Action continues this weekend in the English Premier League with embattled Arsenal hosting Tottenham Hotspur in a London derby at the Emirate Stadium. Arsenal and the Andre Villa Boas’ side are coming into this match on the back of disappointments last weekend. Arsenal drew 3-3 draw at Fulham while Tottenham suffered a 2-1 defeat to Manchester City. These results make this clash a dicey one. Thrills and possible drama are not ruled out also.
The last time the two sides met at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal came back from two goals down to an astonished 5-2 win.
Tottenham was in a dreamland to grab its first ever back to back victory over their arch rivals and neighbors, but the astonished five goals in a 27-minute-spell silenced Tottenham fans. Though that has gone down into history, there are lots of changes in both players and technical personnel in both clubs, but the fans will not forget that misfortune in a hurry.
Arsenal is without victory from their last five matches and the Arsene Wenger side’s confidence looks fragile in the face of these damaging defeats. To bounce back, there cannot be a better opportunity than now for Tottenham to knock off their rival completely.
Andre Villa Boas’ side also has not fared better over their arch-rivals since 1995 but can move four points clear by winning today’s North London derby. Speaking ahead of the match, Tottenham assistant manager, Steffen Freund turned the screw on Arsenal’s miserable start to the season by claiming Spurs will NEVER have a better chance than this to stick it to their bitter rivals.
The Gunners have won just four of their 11 league games this season and are struggling in eighth with 16 points, only three clear of the bottom half of the table going into this afternoon clash. “Definitely, Spurs are in a better position. We are really close to Arsenal. In my time, they [Arsenal] used to be involved in the title race every year and we finished ninth or tenth. That has changed now. We are really close to our biggest rival and I can’t wait for that game.”
With Arsenal having lost so many influential players over the past few years – including skipper Robin van Persie during the summer – Freund feels Tottenham can capitalise on that and make it a season to remember at White Hart Lane. “It would be great to finish above Arsenal. It would be a great experience for me too, because it has never happened for me in the past. That’s why it’s a special game.”