Arsenal stretched their winning streak to 3 games, having won 1-0 at home to Leicester in the week courtesy of a Robert Huth own goal. Some degree of form has come at the perfect time for Arsenal, as their season appeared to be falling apart in front of them. Now, the Gunners have an FA Cup final date with Chelsea to look forward to, as well as still being in the hunt for a top 4 finish in the league.
This weekend however sees Arsene Wenger’s side face their greatest rivals, title-chasing Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs have managed to haul Chelsea in by winning 8 Premier League games on the bounce, and will be looking to make it 9 at home to the Gunners.
Wenger, like many football fans, is expecting a great match-up, with plenty of goals on offer, “I expect an open match, a committed match, a match with high pace,” Wenger told reporters as he previewed the derby. “There could be goals because both teams play positive football, try to go forward and play in an offensive way. Normally that finishes with goals if you look at the quality of players on both sides.”
The Frenchman is right to predict goals; remarkably, both teams have scored the last 6 times these two rivals of met. Spurs have scored 69 league goals this term, one goal less, in one less game, than the league’s top scorers Liverpool. Arsenal follows slightly behind on 64 goals; these are two of the most deadly teams in front of goal in the league, unquestionably.
Wenger also added, “It’s certainly one of the few times where, if you look at people’s opinions, Spurs are favourites,” said Wenger. “It looks a bit like that but it doesn’t matter too much to me.
“Let’s make sure that the best happens and give absolutely everything to make sure that we finish in a very strong way.”
“The priority for us is to finish in the top four,” he said. “After that, for the pride and the continuity or our achievements, yes we want to fight to be in front of Spurs. We have to focus on what is really important to us at this moment, which is the top four.
It has been the best part of a decade since Arsenal had a serious crack at the league, and with Tottenham now challenging for the title in consecutive years, serious questions are being asked about where the power now lies in North London.
“I’ve answered that question about a shift in power over 18 years. Nothing changes in that.”
Asked if Tottenham need to do more over a longer period of time to challenge Arsenal, Wenger replied: “I think so. You cannot say that the weight of one year has the weight of 20.”
If Arsenal take something away from what will be their last visit to White Hart Lane (in its current form), it will surely put an end to Spurs’ title charge. Extra motivation for the Arsenal players, alongside aiding their own top 4 ambitions.