Happy St. Totteringham’s Day: Arsenal v Tottenham; Match Preview
It's Derby Day
St. Totteringham’s Day: (N) Quite a simple concept, St. Totteringham’s day is the day when Arsenal have gathered enough points to be mathematically assured to finish ahead of Tottenham in the league table. When Arsenal have an advance on their North London rivals large enough that it becomes mathematically impossible for them to be overtaken, that day is declared by Arsenal fans to be St. Totteringham’s day.
Because the celebration is based on the points difference between the two clubs, the exact date of St. Totteringham’s day varies from year to year, depending on the respective forms of both clubs that season. For obvious reasons St. Totteringham’s day can only occur the years when Arsenal finish the season ahead of Tottenham in the league table. Since the inception of the EPL in 1992, it has happened every year, except for the 1992-93 and 1994-95 seasons when Arsenal last finished behind Tottenham in the league.
The earliest occurence of St. Totteringham’s day in a season is 9 March 2008, matchday 29 of the 2007-08 season. The least amount of games needed to reach St’ Totteringham’s day was 28, on 13 March 2008. Both the 1995-96 and 2005-06 seasons went down to the wire, with both clubs’ rankings relative to each other only decided on matchday 38, the very last day of the season.
Ah, it’s that time of year. We are winding down at the end of the season and we are faced with putting our North London rivals in their right place – below us in the table. Yes, my friend’s rejoice it is today that we will likely dance and shout for joy at the arrival of St. Totteringham’s Day. Songs will be sung and pints will be drunk and by the end of it Fat Harry and his over achieving bands of misfits will once again be lower than Arsenal for another season.
Yes, every day you pick up a paper and the man who is partially responsible for Pompey’s demise (though he won’t admit it) proudly shouts (to anyone who will listen) that his club are closing the gap on Arsenal. I am not sure Harry has bothered to check the table nor reminded himself of their last result. But Harry in his wildest dreams will never have a club that could hold Denilson’s jock strap. The fact that they faded out to Pompey in the FA Cup semis is a testament to that. A big club or a club on par or near Arsenal would’ve neatly dispatched woeful Pompey with a ton of verve. And as we all know that didn’t happen.
True Harry does have some talented players – Jermaine Defoe, Jenas, Nikko Krancjar, Aaron Lennon and Jonathon Woodgate are all quality players. Even the monkey face welshman; Gareth Bale is slightly respectable. But all in all they don’t have the depth or the managerial verve to ever supplant the big four – five if you count City.
Harry is not the saviour of English football as some in the press or he himself tout him to be. He is capable. But he is old school. When the chips are down he resorts to tired tactics and doesn’t know how to pick his team up. His whole game is around the lanky legs of the freak of nature Peter Crouch. The talent he has is more by mere coinidence than actual identification. He wants rid of Roman Pavulychenko who has quietly shown the quality of his stature in spite of the English lion of Football. Bah.
Harry Redknapp is overrated, a thief, and a poor manager. The sooner we dispatch of Tottenham on Wednesday the better – so we can be done with him and tell where he can stick his team’s projections.
In reality for Arsenal the task is as it has been since the end of January – win and stay in it. Win and pass United on the table. Win and close in back to 3 points on Chelsea with a more favorable run in to the end. Arsenal have been impressive in their last 8 league matches taking 22 of 24 points. There hasn’t been a better squad. Additionally, the have developed a fighting mentality which should tell every team playing them – if you shut down when you are ahead – this team will make you pay. Ask Barcelona – the best team on the planet – what happened two weeks ago when they had a 2-0 lead on Arsenal and decided to fritter the match away.
Arsenal have shown patience and verve that is uncharacteristic of an Arsene Wenger squad. The simply will not quit for 90 + minutes. They have scord 17 goals in the last 10 minutes of matches this season. More than any other team in the league. In their last 3 matches they have closed out those matches in that last 10 minute span.
This is a different season for the Gunners. It has been marred by an incredible train of players heading to the training table for long periods of time. It is a season when noone figured they would do well, when they seemed to be the team voted most likely to be looking outside the big four this season. When in fact they are one of three teams who has been in the title hunt since October. That’s right when you look at the season in its entirety even when they were counted as out – they came right back and were well in it. Granted, the opposition seemed every intent on letting all comers play in the season.
