Over the last few weeks I’ve been picking out the biggest derby fixtures from around the Premier League and elsewhere for my soccerondish articles. This weekend two of London’s biggest clubs, and indeed historically London’s biggest clubs before Roman Abramovic started the Chelsea revolution, meet in what is always massive fixture. Needless to say, in footballing terms Spurs fans and Arsenal fans aren’t the best of friends and local bragging rights are important to both. Over the last few years (well a lot longer in all fairness) Arsenal have been the stronger team by quite a way but there is a feeling around White Hart Lane that all that could change this season.
Since the arrival of Harry Redknapp at Spurs they’ve improved dramatically and look real contenders for Champions League qualification this season. They disappointed last weekend with a 1-0 loss on home soil to Stoke, but in reality Spurs enjoyed the majority of the chances in that game and on any other day they would have comfortably beaten the Potters. Arsenal let a two goal lead slip against strugglers West Ham and boss Arsene Wenger will be eager to see his side get back to winning ways.
In the corresponding fixture last season the two north London rivals played out an enthralling 4-4 draw. The pick of the eight goals in that fixture was without a doubt Spurs’ midfielder David Bentley’s smasher from range (and when I say range, he was barely in the opposition’s half!). That goal has proved to be the highlight of Bentley’s Tottenham career so far and he has languished in the shadows a bit since Aaron Lennon made the right-wing his own. Bentley is a product of Arsenal’s youth academy but left as a youngster to join Blackburn Rovers before making a big money switch to Spurs. Lennon has picked up an ankle injury and will play no part against the Gunners, with Redknapp all but confirming Bentley will start on the right.
This is what the Spurs boss had to say: “There’s no doubt Bentley has balls – plenty of ‘em – and his performance during our 2-0 Carling Cup win on Tuesday night (against Everton) was worth its weight in gold.
“What Tottenham need now is more of the same from Bentley and I can’t think of a better place for him to do it than at one of his former clubs.
“It’s not been easy for David of late. There was his well-publicised brush with the law on a motoring offence and, by his own admission, he’s not been pushing Aaron Lennon hard enough for the right-wing position – until Tuesday night that is.
“A lot of people also have completely the wrong idea of what he is like to deal with. I can tell you he is a decent lad.
“Sure he’s a good-looking young man and has talent in shedloads but he is not the flash Herbert some try to make him out to be.
“Not so long ago, he was being tipped as David Beckham’s successor on the right wing for England but now young Lennon is in possession of that place.
“What my team will need at the Emirates is Bentley supplying plenty of those quality crosses to put the Arsenal defence under pressure.”
So can Bentley shine against his former employers? We’ll find out on Saturday and it will be a massive test for the visiting Spurs team to take all three points at the Emirates. Arsenal’s style of play is perhaps the most attractive in the world, with the possible exception of Barcelona, and they have look devastating at times this season.
In all honesty I doubt we’ll see another eight goal thriller between these two high-flying sides but I’m still expecting plenty of goals and a hard-fought occasion. Both sides have excellent attacking talent within their ranks but defences hat perhaps are quite easily breached on occasion so we should see a few goals. On paper this is the pick of the fixtures this weekend and it should be a game well worth tuning in for.
Written by Gareth Freeman, a sports writer promoting Irish racing betting picks, tips and advice for Betfair.
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