Only one Gunner in my North London all-stars ..and he’s leaving soon
MAURICIO POCHETTINO still needs a major trophy, and a world-class signing, to announce Tottenham’s rise from pretenders to one of English football’s heavyweights.
But if Spurs win their derby with Arsenal at the Emirates – for me, they are favourites – it will confirm the balance of power has shifted in North London.
When I was playing, it wasn’t even close. Arsenal were the team to beat when you turned off the North Circular.
They had the best team, the best players, the best manager, the bigger stadium, played in the Champions League every year and attracted world-class talent, from Dennis Bergkamp to Thierry Henry.
In the case of Sol Campbell, they even nicked their neighbours’ best player.
But on Pochettino’s watch, the pendulum has swung towards Tottenham. North London used to be red, but now it’s lilywhite.
It’s Spurs who are challenging for the title every year. It’s Spurs who are beginning to make headway in the Champions League instead of chasing former glory on Thursday nights. It’s Spurs who have the best players and the best manager.
When their new ground at White Hart Lane is finished, they will have the bigger stadium too.
Yes, Pochettino has yet to deliver a trophy. And Tottenham should have won the title two seasons ago, when all the big clubs were in “transition” and Leicester pulled off their 5,000-1 miracle.
But the way they are playing, surely it’s only a matter of time before Spurs lift one of the pots which marks them out as serious players – both in the Premier League and in Europe.
Of course, it’s essential they don’t make the same mistake as Arsenal and sell their best players. Where the Gunners sold Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas, Tottenham must keep Harry Kane and Dele Alli.
And sooner or later, Pochettino needs to sign a player with the wow factor – and raise the wages ceiling – to prove they can compete with the Manchester clubs, Liverpool and Chelsea for the biggest stars.
Whether that means bringing Gareth Bale back from Real Madrid, or a marquee signing along the lines of Didier Drogba joining Chelsea in 2004, that shiny new stadium needs trophies in the cabinet and elite players on the pitch. Until now, Tottenham have never really convinced me that they can win the title – they have nearly all the ingredients. They should go to the Emirates today with the mentality of favourites – expecting to win, and feeling disappointed if they don’t.
Put it this way, how many Arsenal players now would get in Tottenham’s best XI? I can make a serious case for only one – Alexis Sanchez – and it looks like he will be off in 2018. Would you take Petr Cech over Hugo Lloris now? The captain of France gets my vote.
Would you take Hector Bellerin and Sead Kolasinac over Kieran Trippier and Danny Rose as full-backs or wing-backs? Not for me.
Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen? They were the best central defensive pairing in the country last season.
Are any of Arsenal’s holding midfielders better than Victor Wanyama, Eric Dier or Mousa Dembele? Sorry, but no.
I like Alexandre Lacazette, but it’s hard to put him above Harry Kane on current form.
Although Jack Wilshere could play at No.10 behind Kane for England, he’s not even starting for Arsenal every week, so my combined front three in a 4-2-3-1 formation would be Christian Eriksen, Alli and Sanchez... and what a front three they would make.
Injuries aside, my current Tottenham/arsenal combined XI would read: Lloris; Trippier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose; Dier, Dembele; Eriksen, Alli, Sanchez; Kane.
Just one Arsenal player. Who would have thought that when Pochettino landed in North London three years ago?
And I would pick Pochettino ahead of Arsene Wenger as the manager likeliest to win the title now.
Wenger is an all-time great, but his best days appear to be history.
Pochettino still has to take those final steps to greatness – winning trophies and sustaining success.
But Spurs have won only two of their last 35 games at Arsenal in all competitions, and I would be surprised if they didn’t make another dent in the Gunners’ fine home record in the North London derby this time.