Written by Mean Lean on Friday, 19 November 2010 21:58

So the first north London derby is almost underway in the 2010-11 season. We have had both massive lows and extreme highs against our neighbours in the last year. At White hart lane last season they managed their first victory against us in 20 games of Premier League football. That day we lacked a creative spark to break them down until Robin Van Persie made his come back from the substitutes bench.

In September our Carling cup side brushed aside the Tottenham equivalent in their own back yard, Jack Wilshere, Samir Nasri and Denilson running the show.

After a sticky period against Newcastle United and a few narrow victories at the Emirates we have dusted ourselves down and strung some very positive tough victories together away from the Emirates. Wolves and Everton were put to the Arsenal sword with two very professional title winning performances, the type that many have accused Arsenal of lacking in past seasons. This could be a different game all together as the rolled up sleeves may well be pulled down a little and more focus will be on our football in front of our expectant support.

Tottenham Hotspur will not be coming to the Emirates to sit back and park the old rickety bus, the players they have in their squad are not fine tuned to play that way. Robin Van Persie's mate Rafael van der Vaart has exploded to life since joining the Tiny Tots in the summer, his £8 million price tag now looks a real steal. Gareth Bale has already achieved landing on the moon, walking on water and has beat the record of David Blane by sitting in a box  for a longer duration. Bale has been playing very well this season but will be up against a very tough opponent in Bacary Sagna. I am not so concerned about Bale when they have the ball, it will be when we lose possession that Bale could become a problem if not treated quickly. We do not want him breaking against us on the half way line with our players chasing back.

That should be a fascinating battle and will be one of many top clashes around the pitch. Depending on who plays in our midfield, Alex Song, Denilson or Jack Wilshere could be given the responsibility of keeping an eye on van der Vaart when we are not in possession of the ball. Aaron Lennon vs Gael Clichy could be electric if the former Leeds United player is given a starting role.

Samir Nasri played 90 minutes for France on Wednesday but in current form he simply cannot be left out, he is our best attacking player at the moment and will almost certainly be restored to his wide right forward role. Arshavin played the full 90 minutes for Russia on the same day but I am not sure if Wenger will start him. Rosicky may well get his wish to start in a big game on the left side of our attack if Arshavin is rested to the bench. Should Lennon start wide right for Tottenham then Rosicky's inclusion would be a bonus for Clichy who is often left with a larger work load when Andrey Arshavin is starting further ahead of him.

With the injury situation rather strangely looking positive for us, we should have quite the substitutes bench to select from. Nicklas Bendtner, Theo Walcott, Andrey Arshavin/Tomas Rosicky and Robin Van Persie could all potentially start from the side lines, although I wouldn't be too surprised to see our manager spring a surprise and start Van Persie from the very start. In such a footballing game at the Emirates where Chamakh's presence may not be as important as it would do away from the Emirates, I am starting to wonder if Robin could be the pre match talk for Sky television.

Wenger has a difficult decision to make at center back. Laurent Koscielny started the season higher in the pecking order to Johan Djourou but since his two match suspension, Djourou has come in and has been superb. He has not put a foot wrong in two tricky away matches. Johan Djourou would be a better match for Peter Crouch in the air but at the same time, Laurent Koscielny would be better equipped at winning the second ball from knock downs and obviously he is a better one on one defender on the floor.

Mean Lean's Predicted Line Up

One to watch: Cesc Fabregas

Both sides will be looking towards their play makers to make the difference. Cesc Fabregas has been slowly picking up his form after injury and his goal at Goodison park would have done him no harm at all. Hopefully he can link up with Nasri and whichever wide player we have on the left, they will be attempting to unlock the Tottenham defence.    

Mean Lean's Match Prediction

Arsenal 2 (Cesc, Squillaci) Tottenham 1

Although the likes of van der Vaart, Lennon and Bale will pose problems for us, I am more concerned about the lack of time we have had since the midweek Internationals. As we have seen in the past, it has taken us a while to click back into gear, to find the momentum again. Luckily for us our players should all be on a high from recent Arsenal results and hopefully we can take that into the game later on this lunchtime.

With so many quality attacking players from both teams, it should make for a mouthwatering game of football. Our defending has been good of late, and the fact that we are third in the goals against table tells you exactly that. Much of the game could be down to how much the other team stops the opposition from creating chances because both teams are fully capable of carving out chances.

If we can play aggressively from the start and put in the hard work that we have done in our last two away matches then I think we can beat them. I don't think we will score many more goals than them because of the midweek break but hopefully we will have enough to win the game.

