EPL, England, Europe, Features, Ian John, Leagues, Regions POSTS

Arsenal V Tottenham : Preview

Published by Ian John on October 30, 2009

This weekend sees possibly the most eagerly awaited London derby clash for many a year. Arsene Wenger’s freescoring, but defensively lacking, Arsenal welcome their fierce rivals from North London, Tottenham Hotspurs and manager Harry Redknapp to the Emirates stadium in what promises to be one of the most keenly contested London derbies in many a season, and that is saying something!

Last season, Tottenham staged an incredible late comeback to secure a 4-4 draw at the Emirates stadium. It was a game that had everything, a stunning goal from David Bentley, Arsenal’s wonderful, incisive attacking football ripping Spurs to shreds at times and an incredible comeback from Tottenham late on to secure the point thanks to Aaron Lennon’s goal deep into injury time. The defensive frailties Arsenal showed last season however seem to have beset them this season too and while the Gunners are as unstoppable attacking force as the Premier League can muster, there is always the real threat that they may concede. They are like Muhammed Ali with a glass jaw, unerringly beautiful to watch and master craftsmen at times, but with that weakness that can come back to haunt them at any time.

Certainly Tottenham will be hoping this is the case. Since manager Harry Redknapp took over, he has steered the club from the foot of the table into the Champions League places and indeed the form of the club since Redknapp took charge, has been that of a side who should be playing in European Football’s foremost competition. Since the games last season, Redknapp has added further to his squad and the news that Aaron Lennon should be fit to terrorise the Arsenal rearguard once again, will further please the manager. While Jermaine Defoe’s absence through suspension will be a blow, that will mean a place in the team for Peter Crouch, who has fond memories of games against Arsenal, from netting a stunning hattrick against them in a 4-1 win at Anfield while a Liverpool player a few seasons ago.

Like Arsenal however, Spurs have shown defensive frailties at times and they will be all too aware that any weakness in defence will be quickly punished by the wonderful attacking imagination that Arsenal possess from midfield, notably in the form of Cesc Fabregas and Andrei Arshavin and in attack from the in form Robin Van Persie. Tottenham however will be hoping Keane and Crouch can cause the wobbly Arsenal backline plenty of problems and with a young keeper between the sticks, Tottenham will surely be hoping to test Vito Mannone’s mettle early on.

Often games are built up to be classics beforehand and then turn out to be a damp squib. However this game looks certain to be one of the best of the season. Both sides committed to attack and in need of a victory to keep themselves right in with Manchester United and Chelsea at the top of the table, both sides having defensive frailties, question marks over their keeper and yet an attacking ability that at times has been unparallelled in the Premier League.

It looks like being a cracker alright. Tune in tomorrow, you’d be a fool to miss it.

Prediction : Arsenal to edge it 3-2.

What do you think?

Image Courtesy of ***Steve 250689*** at Flickr.com

Readers Rating: