tottenham v arsenal. match thread

[JamesLincs]

if i may, i would like a match thread for this game. i wont be here to contribute on sunday, but id like to start talking about the upcoming game. my spurs news thread didnt get many replies at the start of the season (guessing mainly due to there only being a couple of spurs fans on the board) unlike the likes on united city chelsea and liverpool, in the past few seasons we havent had many, what you would call, huge games. but this sundays clash is massive for our club. with a chance to solidify a position in the champions league group spots as well as a chance at a little payback for the defeat earlier in the season and potentially a chance to finally come out of our ever so great rivals shadow. the gap has been getting ever so slightly smaller by the season, it will never be closed officially due to how well arsenal football club are run. arsenal will always be able to operate and maintain a strong position within the premier league, i know that. i know we'll never be as big as the gunners and probably not as successful. but if for this season we can see us finish not only above arsenal but taking what is considered there spot in the champions league, it will be considered a huge achievement and one that arsenal should respect.

im so excited about this sunday, i can hardly wait! arsenal will come with a plan and it will be to stop bale by any means possible. i can see goals, dirty challenges and red cards in this one. it will be the most controversial, feisty and entertaining game of the season for sure! for the sake of my sanity i hope we win, and i actually think we will. and possibly for the first time we will be favourites to win a game against them

so discuss, what do we all think will happen this super sunday? who are we rooting for?

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I'm rooting for good defence. A 0-0 draw

[Guest]

Spurs 4-1 for me.

[MtotheC]

Tomorrows game promises to be one of the most fiercely contested matches between us and arsenal in recent memory, it really is a massive game. Spurs have the momentum after late victories against Lyon and West Ham, there's the 11 game unbeaten record in the EPL and the most important factor the Gareth Bale effect. Spurs have a trickier run over the last 10 games in comparison to Arsenal with tough games against Liverpool, Chelsea and Stoke away and Everton and Man City to visit the lane, so increasing the gap to 7 points is more important considering our run in.

[Nakatomi Plaza]

if i may, i would like a match thread for this game. i wont be here to contribute on sunday, but id like to start talking about the upcoming game. my spurs news thread didnt get many replies at the start of the season (guessing mainly due to there only being a couple of spurs fans on the board) unlike the likes on united city chelsea and liverpool, in the past few seasons we havent had many, what you would call, huge games. but this sundays clash is massive for our club. with a chance to solidify a position in the champions league group spots as well as a chance at a little payback for the defeat earlier in the season and potentially a chance to finally come out of our ever so great rivals shadow. the gap has been getting ever so slightly smaller by the season, it will never be closed officially due to how well arsenal football club are run. arsenal will always be able to operate and maintain a strong position within the premier league, i know that. i know we'll never be as big as the gunners and probably not as successful. but if for this season we can see us finish not only above arsenal but taking what is considered there spot in the champions league, it will be considered a huge achievement and one that arsenal should respect.

im so excited about this sunday, i can hardly wait! arsenal will come with a plan and it will be to stop bale by any means possible. i can see goals, dirty challenges and red cards in this one. it will be the most controversial, feisty and entertaining game of the season for sure! for the sake of my sanity i hope we win, and i actually think we will. and possibly for the first time we will be favourites to win a game against them

so discuss, what do we all think will happen this super sunday? who are we rooting for?

Good article, very fair handed from the Spurs point of view. As an Arsenal fan, I disagree with the point you made about Bale. Wenger too tactically inflexible to make any accordances for any player/team, as shown in previous matches this year against better/strong opposititon. My big concern for Arsenal is the midfield three of Wilshere, Arteta and Ramsey/Diaby aren't athletic enough to cover Spurs on the counter attack. Villa picked us off far to easily on the counter attack last week, and Spurs have better quality then them so will make us pay.

From an attacking point of view, I believe Walcott will be Arsenal's greatest threat, and if he can get some joy down the inside left of Spurs' defence then the Gunners could be in business.

[compelling and rich]

there isn't a decent defender in the arsenal team currently and no midfield to protect them so there should be goals and a decent game for the neutral, so i'll go for a 0-0 then!

im fancying spurs in this, should have too much for an arsenal team without much confidence. if arsenal turn up they certainly can win, the likes of wilshere, carzola and walcott can be deadly on there day, but spurs being at home with bales current form not sure how arsenal will stop him

[Duty281]

Spurs 3-1. Arsenal's defence will be weak and slow against Bale/Lennon/Holtby/Dembele/Adebayor.

[The Special Juan]

Doesn't it normally finish 5-2 Arsenal? I honestly have no idea which way it will go. Spurs probably have the better players at the moment but Arsenal lift their game against their nemeses. If you twist my bad arm then I have to say Spurs, probably by a goal.

