IT’S ABOUT TIME SPURS STEPPED UP ON A BIG OCCASION
aS ever, there will be much talk of shifting power when arsenal face tottenham tomorrow. this has been a feature of their meetings for several years now.
tottenham in the ascendancy, arsenal in decline. It is understandable. arsenal are reduced to playing their european games on thursday night this season, while tottenham have already beaten real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund. Four points separate the clubs in the league, too.
Yet of the last 13 derbies, across all competitions, tottenham have won just three. Indeed, the last time tottenham won the away fixture, Cesc Fabregas was playing for arsenal — November 20, 2010. the time before that was the final game of the first Premier League season, May 11, 1993, a rearranged fixture five days before arsenal played the Fa Cup final. Starting in a much-weakened arsenal side that day: Mark Flatts and Pal Lydersen. they came 10th that year.
So, really, while arsenal may be perceived as the club who are struggling, the pressure is as much on tottenham now.
their record against elite teams away remains dismal; and they have played two of the top four this season, and lost both times.
On tuesday, Christian eriksen was exceptional as Denmark qualified for the World Cup at the expense of republic of Ireland. he scored a hat-trick under pressure conditions, each goal beautifully taken. Yet Martin O’Neill’s team are overachievers. Not one of those he picked or sent on in Dublin are involved in european football this season; and six of them play in the Championship. Of course eriksen was the best player on the field; but arsenal present a considerably greater challenge.
It is in these matches that eriksen, and tottenham, must now be judged. If the balance truly has shifted, then tottenham will win or at the very least draw at arsenal, as arsenal regularly did when tottenham paddled in their wake.
In arsene Wenger’s first 21 visits to White hart Lane, he lost five games, including a Carling Cup tie. that’s what power looks like. that’s the dominance tottenham need if they are to meaningfully seize it.