Team news and expected line-up – Arsenal vs Tottenham 27/09/2014

Mauricio Pochettino faces his first North London Derby at the Tottenham helm this weekend as Spurs look to take 3 points from a side who they have beaten only once in their last 25 away from White Hart Lane.​

The date was Saturday, 20th November 2010 when current Club Captain Younes Kaboul latched onto Rafael van der Vaart’s free-kick to hand us a 3-2 win at the Emirates, where we have since failed to triumph.

Undoubtedly you will not need reminding of the importance of the 173rd modern, competitive North London Derby, as the bitter history between the sides speaks for itself.

Our rivals currently sit in 4th place in the table having failed to lose in the league this season, drawing 3 in between wins against Crystal Palace and most recently Aston Villa.

Spurs currently have their worst points total, just 7 points, after five league matches since 2008-09 when Juande Ramos’ side managed just 2. However, the midweek win over Nottingham Forest will have blown away the cobwebs of a 4-game winless streak while Arsene Wenger’s side were kicked out of the cup by Southampton.

Team News

Once again Poch has a fully fit squad to take to the Emirates, with Kyle Walker still recovering from his long term ailment.

Andros Townsend was a doubt for the fixture however returned to the starting XI and looked unnerved during our 3-1 win over Forest, so our Argentine boss has his full array of attacking telent on show:

“We need to analyse the players today after last night’s game and afterwards we will decide the squad for Saturday,” Mauricio said on Thursday.

Hugo Lloris, Eric Dier, Younes Kaboul, Danny Rose, Ettiene Capoue, Christian Eriksen, Erik Lamela and Emmanuel Adebayor are all set to regain their places in the side after their rest, while Jan Vertonghen and Nabil Bentaleb could muscle their way in.

The Passion – including full Ledley King interview...

Personally my concern about the game is that none of the current crop of players really seem to understand the importance of our hatred for the Auld Enemy.

This is no qualm over league positions, nor a squabble over transfer fees or scouting youngsters. This is a rivalry which runs deep in the veins of everybody Tottenham, and the players need to understand that a loss here would not simply require us to “bounce back”.

Players like Graham Roberts, Michael Dawson and Rafa van der Vaart have understood the passion in years gone by and none more so than our Commander-In-Chief Sir Ledley:

"It’s the first game you look for on the fixture list when the fixtures come out," he said. "When are we playing Arsenal? It’s the game that stands out more than any other game in terms of atmosphere and the build-up throughout the week.

"You’re picking up papers and reading things about what other players have said, you feel the fans are revving up towards it and on the day driving into the stadium it feels different to any other game. It’s a special game.

"My first derby was special because the atmosphere that day (November, 2001) was incredible.

"Obviously that was the game Sol was coming back for but playing for the other side – I’ll never forget the atmosphere from that game.”

"When I finally got around to beating them in the league it was a long time coming – it was Danny Rose’s goal (April, 2010). That was a special night at the Lane.

"I’ll never forget those games, the wins and the losses.

"Mauricio will know that this is a huge game for the club and I think the players will learn a lot from it. The ones whose first derby it is will learn a lot about what this game is all about and that will be great for them going forward.

"The lads need to keep their composure. I know how easy it is to get built up for the game and I’ve played in games which have been crazy in terms of players getting caught up in the heat of the game rather than defending properly.

"I’ve seen 5-4, 4-4 - it’s an emotional game and you can get dragged into the emotion of it - you have to keep a cool head.

"The team that has the most players who keep a cool head will be the team that has the better chance of winning the game."

Expected Line-Up

Lloris; Dier Vertonghen Kaboul Rose; Capoue Dembele; Eriksen Lamela Chadli; Adebayor

Come on you Spurs.

 

The interesting one will be does Jan start... I'm saying yes!! As club and team captain I presume kaboul will also start. Townsend shown signs he is coming bk into form v forest and lamela keeps showing glimpses. I go
Lloris naughton kaboul Jan rose. Dembele stambouli lamela lennon Townsend soldado on a more attacking outfit..

 

Atleast this most sacred of fixtures forces poche to show us who he fancies as best 11 to the top 5 teams. If jan doesn't start then its obviously personal, not tactical. He is by far our best cb. Kaboul should provide the fight and passion for the derby, so lets test poches trust in the captain.. if he cant rally the boys thru this then he's the wrong fella.
Full backs, atm Dier edges naughton and Rose shades ben.
DM- tough to know the best combination yet, but away id play Stambouli and Dembele, i think they will compliment each other both defensively and starting attacking plays.
In the attacking 3, Lamela and Eriksen should automatically start every big game, home or away. Which leaves Lennon, andros or chadli for the left side slot.. Although nacir has been ok going forward and scoring a few, i fancy Lennon for this one, he knows the passion more than any other squad member plus he'll track back and be better defensively.
Up top.. Can we trust hot head ade not to get sent off again, i can't. Harry gets the nod.. So full of enthusiasm, he understands the passion, again he will defend and chase. He might just prove a few points to people not that familiar with him. COYS!!

So, i go... Lloris; Dier, Kaboul, Vertonghen, Rose; Stambouli, Dembele; Lamela, Eriksen, Lennon; Kane

 

I'm afraid the proposed lineup just won't get it done. This squad needs 2 up front as no player seems head and shoulders above the others. Soldato seems to do better with a partner. Let's see how well arse does defending two threats. I believe we have a flawed diamond, so let's do 4.4.2 and see how we do. Let ade sit and watch, See if he'll rise to the challenge for future games.

