and there will be no excuses
KC

WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN!!! I hope you guys WIN! WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN!! You guys will WIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yea I really hope Arsenal win :) Preferably a thrashing kickbutt win :) Boost up your confidence and WIN :D
J___V

It's easy to feel disillusioned and obviously frustrated to the max with our club this season. I discovered this site early pre season and enjoyed the refreshing jovial nature and mostly informed opinions to much which was being said. As the season has progressed its been increasingly more annoying listening to the constant moaning & whinging of just about everything. We're fans, I get it. We have a right to complain and to expect more. So most of you guys feel like you keep getting this false hope, that our team keeps getting chances then blowing it again. Yeah, your right. But at least your still feeling something. That's the point. We'll switch on tomorrow & all that emotion will be there. That's because there's still the damn title to play for. Maybe we don't deserve it. We have blown chance after chance but so have the rest including united so do they deserve it more. We may blow it again tomorrow but this is football. It's unpredictable. When a side is constantly winning the assumption is they will continue to do so in the same way that a team with no form can't put 6 wins together. Well, anything can happen. We might not win another game but then again maybe united won't. This time of this season is the most unpredictable. Events affect games. Games affect other games. Momentum can change quickly. You think you know what's going to happen but you never fully do. The reality is after our next three games we could be 2 points clear at the top. I don't think it will happen but I've certainly been around long enough to recognise that it might. Even if it doesn't, frustration or not, it's been a seasoned full of emotion. We challenged from august till may not knowing what was going to happen unlike most others. It's good to have that feeling even if it's only a game that something matters. We'll have it again tomorrow. Personally, for me.....i'll settle for that. Winning is great. I want us to win. I will feel happy and proud but lifting a trophy lasts only a moment and having been lucky enough to have seen that happen plenty of times I know that it is something that passes and a new season begins. My advice.....enjoy the trophies but regardless of its outcome try enjoying the journey more!
Wolffy

United dropped points at Newcastle, gotta keep hope...
Homey_Mills

Ugh, dangit Newcastle. They hold Man Utd to a 0-0 tie. Why am I upset? Well I hate it when results give me this glimmer of hope, and suck me back in. And then my hopes are crushed again. I'd rather be able to just turn off the tv and not think about it. Oh well.
Georgedb1

What a bunch of sorry WHINOS. You're afraid that The Arsenal might get another chance? Because we might get our poor little hopes crushed in the end.. boo hoo hoo? Lets have some BALLS for fuksake. You're afraid of LOSING?? (And at the same time talking about "we need leaders on the team" and we lack "confidence" - how the hell can the team be confident if the fans are acting like a bunch of lactating women?)

We have a chance TO WIN today - screw what might happen in the end. We can bring Manure within range and put a little bit of pressure on them, thats something to welcome.

LETS HEAR IT FOR THE ARSENAL - and thank you Newcastle, bunch of shitftless toons, only good thing they've done all season is hold Manure to a draw.

ARSENAL FO LYF, and then some fuken more.
Gigi_man

I think its our right as gooners to be like that (I find myself thinking at times the exact same thing as Homey), and at the same time demand from our players to be leaders. It's the natural thing, no?
Georgedb1

We gotta get our balls back. We're caving in to these mind games people are pitching us "oh no trophies for 6 years"; "oh Arsenal's got no heart" blah blah blah. And who is saying it? Totts fans, who last won the league when the Flintstones first aired on TV? Manure fans, the darlings of referees and first love of the FA whore gularly hand games to them? Chelsea fans, whose sugar daddy says spread your legs and the club does an upside down split?

Lets have some pride and root for the Boys, instead of indulging in defeatist moping and whining. You either like watching the Arsenal win lose or draw, with trophies as a perk, or your in it only for the trophies.

I'm not questioning anybody's fanship here, but those who have family that followed the club before them or who were old enough to know the club before the mid 90s know that Arsenal before Wenger Arsenal was anything but a win-it-every-year type of club (except in the 30s and 40s).

So lets shape up and get in there every game counts and I still thing we can win it this year.
Gunnerson

Yeah well that dang tv just won't turn off now will it. Its funny how liverpool flung us out of title contention in that embarrassing manner, and the football gods decided thats not enough, so we get sucked back in only to allow our crosstown rivals to have the pleasure of humiliating us in front of their lot. This is cruel and inhumane and I feel very sorry for new Arsenal fans because this is baptism by fire.
Martin

It's so funny -- I was about to post the same thing. My reaction is more anger than joy about this, because it gives me another day of certain-to-be-extinguished hope.

