The Prologue
On Sunday Kermit, Fozzy, Stadtler, Waldorf et al will trundle into the Emirates Stadium for the 208th game between the two clubs, dating all the way back to 9th November, 1896.
We were treated to some great pieces on this blog over the summer from United States based fans, Lonestar Gooner and scruzgooner on what supporting Arsenal has meant to them, and I thought it might be interesting for the rest of us readers and writers to share in the ‘drinks’ what this London Derby fixture actually means to us – local or otherwise.
For me, this fixture goes right back to junior school days – being in a small minority of Arsenal fans, and hugely outnumbered by Spurs fans. That was more to do with chronology than geography – I didn’t live in a particularly Spurs supporting area, it was just Tottenham’s era and I hated it.
- the first Christmas present I can really remember was my first Arsenal shirt, in the style of what would become the 1971 classic, as worn by Dave the first time I met him at The Tollie.
- there were three of us Arsenal fans in my class at junior school and we always stuck together in playground games of football, played with a tennis ball and invariably spiced with an Arsenal v Spurs element.
- my first live North London Derby was at Highbury on 16th September 1967. My two aforementioned school mates and I had earned ourselves seats in East Lower by handing out Arsenal Bingo leaflets before the game. We arrived at the ground around 12.00 noon, for the 3.00pm kick off, and were picked out of the queue for our little job by former keeper Jack Kelsey. Handing out my share of those leaflets didn’t take too long as Spurs fans were taking handfuls and throwing them straight on the ground as the prizes were tickets to Arsenal games. George Graham was playing for us that day. He got married that morning and his best man was Terry Venables who was playing for Tottenham in that same match. George’s wedding present was a 4-0 victory.
- I remember that going to White Hart Lane always felt like taking your life in your hands, which almost happened to the victim of a stabbing behind us as we won the league there in 1971 – the first leg of our double. Finally, no more “Spurs double” to be rammed down our throats.
- I remember some inter club transfers we seemed to do quite well in – Pat Jennings arrived in goal and we swapped our winger David Jenkins for theirs, Jimmy Robertson.
North London Derby day is a horrible experience until it’s over and we’ve won and the nerves and tension can be released for another few months. But win, lose or draw the rivalry should always be fun. We can hate Tottenham as a club, we can mock their fans and players, but violence should never become a part of that.
To emphasise the importance of his first North London Derby to their new manager, Tottenham have arranged a special pre-match dinner, the menu for which has been leaked to me as follows:
Manager’s hash
*
Roasted cockerel
Roasted spuds
Benta-cured fricassee of mixed vegetables and tripe
*
Cowardy custard Brazilian tart with a Kane based sweet sauce and sour grapes (withdrawn as it has gone off)
*
Tea and coffee served in Tottenham mugs as no cups have been seen near White Hart Lane for over 15 years
In other news, new signing James Maddison has been told to stop turning up to training at Tottenham in a red car and so will have to find something in a more appropriate hue as he arrives at White Hart Lane which, incidentally, now falls within London’s new Ultra Low Expectations Zone.
The opposition (serious part)
Speaking at a fans’ forum this week, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy admitted that Tottenham made “mistakes” in appointing big name managers such as Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, while hailing new head coach Ange Postecoglou as a “breath of fresh air”.
Levy said, “There was a lot of pressure on me to bring in somebody that was a big name. I just wanted somebody who understood our DNA, would play attacking football, that would give young players a chance, believe in the academy, would build a relationship with the fans and understand the resources we have and be part of a team.”
***** and they still went for Mourinho and Conte! *****
“Ange is a breath of fresh air. We’ve got our Tottenham back. We’re seeing football that we used to see and that’s all that we want. I had gone through a period where we’d almost won. With Mauricio Pochettino we went through some very good times. We came very close and we had a change in strategy. The strategy was ‘let’s bring in a trophy manager’. We did it twice and you have to learn from your mistakes. They’re great managers but maybe not for this club. We want to play in a certain way and if that means it has to take a little longer to win, maybe it’s the right thing for us. That’s why bringing Ange in was the right decision”.
I’m not sure his fans would agree but thank God he’s not in charge of us !
Since we last played them, Tottenham have spent around £150m in bringing in nine new players including Brennan Johnson, James Maddison, Pedro Porro, Micky van de Ven and converting Kulusevski’s loan to a permanent move. They have shipped out thirteen, most of whom I’ve never heard of, but including Lucas Maura, Harry Winks and, of course, want-away, one-of-their-own, skipper Harry Kane. No, it’s true! It hasn’t been mentioned in the media or anything but he’s gone. Oh, and he lost Bayern Munich a cup final in his very first appearance. Oh, my aching sides !
I’m not going to pretend to know much about them all and, frankly, I don’t care until they line up on Sunday.
