MARTIN’S DERBY DAY HIGH POINTS
Emirates now held in High’ esteem
JANUARY 1986
Arsenal 0 Tottenham 0 (Division 1) “OBVIOUSLY the first time you play against Spurs is a highlight. I was in digs with a Tottenham fan at the time who kept on about Danny Blanchflower and told me Spurs were all about football and Arsenal were boring. It was an icy pitch but I couldn’t wait.”
APRIL 2004
Tottenham 2 Arsenal 2 (Prem League) “WINNING the league at White Hart Lane has to be up there, although I had to watch it from the bench. I was about to go on, but then Robbie Keane scored a late penalty so that put paid to that. We were told we could not celebrate — but that went out the window.”
MAY 1999
Tottenham 1 Arsenal 3 (Prem League) “DO YOU remember the game when Kanu just lifted the ball over his opponent to score? We were on a run towards back-to-back doubles so Spurs were desperate to win, but thanks to that magic late in the game it was a comfortable win.”
November 2001
Tottenham 1 Arsenal 1 (Prem League) “SOMETHING always seems to happen, not least when Sol Campbell went back to Tottenham for the first time. I remember the reception from the Spurs fans but that was the day we really came together to support Sol.” derby win finally to make it home sweet home.
“Spurs players will walk out into a very different Emirates this time around,” he said.
Unity
“The atmosphere, the unity — I have not seen anything like it for a number of years.
“Probably I have never seen it in that stadium. It is now Arsenal’s proper home — maybe it did not feel like that before.
“And if they can beat Spurs, it will make it feel even more like home. Really cement it as home.
“Arsenal fans know they have a team that they know can compete. That is why they have been so vociferous.
“They are a developing team now, a great young side. They’ll know where they can exploit Tottenham. It is about Arsenal not losing the game.
“But the character is getting better, the quality is getting better and all that together is vital.
“We had that in abundance at Highbury — the crowd could win us games. And there is an energy now about the club again.”
The building process on the pitch has taken just as long, as laying the same solid backfour foundation that Arsenal enjoyed at Highbury proving particularly problematic.
Crop
Coincidentally, Keown — the “fifth Beatle” in Arsenal’s legendary Dixon-AdamsBould-Winterburn back-four, feels the current crop are worthy of being mentioned in the same sort of breath.
This time, 21-year-old centre-back William Saliba seems to have been the missing piece.
“Of course you want senior players around, but he seems a very measured, very calm individual,” said Keown. “Arsenal have got themselves an outstanding player here.
“There are times when you have to have young players together starting out, but why can’t Saliba be the leader?
“He and Gabriel are a partnership that is going to be there for a number of years. Ben White has been shunted out to wide right, but he has responded well. And at times it can be a back three. I’m a big fan of Kieren Tierney — I can see a captain in him.”
Keown’s only fear is the three-pronged Tottenham wrecking ball that will be reporting for duty tomorrow.
“Arsenal have to be secure,” he said. “They want to keep clean sheets. And Tottenham is the ultimate challenge — when you think about their three front players.
“This a game where they can cement their reputation as a growing back-four.”
Meanwhile, Emile Smith Rowe’s slim World Cup hopes have been ended after he went under the knife to repair his damaged groin.