What: English Premier League
Who: Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal
When: Sunday 3rd March, 2013, at 16:00 UK Time
Where: White Hart Lane, London, England
Gareth Bale Emulating Robin van Persie Heroics
Given the way in which Arsenal ultimately beat their North London rivals to third place and Champions League football last season, powered by the goals of Robin van Persie, it would be more than a little ironic if Gareth Bale performed the same trick for Tottenham this season.
Unbeaten in eleven games in the Premier League, it is also ten games since Tottenham won a match in which Bale did not score. Therefore much attention is understandably focused on their brilliant Welsh winger, who is staking a strong claim to be the league’s best player. Comparisons with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been made, and whilst they are almost certainly premature, there is a valid parallel to be drawn with those players. Messi and Ronaldo have made the remarkable seem unremarkable, given how consistently they produce breathtaking displays, and Bale’s goalscoring form and ability to win games with stunning strikes is starting to make what is usually considered extraordinary, rather normal.
Bale’s form has invited the accusation that Spurs are a one-man team and as so often when such claims are made, it is unfair on Andre Villas-Boas’ side. The Portuguese has worked tirelessly and intelligently crafting a team which play in a more compact and controlled manner than the side under Harry Redknapp last year. But now comes the big test. Tottenham went on a superb run of form in the middle of last season and looked favourites to qualify for the Champions League, just as they do this season. And no one at Tottenham will need reminding that it was a game with Arsenal at the same time last season which saw their campaign unravel.
Another Major Test For Arsene Wenger
No team in the Premier League seem to face as many ‘defining’ matches as Arsenal. This North London derby is likely to be billed as a must win for the Gunners and speculation will mount that should they fall to defeat, then that could turn yet more fans on beleaguered manager Arsene Wenger.
Arsenal have struggled so far this month, having exited the FA Cup and all but said goodbye to the Champions League for another season. But they are on a run of three successive wins in the Premier League and to some extent, they are to the race for a top four finish what Wigan Athletic are to the relegation battle. But whilst Wenger has always found a way to finish there so far, this season poses undoubtedly his biggest test yet. Tottenham are not the naïve force they were last year and are now the side with the individual superstar who can make a difference. And Chelsea usually hire and fire their way to success somehow, so Arsenal have a real battle on their hands.
Whatever the result, this is only three points and even with defeat Arsenal would still very much be in the top four picture. This game however will be more important for setting the mood within the Gunners camp going into the final three months of the season. Superiority over Tottenham has been a perpetual feature of Wenger’s reign and one consolation during recent years for the Gunners' following. A defeat would make finishing below them for the first time under Wenger a very real possibility however, underlining the importance of this particular fixture. Victory will prove galvanising, a draw reassuring, but a defeat demoralising and potentially a decisive blow from which they could struggle to recover. No pressure for Wenger then.
Recent form
Tottenham Hotspur:
Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Lyon (14/02; Europa League)
Lyon 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur (21/02; Europa League)
West Ham 2-3 Tottenham Hotspur (25/02; Premier League)
Arsenal:
Arsenal 0-1 Blackburn Rovers (16/02; FA Cup)
Arsenal 1-3 Bayern Munich (19/02; Champions League)
Arsenal 2–1 Aston Villa (23/02; Premier League)
Key absences
Tottenham Hotspur: Sandro; Jermain Defoe; Younes Kaboul; Clint Dempsey; Tom Huddlestone
Arsenal: Abou Diaby (doubt); Bacary Sagna; Kieran Gibbs
Players to watch
Tottenham Hotspur – Gareth Bale: Who else could it possibly be but Bale? So much has been said about the brilliant winger of late that little of it needs repeating here. Arsenal’s defensive problems could be exploited by Bale, who is so deadly when attacking space and has scored more goals against the Gunners than any other Premier League side. Given the way Aston Villa’s Andreas Weimann ran unopposed for half the pitch to score against Arsenal last week, Wenger’s side may be in trouble if they defend the same way against the former Southampton man. In Europe, only Messi has scored as many league goals from outside the penalty area this season.
Arsenal – Olivier Giroud: Giroud has shown himself to be a capable centre forward since arriving at the Emirates Stadium in the summer. He could have an important role to play here. Arsenal usually enjoy plenty of possession, but Giroud wasted chances against Aston Villa last week and will be looking to get his name back on the scoresheet. Michael Dawson has added solidity to Tottenham’s defence and been crucial in the development of that solid spine Spurs are built on. But Giroud offers a very different test from him than most forwards, a combination of imposing physical strength and height, and excellent technique and movement. Giroud has a tendency in possession to try the difficult option, but if he can keep it simple at White Hart Lane he will be the key to a potential away win.
Match Prediction
The 164th North London derby could well be dominated by the clash between two outstanding former Southampton starlets: Gareth Bale on one side and Theo Walcott on the other. Arsenal come into this game near full strength and although the loss of first choice full-backs would hamper most teams, many Gunners fans would argue that Nacho Monreal and Carl Jenkinson offer a slight upgrade on Kieran Gibbs and Bacary Sagna. For Spurs, such has been the virtuoso brilliance of Bale that is has almost been forgotten that they are still missing Jermain Defoe, Sandro and Younes Kaboul. And this game will be a severe test, the only top six opponents Tottenham have faced in the last three months, aside from Manchester United. The flip side of that is that Tottenham’s performances against Manchester United this season indicate that they are more than capable of stepping up to take on the Premier League’s top teams.
Arsenal have come from behind to win 5-2 in the last two North London derbies and there have been at least 2.5 goals in twelve of the last 13 editions of this fixture; so expect goals. Arsenal’s strength in attack would normally give them an advantage, were it not for Gareth Bale’s form. And with both sides looking equally threatening going forward, this game is likely to be won elsewhere on the pitch. In midfield Arsenal should have an edge over Tottenham, though the big question is always how effective Wenger’s side can be with the ball and whether they can turn possession into chances and goals.
The problem they will encounter is that Tottenham have a significant advantage defensively, having conceded fewer efforts against them this season than any team in the Premier League. That solidity, in addition to the experience gained from last year, could be critical against an inconsistent Arsenal team. These two teams have scored the joint most goals in the league this season on the break, so expect the home team’s superior defensive strength to prove decisive. Tottenham 3-1 Arsenal.
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