The Arsenal
Wednesday’s game against PSV Eindhoven saw our new look team and squad really beginning to gel for the first time this season. PSV had not lost in their last 26 matches and we made them look very ordinary and defensively, to be honest, a bit ‘all at sea’. They seemed to play a high line and leave a lot of room on the flanks for the superb Saka, White and Trossard to exploit. That way of playing is, I hear, one out of the Postecoglou playbook and one that he is promising to continue with at the Emirates – “We’ll Scare Them To Death” he is claiming!
The focus of much attention is clearly going to be on our goalkeeping situation. I have to say David Raya has been the epitome of calm in his two appearances. He is possibly a bit less hurried with his short passing than Aaron Ramsdale, but both are great long passers. Also in Raya’s favour is the fact that he claimed most crosses in the league last season – 51 – while Aaron was a way behind with 17.
You do get the feeling that Mikel Arteta has already decided that Raya is his number one and, if he is better than Aaron, that’s how it should be. I do really feel for Aaron though. He is a great keeper, has done a lot to get us where we are, is a very likeable character and has been brilliant in acknowledging and connecting with the fans. He is far too good to be a number two and I hope he can find a role that keeps him happy for as long as he is with us.
Declan Rice already looks at home in midfield and Kai Havertz grew into the game against PSV quite nicely after what I thought was a quiet start, although I know some thought his first half was fine too. Trossard just continues to produce and impress, while Gabriel Jesus gives us something we otherwise just don’t have. Someone we are going to have for another 5 years is Martin Ødegaard who has just signed a new contract. (Reportedly, Martin was set to join Tottenham at one stage until Zinedine Zidane stepped in and put the young man straight.) But it’s great news and huge credit to the club which has now secured the long term futures of almost all the key players until 2027. We are now a destination club rather than a stepping stone to better things and the best players now seem convinced that the biggest trophies are within our potential.
Thomas Partey, Jurrien Timber and Mo Elneny remain out for Sunday – there are no reports of any other new afflictions but the good news is that Gabriel Martinelli is being assessed ahead of the game which suggests his hamstring may not be as serious as perhaps feared.
So who will play? While I’m not at all convinced the manager will share my opinion – let’s face it, he will never even know my opinion – I would like to see Tomiyasu at left back to defend against Kulusevski, with Zinchenko moving further forward to link with Trossard and Jesus. But anyone’s guess is as good as mine:
Raya;
White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu;
Ødegaard, Rice, Zinchenko;
Saka, Jesús, Trossard
The Officials
The referee for this one is Rob Jones, fourth official is Michael Salisbury, VAR is Paul Tierney. Fingers crossed that they all do an absolutely faultless job. What?
The Holic Pound
We are odds on favourites with the bookies, typically 4/6 to win, with 17/5 on the draw and a Spurs win is 15/4 against. If you are tempted to bet, Bukayo Saka to score the first goal at 13/2 might be more interesting, Leo Trossard is at 15/2, or a score cast of 3-1 to the Arsenal can be had at 12/1. Were I a betting man, that’s where my hard earned would be going.
Kickoff is at 14.00 hrs on Sunday 24th September with TV coverage on Sky Sports. If you are lucky enough to be going, enjoy and sing up loud and proud!
Cheers Trev and thanks for a great preview.
Now to put the cocks back under their hoods.
Trev
That’s a great preview full of passion and humour . I go back a very long way in this fixture and it gets bigger every season considering that they are a club who are markedly inferior. It’s all about bragging rights but Mikel knows how much this means to us . I like your team but I think he will stick with the team that started on Wednesday . They should be good enough to win by a couple of goals
Loved it, Trev.
Home win. Please.
COYG
A cracker, Trev. The only thing to add to your menu is a good whine to wash it down.
An excellent and characteristically rib-tickling preview, Trev.
Have I told you how much I really hate the build-up to the NLD and find the match itself a thoroughly nerve-jangling experience until we have taken a two goal lead and look in total control? Your upbeat and humorous preview has been very therapeutic as has Ned’s oenological contribution.
Thanks to TTG’s holiday in Scotland and his generosity, my failure to win a single ticket in the ‘lottery’ this season has been mitigated on this occasion and I will be occupying that fine fella’s throne in the north upper. Pre-match I shall follow my old ritual of lunch at a fine Italian restaurant with plentiful sedative medication in the form of Italian liquid sunshine before a saunter down to the ground. I hope the team will deliver the best possible remedy for frayed nerves (detailed above) in the first half and establish total dominance throughout the rest of the game.
I am inclined to agree with TTG that we will probably see the team that started and played so well on Wednesday but as you allude, none of us can confidently predict what team MA8 will select. I can never predict the score in the NLD. I can predict that it won’t be 0-0. Any kind of win will do me.
Just win, Arsenal.
Excellent preview, Trev.
Any of you guys meeting at the Tollie or anywhere else before the game?