This Arsenal squad can build on the enduring recent history against Spurs this week. In their last 20 league meetings Arsenal have not lost to Spurs. 7 of the last 9 meetings at White Hart Lane have ended in draws. The last league win Spurs had against Arsenal was a 2-1 win in 1999 – which featured a Spurs side with current Arsenal defender Sol Campbell.
Arsenal will be bouyed by the return (to the bench) of Robin Van Persie – he of the ankle injury and the placenta treatment for cure. He’s been out since an injury against an international friendly against Italy. He has returned to first team training and while his likely match fitness is limited , he does seem to “look” rather fit. You can see pictures of his training session on Arsenal dot com. There are some good images of his full out sprinting and angling with the ball. He’ll likely start on the bench but it is good to see him back in the squad. Especially with so many others out.
Speaking of out, Alex Song will miss the derby and this weekend’s tie against Wigan. Gallas is out indefinitely (still) and Arshavin could be back to the squad in time for the Man City match.
How the Match Will Play Out:
I am not sure how much creedance I put into how tired SPurs will be. Sure they played 120 minutes of losing football this past weekend. Sure it was only Sunday and sure they have to turn right around and play on Saturday. Okay maybe it is a big thing. Arsenal are a week +1 removed from a masterclass on handling the ball. They will have all gotten the exhibition against Barcelona out of their system. They should be fresh and they should smell blood of a team that is unsure of itself given their recent loss. Both sides a reeling from injuries so neither squad has a one up in that department. Except that Arsenal are out on a mission and out to prove everyone wrong. Look for an early Nicky B goal and then a late winner from either Nasri or super sub Van Persie. If Arsenal do not score early – it will be a 1-1 draw.
Players to watch:
Arsenal: Sol Campbell. Its less about what the reborn defender can do than what the reaction of the Spurs fans will be to his presence on the pitch. The acrimony of Spurs fans to the Arsenal defender is legendary. He has come out and said it won’t bother him. In fact I think it will inspire him. Let’s just hope it doesn’t inspire some of the more lunatic fringe of spurs fans.
Tottenham: Roman Pavulychenko. In January it was no secret he wanted out and that English legend ‘Arry didn’t want to play him. But then again he didn’t work very hard to move him. Needless to say it has inspired the Russian striker and he has been solid for most of the time since then. ON a couple of occassions his performance has forced ‘Arry to actually praise him. Novel stuff ‘Arry.
Probable Starting XI:
Arsenal: Almunia, Vermaelen, Campbell, Clichy, Sagna, Diaby, Denilson, Nasri, Rosicky, Bendtner, Eboue.
Spurs: Gomes, Corluka, Bassong, Dawson, Bale, Bentley Huddlestone, Gudjohnsen, Modric, DeFoe, Pavlyuchenko.
Injuries/Suspensions:
Arsenal: Arshavin (calf), Gallas (calf), Song (knee) Djourou (knee), Fabregas (leg), Ramsey (leg), Gibbs (foot)
Spurs: Palacios (suspended two matches) King (thigh) Cudicini (broken wrists), Jenas, (groin),Lennon (groin), Woodgate (groin), Kranjcar (ankle), Rose (knee)
Last Meeting (EPL)
Arsenal: 3
Spurs: 0
Leading Scorers:
Arsenal: Fabregas: 19 (15 league) Bendtner: 11 (5 league) Arshavin: 11 (9 league)
Spurs: Defoe: 23 (17 league) Crouch: 12 (7 league)
League Form:
Arsenal: WDWWW
Spurs: LWWWW
Match Officials:
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
Assistant Referees: Dave Bryan & Michael Murphy
Fourth Official: Stuart Atwell
TV Broadcast:
US: Unknown
UK: Sky Sports 1
Online Feeds:
www.atdhe.net
GAMEDAY CHAT will be open: www.youaremyarsenal.com/gamedaychat
YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 2
Spurs: 1
