ARSENAL? IT’S JUST ANOTHER BIG GAME Toby cool after Chelsea & Inter wins
Neil Moxley
TOBY ALDERWEIRELD has slapped Arsenal into place, saying: This isn’t the biggest fixture of our season.
The classy Belgian defender acknowledged the importance of the north London derby, but believes Tottenham’s growth now sees them take on the big boys – week in, week out.
And after a week in which Mauricio Pochettino’s men have claimed back-to-back victories over Chelsea, and Inter Milan in the Champions League, the 29-year-old admits that Spurs’ season is stepping up a gear.
But Alderweireld refuses to accept that the Arsenal game is somehow circled in the club’s calendar as the special one.
He said: “It’s a very big game, but that goes for the game against Inter Milan and last Saturday against Chelsea.
Different
“It says something about the evolution of Spurs – it’s not the biggest game of our season but it is a very big one.
“We’re not taking anything for granted. Arsenal will be a totally different game to what we have just had.
“They will be different to last season. They are good at attacking and defensively they are more sorted than they were before. Yes, it’s another very big game.
“But it is just that. Like the two we have just played. We have shown we are capable of reaching a level. We believe can compete with anyone.”
It is now six straight wins on the spin for Pochettino’s side, whose season is hotting up despite a couple of early hiccups.
A tall order awaits in the Nou Camp against Barcelona if Spurs want to progress in the Champions League – but December is a hectic month with today’s showdown kicking off a run of 10 fixtures until the new year.
Alderweireld believes the club has now recovered df from th the h hangover following the World Cup – that they have learnt a few lessons and an upturn is on the cards.
He stopped short of claiming any crack at the title but said: “We, the players, are the most critical people about our own performances.
“We’re not using excuses. A lot has been said about the new stadium, a lot has been said about the pitch. I think we are doing very well – if things go well, I think we can improve.
“We know we can. We are calm and we know we have to do the same thi thing as th the l last t couple l of f years and d we know that brings us good results.
“It was a good result against an Inter team that is very smart. They can defend, they can play. We were solid. A couple of seasons ago we weren’t even putting ourselves in the position in the Champions League where it is in our hands.
“It will be tough. But it is up to us. I think the last two weeks are showing that we are taking steps in the right direction.
“Our energy and our mentality has been good. We don’t always have to t press. If we d don’t, n’t,’t we stay t compact.
“Like we did against nst Inter, we didn’t concede a lot of f chances that way, we didn’t concede cede a lot of chances against Chelsea sea either.
“A couple of weeks ks ago it was maybe different but there here are other things in the game like e strength and digging out results.
“Before, we have played layed well but not got the results. Now, ow, if we don’t play well, we have defended fended well.
“There’s a good fundamental about us and, whatever ever happens against Arsenal, that won’t change.”