THE BIG MATCH ARSENAL V TOTTENHAM
SUNDAY, 4.30PM, SKY SPORTS
THE north London derby is a peculiarly tribal affair but the Spanish capital, and Real Madrid in particular, could have a significant influence on the outcome this Sunday. Tottenham may not have won at the home of their north London rivals in the league since Younes Kaboul’s late goal secured a 3-2 victory a decade ago but, given their defensive frailties, Arsenal must have some trepidation as Gareth Bale again shows why he became the world’s most expensive player on leaving Tottenham for the Bernabeu almost eight years ago.
His manager Jose Mourinho admits it has taken time for the 31-year-old Wales international to find his fitness and feet in the capital since returning on loan earlier in the season.
‘This Gareth is an extra for us,’ said the former Los Blancos manager. ‘This Gareth didn’t start the season. This Gareth is playing this way for a couple of months and of course the quality is amazing.’
Harry Kane grabbed the man-of-the-match award in last weekend’s crushing 4-1 win over Crystal Palace by scoring two and assisting both of Bale’s goals but that cannot dim the added potency the Welshman offers Tottenham.
He may rarely last longer than 70 minutes but, before last night’s Europa League tie, his last six goals had come at a rate of one every 53 minutes.
The man who arrived from Madrid alongside Bale, left-back Sergio Reguilon, does not attract the same headlines but the 24-year-old’s performances have emphasised why the La Liga giants included a buyback clause into his £27.5million deal.
Martin Odegaard, signed by Madrid as a 16-yearold wonderkid, is another who found his opportunities at the Bernebeu limited.
Arsenal are the attacking midfielder’s fifth loan destination and while debate over whether the homegrown Emile Smith Rowe is the better option has been put on hold by an injury to the ‘Croydon de Bruyne’, the strong trust Mikel Arteta already seems to place in Odegaard suggests the ‘Norwegian Messi’ may yet make the move permanent.
With another Real loanee, fellow midfielder Dani Ceballos, and Thomas Partey, signed last summer from Atletico Madrid, also set to feature for the hosts, the Madrilenian imports could have a huge say in north
London bragging rights.
IN THE week Kylian Mbappe led PSG into the Champions League quarter-finals, how ironic that the France superstar makes his paymasters so nervous off the pitch.
Mbappe scored as PSG drew 1-1 with Barcelona to claim a 5-2 aggregate win on Wednesday night.
The 22-year-old has moved a step closer to realising his dream of lifting the European Cup for the first time in PSG history. Yet there are increasing fears that, Champions League triumph or not, this may be Mbappe’s last season in the French capital.
The World Cup winner’s contract is up in 2022, so it is time to extend or say adieu.
For PSG, there are only two possibilities – either Mbappe pens a new deal sooner rather than later, or they sell him for a record-breaking fee and begin the rebuild this summer.
The hitch is Mbappe is in no hurry and holds virtually all the cards.The striker may wait to see if PSG clinch the Champions League before deciding his future.
Some say he wants further reassurances about the calibre of the side PSG plan to construct around him before pledging the next four or five years of his career to the club.
There are even whispers Mbappe may delay his decision until he is in the final year of his existing contract.
That raises the financially disastrous scenario – for PSG, that is – of Mbappe walking away on a free next summer. The club would be powerless to stop it happening.
Little wonder Leonardo’s getting impatient. ‘We’re arriving at the moment where it’s time to take a position, and make a decision,’ said
PSG’s sporting director last month. Leonardo has led the in-house charm offensive designed to persuade Mbappe to re-sign, to no avail so far.
Yet there is one card the former Brazil international holds, and it is the potential ace in the pack. Who in European football can match the package PSG will offer?
Real Madrid – where it was once assumed Mbappe would end up – are no longer the financial force they were. The same applies to debt-ridden La Liga rivals Barcelona.
Liverpool must secure their own Champions League spot before being taken seriously.
Manchester City? Definitely. Manchester United and Chelsea? Maybe. And that’s it.
Mbappe’s so good he might have priced himself out of the market.
If he is using PSG as a stalking horse to sound out alternatives, what he hears may disappoint him.
If Leonardo maintains his best poker face, he might find the player folds.
The true drama at PSG will be on the pitch in the months ahead. But this fascinating, off-pitch sub-plot will continue to draw crowds.
‘The World Cup winner’s contract is up in 2022 so it’s time to extend or say adieu’