Spurs – Arsenal

September 13, 2007 | 79 Comments

Well , this is the last game I’ll miss this season hopefully as I’m back to India next week where there is coverage :) . Anyway its a north London derby and form will count for absolutely nothing in this one.

Here is what I think:

Lehmann is “injured” again so Almunia’s big chance is this…a BIG game.

Central defense is going to be tested big time and Spurs would have seen it but on a one off hopefully if no other option Song can do a job…though even “a glass half-full” kind of guy like myself gets nervous when I see Song at CB. Still, I think Arsene Wenger will be forced to throw Gallas in for sure because Gilberto will be way too tired and jet lagged. If Sagna is also fit that will make me feel much better even if its Song at CB because the right back from what I read ( I told you I’m missing games :( ) is good in the air as well. Clichy will eat Lennon up specially as he has had little match practice of late.

Mozart , Cesc and Hleb have to play and if all three are fully fit they can run rings around that Spurs midfield for sure. If Sagna is not fit then Flamini will play right back and Diaby or Denilson will come into the centre…mostly Denilson. Can’t see Diarra starting this one; maybe as a 10 minute sub at the end at most.

RVP will play but he’s bound to be tired . He’s played almost every game this season – 90 minutes but he does score in big games for sure so I’d play him an sub him instead of Big Ade for Dudu who is in hot hot scoring form. But I’d go with Van Persie and Ade – who loves scoring against Spurs – up front.

The first goal is critical , if we score first we WILL win this one. If they score it might get tricky but I think we will have enough in the tank to pull off a draw at least if we do not give them a 2 goal cushion at any stage.

Now for Spurs:
Gareth Bale has had an instant impact and Theo might well find himself pitted against him at some stage. Michael Dawson is a threat in the air and I guess will partner Rocha in the heart of defense with Chimbonda down the right. I’ll never forget that Roch goof up when he tried to head a ball ankle high in the CC and Ali scored in extra time. To be fair he’d just joined though. Malbranque, Jenas, Huddlestone and Lennon do not scare me too much to be frank but then as I said ITS A DERBY and every single one of them could step up. Berbatov is high quality but what little I’ve seen this time , his attitude on pitch has been woeful though he has had a few brilliant moments..much like what Titi used to have at times. I guess Robbie Keane will start by his side though Jol might well drop Jenas and play Bent in a 4-3-3 to try and exploit our patched up defence. I think they’ll score 1 or maybe even two but our forward and newly scoring midfield should just be a bit too much for them to handle. If we can keep them down to 1 goal we will put 2 or 3 past them…else it will be tough. Is Ledley King ever going to get fit?? If he is fit…he is a threat as well in the air and a good CB with pace.

Anyway thats about as deep as I go in this thread…long time since I did so much tactical analysis. Cant wait for Saturday even though I am going to miss the game again :(

Spurs 1 – Arsenal 2

Posted by live_dont_exist | Filed Under Game Preview