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Comments (16)

• 20-Nov-2010 10:14 | | Anonymous
  

  

• 20-Nov-2010 10:50 | | Steve Palmer  - czcez in goal
  

  for me Czcez in goal man mountain against Crouch and VDV good height
  Sagna,Squige,kosh Click
  Fabs, Song,Djourou,
  Naz,Chamakh,Gibbs

• 20-Nov-2010 11:18 | | les  - spurs defence
  

  Last year at the lane they had dawson and king who played well. This time? Galaas and Kaboul? if our attacking prowess cant beat them by AT LEAST 3 -0 i'll be shocked.......

• 20-Nov-2010 11:20 | | double dapper
  

  Funny stuff ml. If bale has landed on the moon then vdv has cured world hunger and brought the country out of recession in the few weeks he has been at the spuds. I am going to go for a 3 2 win but would be delighted with the 3 points however we get them. For me.the ones to wach are, naz (on fire at the mo) and deni (i know a lot of gooners will be upset with that comment but he ran the last game at the lane).

• 20-Nov-2010 12:06 | | Goonzilla  - A represy of the Tyne-Wear Derby anyone?
  

  ML, nice piece as always.
  
  For some strange reason, I feel the Tots might just be in for a spanking today. Both teams look to be playing well with inform players in most areas of the pitch. The closest derby in years (some dillusional Sp**s have been indicating).....All in all, I think our boys will be out to reverse our recent patchy form at the Emirates, not to mention the fact that we could go top of the league (and maybe stay there depending on what mood Birmingham are in ;-) )...as well as put the Tiny Tots in their rightful spot?
  
  Least we forget, this is as strong a squad Arsene has had to choose from for a while. With competition for places as fierce as ever that players like Bendtner and Vela cannot even make the bench, even with Diaby, Ramsey and TV5 out of the squad (talk about squad depth), I think the players who step onto the field come lunch time will want to show why they deserve their place in the starting 11.
  
  This has Newcastle v Sunderland written all over it. My prediction is Arsenal 5-1 Other (Fab 2, Cham, nasri, walcott).
  
  Bring it on!!!!!

• 20-Nov-2010 14:36 | | jer
  

  Gael Clichy has struggled in this game. Koscielny is a bit reckless and poor in the air. What a game they throw it away. Stupid Wenger

• 20-Nov-2010 14:39 | | jer
  

  spineless team with no mental character. A bunch of shit loser.

• 20-Nov-2010 14:51 | | jer
  

  Arsenal suffered their third home defeat. A real big disappointment because our performance was not good enough as we are two up in 1st half. Again I have to say that our defenders are not good to cope with crossing and most of the visitor's winning goal came from header (that happened in Newcastle games)

• 20-Nov-2010 15:07 | | KaboulFlick
  

  What a game !!!! The sight of wenger throwing toys from pram after kabouls sweet flick goal was priceless ... Where are you now ???

• 20-Nov-2010 15:27 | | dkgooner  - Typical 2nd half arrogance
  

  When will they ever learn? A game lasts 90 mins+. Everything that was there in the first half disappeared in 2nd half. Pace, commitment, intelligence. I was astonished that Koscielny got his place back after Djourou's displays in his absence. Koscielny is not quick enough, tall enough or strong enough. He's constantly getting caught out. That's why he picks up cards all the time. He looked much better earlier in the season playing right-side with Vermaelen but now I'm beginning to doubt whether he has what it takes for the Premiership.
  Whatever - we still have defensive problems and that must have something to do with the coaching too.
  Cesc should be strung up for that arm in the air inside the penalty area - how dumb can you get? Chamakh's arm was also raised - what the f***'s the matter with them?
  And what does it take to make this lot understand that arrogant keep-ball in the first quarter of the second half when you should be going for the jugular and finishing them off is totally unacceptable. The coaching team have a responsibility to drum this into them. I guess will now get the usual crap about needing to bounce back and show commitment but it shouldn't need saying - it should be obvious for 90 minutes of every game.
  Well done Tottenham. You can be proud of yourselves - you got totally outplayed for 45 minutes but didn't give up. Showed the spirit and fight that Arsenal so often lack.

• 20-Nov-2010 16:40 | | MeanLean
  

  Go on Spuds you enjoy your moment, as all small teams do when they beat a bigger side.
  
  Very disappointed with Arsenal today. Some harsh words better be spoken in the dressing room.

• 20-Nov-2010 17:24 | | richie  - Pressing the self destruct button
  

  1st we have great players!
  I want to say that before Gooners think I'm into criticizing our own, I always want to encourage our team.
  
