It’s the big one for supporters of Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur this weekend and everyone is going to have their say ahead of kick-off about what’s going to happen in the North London Derby
It is to be expected of course, coming from a former Arsenal player, but Paul Merson’s take on this weekend’s North London Derby borders on the ridiculous. In fact, I laughed out loud when I read it.
Tottenham have a horrendous record at the Emirates Stadium, that is for sure and expecting Spurs to go and win there, given the history, would be optimistic. And optimism does not always come easy for Spurs fans.
But suggesting the Lilywhites will be “blown away” by Arsenal does seem a bit much, even by Merson’s standards. Let’s not forget, of course, this is the man who said that Tottenham would be a “bottom half team” if Harry Kane left.
Merson said before the season started: “You’re talking about a team who might, might, get in the top four if he stays, then a team who doesn’t get in the top half if he leaves. They’re 100% a bottom half team if he leaves.”
Now the season is in its very early stages of course and it would not do for Spurs fans to get carried away by a fine start from Ange Postecoglou’s side. Four wins from the first five games, an unbeaten start, 13 goals scored and things are looking rosy and so far making Merson eat his words.
Now, looking to Sunday, Spurs supporters will be hoping the Gunners legend will be eating more of his words. Merson said of the North London Derby this weekend: “Sunday is all about how Tottenham approach it and I don’t know if Ange Postecoglou will change his game. Speaking to Celtic fans, he won’t – he plays the same football everywhere he has gone.
“If he doesn’t, it will open the game up. And if you go toe-to-toe against Arsenal, there’s only one winner. Because of the way they pass the ball and move between the lines, I don’t know if Spurs could live with Arsenal. They will get blown away.”
Blown away? A side that has started the season in such good form and that has not really been “blown away” at the Emirates Stadium since 2012. Yes there have been defeats since then, many of them in fact, but Spurs have never really been blown away in games. And there have been games there when they have gone “toe-to-toe” with Arsenal.
It is true, of course, that Arsenal will prefer to come up against a side that will attack them. that is sure to leave gaps for a very strong Gunners side to exploit. But Spurs, as they have shown already under Postecoglou, have the players to hurt the home team, and will feel they can hurt the Gunners too.
It could be something of a basketball match. You attack, we attack sort of thing and it could come down to who puts their chances away. In that regard, if Spurs have an off-day in front of goal and Arsenal are clinical, I suppose you could say they would be “blown away” but I just can’t see it.
Merson also made another comment that made me laugh. “Everybody is going mad about Tottenham, but they’ve only really played Manchester United at home so far this season.” As have Arsenal.
“One team has been doing it for the last year and a half, while this Spurs one is just getting it together,” he said. A year and a half? Does five games constitute half a year? If so, Spurs have been doing it for half a year, yet only played Manchester United…