[JamesLincs]

5 hours to kick off!

i cant wait!

this is a massive day. i cant even imagine what a defeat might do to our season. i wont be able to face anyone. i guess im lucky im off work at the moment and cant play football this week because of a knee problem.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Should be a cracker, neither teams defence is as strong as it should be. 4-2 to someone. Depends on who plays up top.

Can Monreal keep Lennon quiet? Can Wilshere deny Bale space in front of Arsenal's back four?

I dont think Spurs have a player as smart as Cazorla or Wilshere, but I dont think Arsenal have the bottle. Very interesting, although if Chelsea crumble both may end up in the top four anyway

[JamesLincs]

lennon can be hit and miss. but if he can keep doing his jinking runs and bursts into the penalty area he could cause havoc.

i think arsenal are going to crunch bale every chance they get.

i also think vertonghen should be used at left back today if walcott is played on the right, and if available caulker and dawson in the middle

[Fernando]

I think it's the 1st time in a while that Spurs have been favorites for a NLD. Being at home could be a disadvantage this time with them being ahead of Arsenal and in good form the incentive to attack will be there from the fans.

Should be a good game either way no idea which way it'll go though

[Crimey]

As a Liverpool fan I'm not sure what result is best, a Tottenham win means any dream of a top four finish is definitely dead (if it isn't already) but means a top 5 is slightly more achievable, an Arsenal win means they go further away but means a top 4 place is still within reach.

I guess it depends on whether a top 4 finish is at all believable for Liverpool.

I'll go for a 2-2 draw.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

This game has 1-1 written all over it

[JamesLincs]

we should attack anyway. why be nervous or indecisive? arsenal are vulnerable and this should be exposed. there is no doubt we should go at them today

[Crimey]

I think Tottenham should win, but have a feeling Arsenal will raise their game for the derby and get a draw. The key for Arsenal is controlling Bale who is in huge form, but Tottenham do have other threats and Arsenal risk releasing the likes of Lennon and Dembele if they concentrate too much on stopping Bale.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Arsenal won't set up trying to negate Spurs thats not what Arsenal do.

They'll come out and make Spurs worry about them. How often do you see Arsenal change there formation/gameplan to stop another team? Never. That's one of Wenger's faults imo

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I was surprised how many times we breached Tottenhams defence on Monday. Walcott could find himself really enjoying today. Cant wait to see Wilshere and Parker go in for a 50-50

Bale's delivery should be enough to panic the Arsenal defence, let alone his actual in play threat.

[The Special Juan]

I hope Spurs don't start Adebayor otherwise he's a red card waiting to happen.

[Hulking_up]

I guess it depends on whether a top 4 finish is at all believable for Liverpool.

I think that boat has sailed.

[Ent]

Arsenal are a comedy show at the back.

[Guest]

Can't disagree with that Ent. Shocking.

[Ent]

They just do everything wrong.

What was the Spanish Peter crouch look alike doing?

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Playing a high line against Bale and Lennon? Yep good one that Arsene #headsgone

Adebayor has been abysmal for Spurs as well.

[Duty281]

Good first goal for Spurs, cracking pass with a superb run and finish to match. 2nd goal was just poor defending. Can't see Arsenal coming back, they've offered nothing much up front.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Oh and is Cazorla on the pitch?

Totally wasted out wide.

[JamesLincs]

credit to parker for waiting for lennon to make the run, most time he'll just turn around and head back to base

wow!

[Guest]

Has Adebayor done anything of any significance for Spurs this season?

[MtotheC]

Fantastic half time result considering arsenal have been the better side, great finish from bale!

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

They've been the better side but they can't cross for toffee. Giroud is wasted in this Arsenal side.

[Ent]

Good start for arsenal there.

Just terrible from 1-11 without the ball.

[Ent]

I just think arsenal are terrible (cue comeback), but look 2-0 away from home ball comes into your captain, tries stupid flick and loses ball puts team under pressure.

They are a brain dead side.

[Ent]

I just think arsenal are terrible (cue comeback), but look 2-0 away from home ball comes into your captain, tries stupid flick and loses ball puts team under pressure.

They are a brain dead side.

laugh out loud

[The Special Juan]

Arsenal will score 5 in this half....

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Adebayor lost Mertesacker for that goal...

Useless. So useless

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

If I'm Spurs I get Bale out to the left right now.

Ramsey playing RB

[NickisBHAFC]

Arsenal suck.

[JamesLincs]

what was sigurdsson thinking???

[JamesLincs]

defoes done more in 10 minutes after being out for a month, than adebayor has since replacing him..

[JamesLincs]

2-1

so happy this evening!

[Duty281]

Well done Spurs. That should confirm 4th place at the very least.

[azania]

Waiting for the annual Spurs implosion

[JamesLincs]

people should remember the only reason we werent in the champions league this season was because chelsea won it last term

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