It’s been a long time since a North London derby has been so important. Of course it is always a massive game but this one has both teams playing with the same objective – 4th place in the Premiership. When we won the league at Wh*te H*rt L*ane all they wanted to do was to stop us winning the league, they didn’t have anything to play for themselves. This time they sit 4 points above us having played a game more and it’s a game we have to win if we want to finish in the last Champions League place.
Thierry Henry has said it is going to be ‘war’ and acknowledges the game is one of the most important of any season but has special significance this time around, saying “This time, the match will be even more important. Fourth place and qualification for next season’s Champions League are at stake. We must win.”
Arsene Wenger says “Saturday is our biggest game of the season in the Premiership. If you beat Tottenham on Saturday, you are in a very strong position. You can even afford a draw in one of the three remaining games.”
Not only do we have the motivation to finish 4th, we’re playing our oldest, most traditional rivals and it is the last time we’ll ever play them at Highbury so like on Wednesday night we want the last ever derby to finish with us taking the three points. Another 1-0 would do me, it’s a traditional result. I know we have a Champions League semi-final 2nd leg on Tuesday but that has to be put out of everyone’s mind and the focus has to be 100% on beating Sp*rs who will want the three points for exactly the same reasons as us.
What more can I say? We all know how important this game is. A win gives us the confidence and boost of energy that we need going to Spain. If we don’t get the win it makes it almost impossible for us to finish 4th, unless they collapse, and it puts even more pressure on the Villarreal game. All I can say is that I hope the bad luck we’ve had at points earlier in the season (Drogba’s misfick, van Persie’s goal v Chelsea etc) is behind us and they do say these things even themselves out over the season so if we win by a fluke today nobody on our side will be complaining. What I do hope is that the players, especially the new recruits, are made aware of the significance of this game, not just because of the race for 4th place but because of who that race is against and because it’s the last game against them at Highbury. With people like Bouldy and Keown on the coaching staff and experienced hands like Henry, Ljungberg and Pires in the team I’m sure they know but it’s worth hoping out loud for.
Speaking of Pires, Arsene Wenger says he’s not concerned that the player has an offer from Villarreal while Bob himself is well aware of how vital the next few days are. He says “What’s for sure is that this is a very important week for Arsenal; the most important since I’ve been here. We’re going to fight right to the end to get that ticket to next season’s Champions League.”
He also goes on to talk about how he hasn’t made any decision on his future yet, how he believe Thierry is still to decide and that seeing how things have gone for Patrick Vieira this season might influence the decision he does make. Interesting. In other news Freddie Ljungberg says he’s enjoying the new responsibility of looking after young players – wouldn’t today be a good time for his first league goal of the season? – and Jens Lehmann reveals some of the motivation behind his ‘comeback’ after being dropped by Arsene Wenger.
Ok, that’s it. The last ever North London derby is just a few hours away. Stakes have never been higher. Come on you reds!
