Your rival makes you stronger.
By being bigger and much more successful, Arsenal have given Spurs something to struggle against.
Just as Liverpool motivate Everton, Arsenal motivate Spurs.
Yes, it has taken a long time. A very long time. Because the last time Tottenham Hotspur were champions was 1961.
In 1971, Arsenal won the title at White Hart Lane.
Under Wenger they won the title at White Hart Lane again,
But now Mauricio Pochettinto has guided Spurs to 2nd in the league table.
I’m expecting the Arsenal implosion to continue with a fourth consecutive defeat.
Not saying that to be mean, it’s just how I see this game. I hope it’s a long battle lasting 95 minutes with 22 players on the pitch for the whole game.
But I’m convinced this will be a short game.
First 5 or 10 minutes, Spurs will fire a corner to the near post, Dele Alli or Toby Alderweireld will bang a header into the net – and Arsenal will collapse and get pulverised.
( ANR is just an honest spontaneous blog that covers football and random other stuff that appears on my radar and yours.
If I don’t write what I think, I’m wasting your time and my own.)
Realistically, Arsenal can’t beat Spurs with Ospina in goal and Gabriel at centreback.
Spurs didn’t play well at West Ham and lost 1-0 and Pochettino said: “We got beat.”
He admitted his team were nowhere near their best and that West Ham were superior in the first half. I watched the whole of that game live.
When I heard that Dele Alli was doubtful with an ankle injury, I hoped he wouldn’t play because the Hammers have about six very hard tacklers who could put him out of the next 10 games.
Dele didn’t start but he came on and made a big difference. But not big enough because West Ham won 1-0 after Spurs missed a couple of good chances.
Pochettino thinks the mask is affecting Harry Kane.
Danny Welbeck is a big game player and starts: definitely the right call by King Arsene.
Giroud and Walcott are on the bench.
This battle comes far too soon for Elneny. He isn’t ready.