IT WILL BE INTERESTING to see if Spurs are any good.
Martin Jol is a more conventional coach than Arsene Wenger and his team plays some nice stuff. But his midfield lacks power and his strikers are unprolific except for Keane.
Mido is one-dimensional and the gifted Defoe is an electric finisher who has not been playing well recently.
Michael Dawson and Philippe Senderos are two young centrebacks.
Dawson is rugged and raw and impulsive.
Senderos is a leader who wants too much time on the ball.
Both do risky things, but different risky things.
Dawson sometimes goes for balls he cannot get, while Senderos sometimes takes chances in possession and loses it.
WHO WILL WIN?
How can I predict who will win if I don’t know the teams?
A manager who rested seven at Portsmouth might rest three or four today. Somewhere during 2005 I went past the point where I was prepared to guess which players Arsene might use in a game.
HOW WILL MARTIN JOL see this game?
As an opportunity to impress his boss Daniel Levy.This is a huge game for chairman Levy and he will be very nervous indeed.
Late last night I had an email saying Jenas had broken his leg in training, subject to confirmation.Today’s Sun says it may be a stress fracture.The lad’s had a scan and he certainly won’t be playing today.
Another Gooner reckons Arsene is still interested in Carrick, but I do not believe that.Carrick isn’t good enough to play for Arsenal.
BASICALLY, THIS ARSENAL-SPURS derby has a bigger match hanging over it. Next Tuesday night in Villarreal overshadows this Saturday lunchtime joust.
This match has been made smaller by a Champions League second leg which comes three days later.So it will not be a classic.
ADEBAYOR must improve on his last outing.
He will have chances.If he really wants to play in the Champions League for Arsenal, this is his moment. At 22, he is still a novice. If he makes it in this game, he might make it long-term.
So Tottenham now provide a tremendous challenge for Adebayor. He can play flat out today, compete at 100%. Since he is ineligible it does not matter if he gets a knock.
Summary : Robbie Keane can score and Adebayor can score.Robbie Keane can win the game and Adebayor can win the game or lose the game.
Both strikers want to play in the Champions League next season.
Spurs need to draw, Arsenal need to win. So Spurs will play for a draw and Arsenal will play to win 1-0.
It could be a dull 90 minutes, but at least I’ll be home in time for the Chelsea-Liverpool FA Cup scrap at Old Trafford.
Rafa Benitez has been winding up Chelsea. He has said : We would be champioins if I had Abramovich’s billions.And Mourinho has said : I don’t even want Steven Gerrard, so there !
So that game is boiling up nicely.