Martin Keown believes that Saturday’s North London Derby will be the biggest we’ve ever seen.
The Arsenal legend took part in his usual question and answer session after our defeat to Swansea on Wednesday and admitted that although the Gunners have usually taken the bragging rights, this time Spurs are going in as favourites.
“There’s no doubt about it, this has to be the biggest north London derby we’ve ever seen,” Keown said in his Daily Mail feature.
“For years Arsenal have almost taken bragging rights for granted in this game. Yes, Spurs have had some good wins but generally it’s been Arsenal who had the advantage. Not to be arrogant, but in my career the game almost became more about Tottenham trying to take vital points away from Arsenal so they wouldn’t have to face the indignity of watching Arsenal win the league again.
“In 2006 it was close when Spurs almost snatched away that Champions League spot and that would have been disastrous for Arsenal. And in recent years Spurs have come close but never quite made it over the line.
“Now, in the blink of an eye, it’s all changed. We have a new frontrunner in Tottenham and because of that, it’s doubly hard for Arsenal fans to get their head around. They have not been capable of winning the league for more than a decade but the last team they expected to get there before them was Tottenham. That’s why there is such anxiety at the club this season. They know there is a golden opportunity.
“From the players’ point of view they will want be desperate to grab the headlines and take them away from Tottenham. This will be a shootout but the players can’t be frightened of the occasion. They have to relish this. For some of these players on both sides they might never get this opportunity again. They can’t allow doubts to creep into their heads because both teams absolutely have to win this game.
“It’s going to be an incredible shootout.”
It’s a sad state of affairs when the two teams I’ve feared facing the most this season are Leicester and Tottenham. Although Manchester United beat us at Old Trafford recently, they’re still hardly a threat and continue to be average against just about every other team in the League.
Manchester City lost 3-0 to Liverpool on Wednesday as well, which means if we’re out of the title running, they definitely are, and Chelsea are still nowhere to be seen.
But Spurs have crept up on us. I even remember laughing at people tipping them for the title earlier in the season because they didn’t appear to be anywhere near us. Now look. We go into the NLD three points behind them and six behind the Foxes. Good grief.