Just win

 

It's Derby day. Tottenham come to the Emirates with the landscape looking a lot different to how it was just two weeks ago. 

Having won the league in August, Nuno Espirito Santo's men have suffered somewhat of a title hangover and come in to the game on the back of consecutive league defeats. Arsenal on the other hand have made something of a recovery following on from a worst ever start to a league campaign. Back to back 1-0 wins see us sit on 6 points, just 3 off the champions.

We do of course have the mitigation of the opposition when considering those wins. Norwich look certain for the drop just 6 games in, and Burnley remain winless and may also be struggling to stay up. But it's steps in the right direction. We have kept clean sheets. All our new signings are bedding in and the line up is starting to look a little more settled and take the shape that it seems Mikel Arteta wants it to take.

Having played an hour in midweek in an effort to increase his match fitness, Thomas Partey will be looking to make a second consecutive start in the league, his third appearance in total. It really can't be emphasised enough how much he brings to our team. We just look completely different with him in the side. It also shouldn't be forgotten how he dominated Pierre Hojbjerg and the rest of the Tottenham midfield in the corresponding fixture last season. He is pretty much the first name on the team sheet.

The defence and goalkeeper basically picks itself now too. I find it hard to see anything other than Ramsdale-Tierney-Gabriel-White-Tomiyasu back there. In recent years we have struggled defensively, and that is in part due to the fact that we have struggled to put a consistent line up out there. We now have five players who are Artetas guys. They have shown great promise in the few occasions we have seen them together, and they should be given time to grow together. I don't see any deviation from this against Sp*rs.

There is of course a huge elephant in the room, and possibly one of the toughest choices of Mikel Artetas reign to be made. The polarising Granit Xhaka is available for selection and the boss needs to decide if he throwshim staright in to the heat of the derby. On the one hand he has formed a decent partnership with Thomas Partey. He brings experience and leadership to the midfield, and he keeps the ball ticking over. On the other hand, he's Granit Xhaka. He is far from the most mobile of midfielders which is seemingly at odds with what Arteta wants in a midfielder, he carries a reputation with him, which it's not inconceivable to think that referees use to pre-judge when he goes in for a tackle, and on top of that you just never know when the next brain fart is coming. We can scarcely afford it to be tomorrow.

I have a feeling that he will be thrown straight back in at the expense of one of the attackers, possibly Emile Smith-Rowe. Personally, if we are going to shore up the midfield with an extra body I would look to Lokonga to start with Xhaka to warm the bench, but the decision is not mine to make. Whatever choice the boss makes, the 11 on the field get my full support regardless.

My preferred line up v Sp*rs

The attack remains the same for me aside from the ESR dropping out for Lokonga. I mentioned the importance of consistency of selection in defence and the same can be said for the atatck. You get the impression that this attack is on the cusp of something big, having had 30 shots against Norwich and being one final ball away on numerous occasions against Burnley. Fingers crossed this is the week that it all clicks. There has been something of a clamouring for Lacazette to start this one. H has a decent record in the derby so I completely understand that. But I cant see Aubameyang being dropped which would mean either Pepe or Saka missing out and Auba going wide. For me it won't happen, but knowing we have that threat off the bench provides great reassurance.

Tottenham on the other hand are on something of an opposite trend to the Gunners at the moment. Following their three 1-0 wins in August, they have conceded 3 in each of their last two games. Harry Kane is also yet to score a league goal this season, so fingers crossed that is another trend that continues. You can just see him getting a dodgy penalty though, probably off of a Son dive after Xhaka slides in recklessly, Craig Pawson desperate to point to the spot. 

Truth be told though, they were largely unimpressive in their three wins (although beating Manchester City should never be underestimated), and were even more so in their subsequent defeats. I'm not saying that they are there for the taking, but this is a huge opportunity that we need to take.

I think this is the first derby in a long time that we go in to that I am not feeling a fear of defeat. Although not taking them lightly, I genuinely think we are in a better place than they are right now. 2 weeks ago we were rock bottom and they were top. Our goal difference was -9, theirs was +3. Yet here we are, 90 minutes and a 2 goal win away from going above them in the league and 4 points off the top four, 5 off the top of the table. Who could have predicted that when we left the Etihad, humbled after our 5-0 thrashing?

It's one of the biggest games of the season. The 60,000 in the stadium will be up for it. We will all be up for it at home. The minimum we ask for is 100% commitment from the  that step on the pitch. The squad is fully fit, everyone available. There can be no excuses. Lets go out there and paint North London Red! COYG