Having said that -- a win tomorrow and we're within 4 points, with United still to play at the Emirates.
ASDF

Ohh look someone has thrown a life line. Or is it? Maybe its another opportunity for the dim-wit club (Eboue, Diaby, Squeal, Denilson, Almunia) members to show their uncanny lack of skills and take the lifeline away from us fans. Who will it be? Who will be given a chance by our beloved boss to destroy this tiny little glimmer of hope?? We will find out in 24hrs.
Homey_Mills

Yeah, it's such a tease. I mean, if Newcastle would have actually won, then we'd technically be back in control of our own destiny. If Man Utd would have won, I could have just ignored the Spuds game tomorrow as almost irrelevant. But then they tie, and I don't know what to do with it. Just enough to suck us back in. Actually, the table math doesn't bother me as much as much as our awful form does.
Darren_V

It's like that girl in school who teased you, shut you down, and then gave you a glimmer of hope once again, only to slam the door shut on you even harder. And repeat.
They have a word for her. I'd equate that word this football season
FredJacob

you Martin, i really would appreciate you stop calling injuries to players (you can think but don't print it) early this season you did it and guess what it happened. So enough of that talk please brow
YaIhawk

What are you, like 12?
CONA

Spurs fan here. Have to say this feels like a big one to us. Would be nice to get 4th (especially after a bad 2 month run). Wouldn't mind seeing Arsenal push Utd the whole way. Would love to see city not qualify for champions league too, which would be good for everyone cause if they make it then you can imagine the players they would sign and what that would mean for both of us next year.
Here's to another cracking game between 2 of the more entertaining sides in the league this season. COYS!!!
Weedonald

Cona....nice to read an intelligent and equitable comment from a Yid's fan....you may actually get 4th even if we beat you since you'll handle City with ease and have a good run-in to look forward to. It is amazing how similar our two teams are...error-prone keepers, unstable defenses, exceptional talents (Dawson,Bale,Modric, Van der Vaart/ Vermaelen,Jack, Walcott,Cesc) and volatile coaches who can get the most out of low-key players! All you guys need is a new stadium and to lose guys like Crouch, Jenas, King and replace them with better performers. Up the Arsenal!!!
Conathehut

Utd dropping points to Newcastle. Makes tonights game a bit more important than we thought. Looking forward to it now.

Totally agree with your points, King is harsh but injuries make it true.
FredJacob

yea dude i second that motion, just make sure next two weeks you beat Man City and you surely win 4th, honestly don't want bale to leave you'll and if playing in Europe would help then good luck. Cant stand they other dumb ass side like Barcelona and real Madrid trying to always claw away our players

Honestly if i was a coach i would let every one honor their contract and any player want to i will leave him let him rot on the bench, find players are little to ungrateful
arn00b

This season's been very strange - bringing fans together. Fans of almost every club felt for Liverpool during the Hodgson era and even some of the more wrathful one said "We want the Scousers to suffer, but not like this."

Then you have Chelsea fans supporting Arsenal in the League and in Champion's League against Barca. You also had, with a few, very loud exceptions, many people supporting Spurs in their almost miraculous CL run, including Arsenal fans.

Then you have pretty much everyone else wanting United to lose the league somehow.

Yet most would support United against Barca or Madrid in the final.
FredJacob

Never will i ever back United for nothing, i hoping some Raul magic so they don't reach the Finals
arn00b

Yeah, but if they did and played Barca in the final, and Rooney gets a 9th minute yellow card for pulling Dirty Dani's shirt, who develops a seizure and they have to chopper in Hugh Laurie to treat him.

And when shrek suggests to the refs the obvious: the shirt pull wasn't so bad, it didn't cause the seizures, there's a lot of qualified medics and doctors around, Hugh Laurie isn't really a doctor, etc... Van der Ruun is shown a second yellow for dissent.

Would you then not want United to win? Not even out of spite?
FredJacob

What
Sairax

I think I've been pretty good at staying positive this season while still acknowledging our faults. However, if we don't pick up 3 points tomorrow I might finally snap.
Darren_V

I've wondered what a Sairax 'snap' would be like. But not v Sp*rs
DanKing9

after seeing it on LadyArse I can tell you its not pretty Darren ;)
FredJacob

you know snapping, i snap since the Newcastle game
RedCapedWonder

my thoughts exactly.
RedCapedWonder

Our title hopes, in my opinion, are far from over. United could have trouble with Newcastle or Blackburn (emphasis on could) and if they lose to us and Chelsea, we could have a tense run in.
FredJacob

yea right the football gods are against use this year
Benjamin Dockter

We need a win so badly tomorrow. If we lose, I don't think I will be able to stomach watching any Arsenal games for the rest of the season. With an almost fully fit team, YOU OWE US THIS!! Don't let me down Arsenal.