  We need constructive criticism when we see faults appear. I've been both encouraged by our GK's progress and dumbfounded.
  Likewise our defense has looked a lot stronger this season. Koz looked good alongside Vermaeling early doors, and Djourou looked good alongside Squilla, good centre halves/central defenders always come in pairs, so I hoped we could develope a decent couple of pairs.
  
  Next up teams attack & defend as teams this ain't rocket science. Our team isn't defending as a team well enough. Sorry but Fabski doesn't give the back 4 confidence, full stop! Of course I hope he continues to develope and one day does, but its not there now. Next I'll go back to my old favourite.
  "No team has won the EPL without a centre half" Why?.............................
  because a strong CH is needed to head the ball back where there's no danger. If you have a Seaman clone in goal it might be possible without a CH but a teams defence has to be a defensive unit.
  
  The English premire league isn't like other leagues there is a mixture of long ball's "overthetop" plenty of high balls from crosses especially set piece's, all played at a frantic pace, there often isn't the time to play nicely out of defense. Either ball's are caught by a keeper, or headed out by a centre half. If neither happens your in trouble!
  
  Being 2 up only to lose 3-2 comes down to only one thing bad defending as a team! Arsene must do something about it!

• 20-Nov-2010 17:41 | | nikogunners  - Change System to 4-4-2
  

  OK. This is becoming a nightmare comedy. Every time we got the Chav girl all convinced, naked in bed with her legs spread apart and we keep finding ourselves under the bed! Shit, shit and shit again! By the way she could be miss world and miss universe all combined and we still can't find the way in when she…!
  Ok, I take that back. I think Wenger must regroup. It is time we kept Chamak and RvP together in the same field. We may need to revert to 4-4-2. I believe we can vary to play all out left right flanks or kill one side flank or play four central midfielder s, depending on the opposition and the dynamics in play.
  What advantages will we derive from the system? First Walcott and Bendtner may get some more time on the striking role when there is a rotational policy and also as substitutes.
  We will not have non-strikers meddling with opportunities and missing the target every time. Great players in the bench like Eboue, Rosicky and Ramsey (returning soon) among others will get more roles to prove themselves.
  Chamack. He needs to get supported and his confidence on the ball to grow, that can easily be helped by playing alongside a player like RvP
  Arsenal are the kings of goal creation. They are the weakest goal converters from chances created. I believe if the two form a goal hunting duo we can get ourselves the chances converted into more goal. One more goal in Emirate toady would have killed off hotspurs. We are good at tormenting but very poor game killers.

• 20-Nov-2010 23:15 | | jer
  

  I am saying that we lack the discipline to control the game when we are leading. Djourou was brillant at the centreback position, good in the air and position and was good in distributing ball away from dangers.
  
  WTF. Kaboul slips in between the defenders and headed the ball into the net. Poor defending from Koscielny. Again this stupid ass had an open goal to head in and he screwed it. He really get a hard time in this game. Djourou should deserve to play not this donkey.

• 21-Nov-2010 01:53 | | richie  - reflextion
  

  Amazingly after losing so poorly against the local scum I've calmed down enough to re-suffer the MOTD rerun.
  Even those highlights showed us in total control "Undone by ridiculously bad defensive performances". Its crazy that we have such talent in our squad but such ineptitude. No team can win the EPL without a strong defensive unit.
  
  We need a strong back 5 that work together. We've taken some great steps forward with our defense recently and the balance in our side looks much better, but its time to go further to the next level. I'm confident that Arsene can see this and if he can't drill the defense better he'll find someone who can. The disappointment of not going top isn't mitigated by Chelski's loss not with Manu'er regulary playing badly but not getting beat.
  
  I think the league is beyond us yet again, alarmingly after less than half way we are yet again playing for 4th. To achieve more we'll need a sea change our teams attitude to winning, but more importantly to losing.
  Arsene the work needs to start now!

• 21-Nov-2010 02:33 | | richie  - 2nd & 1 bad loss & the rats wanna jump ship
  

  We lost badly but our own need to get a grip and keep their nerve.
  Whenever things don't go right great supporters support. Anyone hear the cop bottle it when they were bottom 3? The support @ highbury would have done this! Lets not let the fickle latte drinking cannonbury brigade be the only voice heard from the Emirates.
  The mad sad Wenga hatters will always wanna jump ship crying for British players etc etc. The same idiotic bods who loved patrick pires thierry & co now want an English spine. Constructive thoughts and criticsm only please. If someone has a good idea give it we'll all kick it around, if not hush up!

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