The importance of a North London derby in itself is without question. In recent seasons they’ve taken on extra significance due to our battle with that lot for the top four. They’ve actually had something to play for.
Today is similar. There are just 6 points between us, although we do have a game in hand, but after yesterday’s results we’ve got a chance to push back towards the top of the table and involve ourselves well and truly in the title race. Chelsea lost 1-0 to Villa, which means that if we win our two games in hand, and the one at Stamford Bridge, we’d go above them.
It’s a situation made even more complicated by the fact we’ve got to play Man City too, who also have games in hand, but Chelsea had the chance to put real distance between them and the rest and failed to take it.
So there’s an added edge to today’s game. It’s not just about beating Sp*rs, it’s not just about so-called bragging rights, widening the gap between us and them or making sure we remained safely in the top four positions. It’s about putting ourselves in a position where we can continue to challenge for the title over the closing weeks of the season.
With the injuries and absences I still think we’re a long way from being favourites to win the league this season, but if you’re in there you just never know what can happen. It’s why today’s game has significance beyond the parochial scope of a derby. Speaking before yesterday’s results were known, Arsene said:
This game is always different for me, yes, but I must say as well that this derby is especially important for our Premier League position. And that has an even bigger meaning for me. We have worked so hard that now we want to transform that into a super successful season. We are in a strong position so, beyond even the derby, is the importance of this game in the Premier League for us.
So before a ball has been kicked the players know what it means in terms of our season. Yesterday’s results should hammer that home and we have to respond. We can take confidence from a decent draw in Munich and a 4-1 win over Everton last weekend. We might not have all the momentum we want but we’re not going into this one from a standing start.
In terms of the team there are a couple of interesting decisions for the manager to make. It strikes me that the Flamini – Arteta axis could be useful today. The Frenchman doesn’t need any reminder of what this game is about (remember his crunching re-introduction to the derby back in September?) but the aggression we need away from home, especially against this opponent could be absolutely crucial.
But there’s also a case to be made for playing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the centre of midfield where he provides a drive and positivity that opponents find difficult to cope with too. However, I think he might well slot in on the right hand with Cazorla as the ‘number 10’ at the tip of the midfield triangle. It might mean a place on the bench for Tomas Rosicky which would give the manager some pause for thought – he gives us something no other player does, but is that worth starting with or keeping in reserve in case we need to change the momentum of the game?
Provided he’s not knackered from playing 90 minutes in Munich you have to think Lukas Podolski did enough on Tuesday night to secure a place on the left. He got us a goal, more or less out of nothing, and in tight games – like today’s will surely be – then that can often be the difference.
We have Nacho Monreal back and as a specialist in that position should come in at left full. He’ll be keen to make his trip to WHL a more successful one than last season when Arsenal hit a kind of defensive rock bottom. Thankfully things have been better since then and if we can avoid mistakes today I think there’s still enough firepower in this team to get the right result.
The fact that we have an FA Cup semi-final next month has to be put to one side. There can be no case of using it as a kind of fail-safe for our season, especially when you look at how the table looks and what good results in our next three games would do to our league position. It’s incredibly tough, no doubt about it, but nothing good ever came easy.
The players have a chance to win this title, simple as that. Today is a chance to show that we’re serious about taking that chance. That it comes against that lot, well, that just adds some extra spice to proceedings, but whether it was Liverpool or Everton or Chelsea or Norwich, what we have to do doesn’t change.
If we can go to Munich and take a draw against the best team in Europe then we should be able to go to White Hart Lane and go one better against the best team in Tottenham.
Come on you reds.
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Time for some breakfast, some dog walking, and the anxious wait before kick-off which will hopefully see Liverpool and United kick each other in the face, repeatedly.
Until later.
