Derby Day Matters
9 comments November 19th, 2010
It’s kind of a pun, you see. Because there are Matters in hand, Matters which require discussion, most of which relate to tomorrow’s Derby Day. But of course, Derby Day also Matters. More than most. So this post is called ‘Derby Day Matters’.
After that excruciating start, let’s take a surprisingly painless look at the international break. Incredibly, it seems that we have ended the weak with at least as strong a squad as we started. With the news that Jack Wilshere and Andrey Arshavin have come through fitness tests, it’s arguably stronger: Robin van Persie got some much-needed playing time, and is now firmly back in contention for a regular role.
Van Persie’s return is good news for Arsenal, but bad news for another player well on the way to recovery: Nicklas Bendtner. After sitting out the win at Goodison Park, the Danish striker is back in the mix this weekend. However, with three strikers all competing for that one starting spot, he’s unlikely to get the football he desires. Marouane Chamakh has done nothing to warrant being dropped, but Van Persie will be hot on his heels now. Bendtner’s versatility means he could get games on the flank, but he is still very much third choice for the role he craves.
For now, however, our Moroccan in the middle will continue. He’s in good form, as evidenced by his lucky goal in midweek. Either side of him, I’d expect Arshavin and Nasri to continue – the Frenchman is also right at the top of his game, and was instrumental in picking England apart at Wembley on Wednesday night.
Although Wilshere is available, I’d say he was far from certain to start. Denilson was very impressive as a substitute at Everton, and might be given the nod. Song and Cesc, however, will be among the first names on the team-sheet.
At the back Arsene has one choice to make, between Koscielny and Djourou. After the kind of shaky start to the season you can only expect from a guy who had been missing for the best part of 18 months, Djourou impressed at both Wolves and Everton. His height might be an advantage against Peter Crouch, so Koscielny could find himself relegated to the subs bench. I don’t know if anyone has noticed, by the way, that with the exception of Kieran Gibbs (who made his first England start on Wednesday), every senior defender in the squad is French-speaking. Apart from the goalkeeper. Who is Polish. So we’ll know who to blame for any miscommunication…
Spurs welcome back Jermaine Defoe, but I’d be surprised if they started with both him and Crouch. I expect it’ll be the taller Englishmen, with the trio of Bale, Van der Vaart and Lennon playing off him. With Modric and Huddlestone sitting deep, Spurs have a very strong midfield now, and that is where the game will be won or lost. We’ll need Cesc to be in better form than he has been in recent weeks if we’re to overcome our rivals and claim the three points.
William Gallas could well be on the field for Spurs. Arsene Wenger has asked for the fans to ‘respect’ him – whilst I can’t guarantee that’ll happen, I can assure Le Boss there won’t be burning effigies, death threats, racial of homophobic abuse. That’s just not our style.
Tottenham’s domestic form has been patchy, as many predicted in the light of their Champions League qualification. That said, they’re still able to sit in seventh place, in a congested Premier League where just five points separate European qualification from the relegation zone.
There are local bragging rights at stake – derby day has added significance for those who have to turn up for work on Monday morning and sit opposite the enemy. However, more importantly than that, a win would take us top of the Premier League. Some anticipated that the entire season would merely be a prolonged procession for the eventual Champions Chelsea. Taking top spot at this crucial point in the season, if only for a few hours, would put a different spin on that.
More tomorrow.
