So, up next, the North London derby Sunday at White Hart Lane. The most honorable Arsenal travel down the road to duke it out with Tottenham’s lily-livered lily whites, new and improved with former Gunner Adebayor. Yes, everyone’s favorite Togolese traitorous mercenary who, when he’s not enjoying long walks with sharp spikes over former teammate’s faces and ankles, enjoys long runs to rub salt in the wounds of the away support.
And the sad fact is Adebayor will almost certainly score in the match tomorrow. First, he is still an amazingly fast and effective goalscorer when motivated, and vocal ex-supporters baying for his blood by name is nothing if not motivational. He’s in form having scored three goals in three games since arriving on loan from Manchester City. And most importantly, he’s playing against the Arsenal. Even David Bentley scores if it’s against his old club.
And then there is the little matter of the defense: Mertesacker stands alone as the one fit center half, with Alex Song filling in for Vermaelen/Koscielny/Djourou, while Frimpong/Coquelin fill in for him. When they’re not filling in for Wilshere/Diaby, of course. Space requirements prevent any semblance of a detailed list of recent defensive atrocities. Let’s just say it’s been bad. And that dastardly entity Own Goal refuses to stop billowing the back of the Arsenal net outward.
However, despite the fact that Tottenham go into this match with a very dangerous squad and all the talking heads tip them to win, this current Arsenal team can still win big matches, even in its beleaguered and injured state. It’s hard to be supremely confident, certainly. Arsenal on any given day can be great or they can be awful. Even within a given day, they can be both (Blackburn) and frequently are. But when Oxlade-Chamberlain or Walcott get into Speedy Gonzalez mode, or when Gervinho’s not dribbling the ball directly into another player, or when van Persie’s fit and firing, Arsenal are still capable of giant slaying, let alone competing with a fellow team who similarly sees 4th as the highest they can realistically go in the league.
Against Olympiakos, Arsenal finally got their passing game back, thanks to Arteta. Arteta now looks fully bedded into the system and to my mind, his poise and playmaking were excellent. Arsenal still managed to make the Greeks look better than they are, but holding on in an admittedly nervy second half showed some of the grit and tenacity that has often been found lacking in recent sides, even if the team should have killed it off far earlier.
Anyway, I believe Arsenal will win. (Don’t look at me like that.) Would I be shocked if they found some ingenious new way to implode, however? No. I’ve seen too many recent Carling Cup finals, Blackburn own goals and Newcastle 4-4s for that. Oh yeah, and a certain nightmare 4-4 with Tottenham in October 2008, conceding the last gasp final two in seemingly as many minutes, in the 89th minute and injury time.
The Arsenal defense is in tatters, but for all the goalfest against Liverpool, the Tottenham goal difference is at a decidedly “meh” 0, and in the “demolition” of Liverpool, the Merseyside outfit was down to 9 men. Admittedly, an Arsenal supporter walks on shaky ground talking about goal difference, but no one minds using it as a stick to beat Arsenal, so if it’s relevant on the one hand, it’s relevant on the other.
Tottenham have conceded 9 goals in 5 league games (granted, 8 of which came from both Manchesters, rather than just the one…). One can hardly adjudge Tottenham to have a rock-solid defense, especially with Gallas out. Experts deem Arsenal unlikely to leave the pitch with a clean sheet, but then I don’t expect Tottenham do so either. I expect more than a few goals this time around—it’s the derby way. I just hope the bigger number on the scoreboard ends up next to the name of the visitors.
Yes, Tottenham has displayed far more bite and consistency this season, and Van der Vaart, Bale, Modric and Adebayor may very possibly slice Arsenal’s “defense” to shreds. But I hardly think it’s a done deal. Van Persie, Gervinho, and even Walcott and Arshavin are more than capable of doing the same. Walcott and Gervinho face late fitness tests, and are both desperately needed, even if simply as impact subs (Walcott apparently the more likely of the two to pass fit). Benayoun may also re-enter the matrix, having returned to training after his muscular strain.
In an analysis of Szczęsny versus Friedel, there is no comparison. At the moment, Szczęsny could be considered the best ‘keeper in the Premier League. He could also be considered to be single-handedly manning all the defensive duties on the team. Without the incredible saves he’s pulled off in recent matches, Arsenal would have found themselves in even more dire straits. He gets more shot-stopping practice than his opposite numbers perhaps, but if the defense manages to finally pull it together, stand up and be counted—and derby day is when such things happen—the Red and Whites can definitely punish the lot with the cocks on their shirts.
So much rides on this game. A draw or a victory could see Arsenal’s confidence continue to grow, correct the team’s inconsistent take on consistency and secure much-needed points at the expense of rivals for 4th. A loss would strongly suggest the balance of power has indeed shifted in North London, and no one sane wants that to happen. One wishes Vermaelen and Wilshere could start, representing the team at its first-pick best, but going down that road, it would be great to still have Fàbregas and Nasri, and Bergkamp, Pires and Henry in their prime.
The Gunners we have are the Gunners who will or won’t carry it across the line. Here’s to an exciting match. May the Gunners come out victorious on their own merit, not by fluke but by proving their mettle against another very good team.
But if we have to win ugly or win lucky, I’m good with that…
I would expect the Arsenal lineup to look something like the following:
Szczęsny
Sagna – Mertesacker – Song – Gibbs
Arteta – Frimpong – Ramsey
Walcott – van Persie – Arshavin
Subs: (Santos, Benayoun, Coquelin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rosický/Gervinho, Jenkinson, Fabiański)