Cheers Trev. Great preview. I didn’t get to see this fixture in the stadium until the first one in the new stadium. Don’t think I’ve missed it since when at a weekend (wasn’t there at the 4-4, I had the original ticket but a friend ‘benefitted’ instead). I’m not sure I could repeat the miracle of getting something on ticket exchange a second time, but for this time I’m happy about it and on my way to the station right now.
Great stuff on the attendance, baff!
There’s a semi-official post match arseblog pub, Cent, but I’m not aware of any regular holics or arseblog pre-match these days. I occasionally go to the Tollie but you have to either go in very early pre match or late post match as it is packed to the rafters and barely breathable and you often have to queue to get in.
By the way, that team photo…better looking than in reality…
Thanks Trev
I was at that game when Stroller played on his wedding day. Hard to imagine that a club would allow that to happen now. A strange occurrence even then.
Anyway, I like my spuds mashed and the Ange love-in needs to stop so 3-0 will do nicely please.
UTA.
Great preview — steeped equally in humor and history! Thanks Trev.
I like your team, and I think that line-up can be very effective against certain opponents. But I suspect for this match we are likely to see Zinchenko in his roving left back role, and one of Vieira/Havertz/ESR starting as the left sided eight. Even if Martinelli is back fully fit, he is likely to start this one on the bench.
Come on Arsenal!
Indeed Noosa. After five games, they all sound like he’s brought back the ‘glory days’…of black and whites television. Hopefully we’ll show them today….
Thanks for the heads up, Ollie. I’ve just moved here and in the excitement of living/being as close to the Emirates as I have ever being thought I could just pop over and watch the game in the Tollie.
By the way, I understand tickets are really difficult to come by these days but if anyone of you gents ever has a spare for any home games, please let me know. I can’t wait to attend my first live game.
One more question: are there any other pubs close to the stadium where one can watch the game with other Arsenal fans?
Just arriving Cent. Oddly for televised matches I’d say DURING the match the Tollie is probably a great option! Going to the Che right now. Il comandente.
Thanks Trev, if the game matches your preview we shall be in for a cracker. My Spurs experience starts in the late 50s and into early 60s where we were fairly mediocre and the spuds were in the once in a century moment of being a successful team. I’m still suffering from PTSD! This means this has always been the one to win……and there more they are mashed the better.
Now they are playing the world beating Angeball – let’s shatter that delusion before the dvd’s are out. I would think it will be the same team that started vs PSV but we have strong alternatives should the boss tinker a little.
COYRRR
Cheers Trev!
Full Arsenal XI
David Raya (GK), William Saliba, Ben White, Gabriel Magalhães, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard (C), Fábio Vieira, Declan Rice, Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah.
Trossard out it would seem.
Thanks fellas, much appreciated 👍🏻
Nervy until we’re 2-0 up – which we will be !
Come on you Rreedddssss !
COYG!!!
Jesus for another coming? Maybe another one after that.
1-0 up and playing well
Bit late but great preview thanks Trev!
I hate Son but we had been living dangerously for a few minutes.
Fucker really as we should be 2 or 3 up
Jesus should have had at leastbone in that half. One great save by their keeper and then he missed one he should have buried after stealing the ball from the careless Maddison. Our last ten minutes was weak and it looks like we need some tweaking.
Would be looking at Havertz for Vieira myself.
2-2 fuck
Great penalty Saka
Butterflies stampeding all game. Not a relaxing watch by any means. We only flowed fitfully, and they defended well.
Agree Ned, though after we went 1-0 I was sure we’d win and it was frustrating in the end.
Why did the ref not allow Saka to get treatment for a hurt leg towards the end of the game but made him get up and play on? Saka was visibly limping for the next 5 minutes. Effectively, we were down to 10 men until ESR replaced him.
OM@29: I think if Jesus had scored after robbing Maddison, we would have won it comfortably. At 2-0, we would have settled into a game of controlled possession. It does feel like two points lost rather than a point won.
We’ve conceded six goals in four games at home with no clean sheets . Similar record last season. We have two clean sheets away from home ( from two) and had an excellent defensive record on the road last season .
Arteta needs to address the reasons why we don’t look secure at home
TTG@32: We should have managed a clean sheet today. Both their goals were avoidable. Raya is getting criticism for not dealing cleanly with the initial cross for the first, but there was subsequent opportunity to clear the ball, then Saka got too easily beaten by Maddison by the touchline, and then Gabriel, who had been tight on Son throughout this phase of play, backed off, opening up the half a yard of space that Son needed to get a flick at Maddison’s cross (all of which may validate your point as much as refute it). Jorginho got turned over in possession for their second, an individual mistake that left Saliba back-peddling and outnumbered two-to-one. There is probably only so far Arteta can go in coaching out mistakes.
>>>>>>>