From Martin :
Morning Myles,
Seems a stupid headline, as Arsenal vs Spurs is always a big game but it’s quite pivotal for so early in season.
Win for Arsenal and they go on with confidence and the doubts at Spurs increases.
But a Spurs win and they are level on points, unbeaten and the doubts will surface at Arsenal as bubble is burst.
Spurs had Arsenal in similar position at White Hart Lane last season, on front foot going in, the team in form against an Arsenal in poor form and some injuries and they let Arsenal off that day and it was the springboard to Spurs finishing 3rd in a two horse race!
Arsenal should be in the mindset to really take it to Spurs but most of all be clinical with finishing as if leave Spurs in the game the confidence will increase.
Arsenal are not really missing any players, the rotation now is pretty much like for like with exception of the two elite individuals in the squad.
Think Welbeck is the only long term absentee now.
Its a decent and solid squad and the only two questions are, do they have the strength of mentality to truly go for title and is there enough goals in the team? There needs to be a 3rd contributor over Sanchez and Giroud.
Still too early to say with certainty but think it’s narrowing to any team from 4 and not six as think Spurs and United may drift?
Spurs will tell us a lot about them this weekend.
Man United look like a team of misfits and without the unity that Mourinho so desperately needs to create his them against us culture.
He had the English core at Chelsea that readily bought into an ideal (much like Wenger benefited from on his arrival) and with some strong characters like Drogba and Cech it was a great combination.
He fostered a decent them against us at Inter, as it was a team written off,
But he does not have those individuals now. They really do not seem to identify with him, or his games, distancing themselves even, and i can see it ending with Mourinho walking.
Will comment on post you made this week, where imagine some younger readers could not understand you writing about Arsenal but spending many games at Spurs watching and writing.
In 70’s we went to whatever London game was in town, or chose the best one, rolled up on the day, and we often went to each other teams (friends at this time were Spurs, Chelsea, Arsenal and West Ham, always made for a combative kick about under street lights)
So it was just part of the culture to go watch other teams play and maybe that is why have a more rounded view of football. Now it’s a military exercise planned weeks in advance to get a ticket and next generation will not be there to fill stadiums (another subject, too long for here)
Really looking forward to Sunday game, and intrigued by how each team will play, as it really could go any way.
Myles says :
Yes, it’s been a hard-fought derby for decades but I can’t see it being close on Sunday.
I’m not thinking that a Spurs win would put them level on points.
A reader today claimed that my predictions are always wrong. (My bookmaker would disagree somewhat).
Wenger’s newly consistent side, with Koscielny a giant in defence, should beat Spurs comfortably.
Arsenal have rarely been more superior to Tottenham than they are at this moment.
Anyone who says different did not see the Leverkusen disaster.
I will be gobsmacked if Spurs get any kind of draw.
Like you I had QPR friends in the Seventies, West Ham friends, and so on, and we used to go to the best games and have a lot of fun.
When I became a football journalist in ’82, I went to Wembley a lot as well, and spent a helluva lot of time with managers and saw football from another point of view.
On Sunday I reckon Spurs will graft hard, run their lungs out, and aim for a draw.
Pochettino could build on that.
Mark Clattenburg won’t let Spurs kick lumps out of Arsenal. He’s refereed more derbies than you’ve had hot dinners.
A real title challenge by Arsenal? I’ve said I’ll comment on that after 20 games. Considering how tight it is at the top, with three teams on 20 points after 10 games, that was a sensible procrastination.
However, in the uniquely favourable circumstances that pertain to Arsenal’s home game tomorrow, I will say that if Arsenal can’t beat Spurs now they won’t finish above Chelsea.