 

If we play 442 at the emirates we'll get swamped in midfield and have about 25/30% possession, that 70/75% for arse normally equals 3/4 goals. Do you wanna try and out score them or shut them out. What's your line up in the middle 4 to contain them?

In our present state, i reckon we go men behind the ball, try counter on the break.. I'd bite your hand off if offered 0-0 now, although history does show that's not a likely result.. Ok, 0-1 to the spurs then, save the spurs way for another day!

 

Jan is our best CB and must start, as Kaboul is our captain I expect them both to start. if I see the name Chiriches anywhere near the starting line-up them im going back to bed ( game starts 2am here) these two have been shambolic together and highly culpable in us dropping 5 points in the last two games. For me arsenals MF play is where they are most likely to dominate with their quick passing and movement, id start with three in the middle for this one with 4-3-1-2 Eriksen is the closest player we have to a DLP type so id drop him back alongside Capoue and Dembele , as strong as Moussa is I just don't see him being able to do anything with the ball, up front its Ade, Soldado and Lamela behind the two strikers who are both capable of working the defence and giving us options, obviously the FBs would provide the width and would need to put in a good shift.
Lloris
Dier Kaboul Jan Rose
Capoue Eriksen Dembele
Lamela
Ade Soldado

 

This game will be won in midfield, if we allow scum to dominate the ball we will get stuffed. Think centrally weve got to play a 3 of Capoue Dembele Stambouli to break up play in the center and protect the back 4.
Our defence need to be alert/aware of the ghosting runs from deep they like to do and track/snuff out this threat. Do that for 70 mins frustrate them then bring on some pace and make a game of it.
Please no high lines, inverted wingers etc we need to execute a drilled game plan today. Away to any top 5 team needs to be kept tight it should be treated as a result over performance game its what all the Top 4 do and its time we did this aswel.
Having said that looking at the squads i predict Scum 0 Spurs 8.
COYS !!!!!!!!

 

Great point about this squad not understanding the importance of this fixture - as much as I hate Wenger he always makes sure his players raise their game for these matches, they always seem to know how important it is to the fans. If the invisible man Paulinho plays then we've no chance!

 

Faz needs to play in' a big game like this. I would feel more confident if he replaced Calamity Kabul ( a liability at present) in lineup. He needs to have a MoM game to convince me otherwise.

 

Seriously, the time has come for adebayor to be benched. Give Soldado a run of games please. His time has come. With a bit of decent supply he will provide.

 

What about Mason? I didn't watch the Forest game, but apparently Mason did a fantastic job in midfield. So why not play him alongside Stam? At least we would be trying a new midfield - instead of the "old" rubbish we've been fielding. If Poch had any b.... he should give Ryan a start.

 

Be suicide to play 442 v these fackers get murdered. Pack the midfield and try nick it on the break.

 

You don't have to be Ramos43 to know that Arsenal struggle against pace on the break and that is why Andros Townsend would be the FIRST name on the teamsheet if I were picking a team to go to the Emirates, today.

Look, I NOT going to say Poch 'must' or 'needs' to do anything as I trust the man wholeheartedly, but if The Ram was in the dugout today Spurs would be lining up like:


Lloris

Dier Kaboul Vertonghen Rose

Capoue Dembele

Lamela Chadli Townsend

Ade


It's as simple as that!!!

That team more or less picks itself, as it is a side that is based on 'current form' as much as anything else.

Going bk to Townsend, I thought the kid was excellent midweek against Forest and unlucky not to come away from that game with a goal and at least one assist. But it was, and is, his attitude that tends to impress me the most about the young winger.

Direct, self-assured and relentless, Andros is EXACTLY the type of confident attacker Spurs are crying out for at a time where a few others are struggling to impose themselves upon games.

Spurs NEED a 'go to guy' right now, and Townsend has not only shown that he is capable of being that player for both club and country last season, but that he relishes the role.

Imagine the kind of damage the AT could with all that space he will be afforded on the larger surface of the Emirates pitch! And if you can't imagine that, think about the likes of Cazorla/ Arteta/Flamini desperately trying to assist their fullback every time the Andros picks up the ball and begins to travel at speed with it.

Like I said before, Arsenal don't cope well with pace on the counter and haven't done for years, so ask yourself: Who is better equipped to help exploit that weakness than the England International?

The fact that he also showed in one game against Forest that he is arguably our best set-piece (corners and freekicks) taker on current form, I believe the choice to include him is a bit of a NO BRAINER!!!


Adebayor stays in on the basis that he is playing against his old team. The Togolese striker has put in a shift this term and as a result has had his chances, but Ade must start to convert these opportunities if the team is going to generate the kind of confidence necessary to embark on a run of results that will see us move quickly up the table.

 

Agree with Kane starting and agree that Adebayor would see us playing with 10 men - whether he stays on the pitch or not.
Use Kane as another number 10 and their central defenders won't know what to do with themselves - although I could suggest something.

 

history is scarred by reigns of terror and cleansed by the hero's who purge the land of that terror. Hitler's attempt at domination was shown to be nothing but a dream not destiny by the Allies and they're will to restore order, to suffer as one and to be united as one in the face of an enemy that must be defeated. A knowledge that accepting this status would be forsaking all that makes up the pillars of acceptable reality. A will to fight for what is right and just. Now it's Tottenham's turn to silent the fires of arsenal that have burned unchecked in north London for too long.

Whoever starts, there is only one true side that has the right to call our land home. 27/09/2014..operation spurverlord begins