Nothing like a North London Derby

Spurs will need a "kiss from a Rose" on Saturday

There is absolutely nothing like a North London Derby. The Glasgow derby comes close in terms of sheer vitriol between sets of supporters but the red/blue Manchester matches are often dull affairs (and nearly always one-sided) whilst the Merseyside derby is a tepid affair as most households in Liverpool are split between red and blue anyway.

Tottenham v Arsenal will always be a huge match, whatever state either team is in. When both teams were excellent in the 80’s and 90’s, it was one to watch and even in Spurs’ darkest moments in the league, it has given a chance for players to really give it a go. I’ve been a Spurs fan all my short life, but in terms of knowing every player, formations, going to matches regularly and, strongly disliking Arsenal, its only been about 8 years of pure devotion to the temple of White Hart Lane. In that time, I have witnessed some truly astonishing matches at the Lane, the library and the new death star. Who can forget Martin Jol screaming at Spurs to play on when an Arsenal player had tripped over his own laces resulting in a Robbie Keane goal and Arsene Wenger unconvincingly squaring up to the big Dutchman, only for us to lose, again because of Henry’s brilliance. Or the occasion when Jermaine Jenas scored a stoppage time equalizer at the Lane for us? How about the time when we first went to the Emirates and outplayed arsenal? Robbie Keane won a penalty but Almunia saved excellently and Arsenal ran down the other end and scored to win? How about one night at the Lane when against all expectations, Spurs dismantled a less experienced Arsenal side in the Carling Cup 5-1? I remember that night as the commentator on Sky said as Jenas got the ball: “Time for one last attack perhaps, oh and its Jenas who passes to… MALBRANQUE! There’s the icing on the cake – Glory Glory Tottenham Hotspur!” Whenever I needed a pick up, I stuck that match on my Sky+ box and still feel elated!

In more recent times, the North London Derby has produced some stellar games. In Harry Redknapp’s second game in charge, we went ahead at the Emirates thanks to an unbelievably classy goal from David Bentley (“Take a bow son, take a bow” said Andy Gray). Arsenal pulled it back to 2-1 before dominating the game, outplaying us. Then they scored a third and it all looked a lost hope. Then Darren “how much?!” Bent scored to give us a chance but it all looked dead and buried when Hutton inadvertently set up Arsenal to smash a fourth in. Cue my friend telling me to turn it off “You won’t win now, lets watch Family Guy.” I was not for moving. Then Jenas scored a cracker of a goal to give renewed hope to Spurs fans – I was on my knees at this point. I remember Andy Gray saying, “Arsene Wenger will be furious, just keep the ball, run it into the corner.” Gomes lumped a ball down into the Arsenal half, Huddlestone knocked it to (and here’s the commentary because I have watched it 200 times since) “Modric, hits the post… LENNON! FOUR FOUR!” Andy Grey then took over “Well would you believe it? What an advert for this game we love. Harry’s team should be out of this, Harry’s team should be going home with nothing having done quite well – but they’re going home with a point in the most extraordinary of circumstances and Arsene Wenger will be furious. This ball takes a big deflection from Modric’s strike as it hits the post and you think they’ve got away with it but no: Little Aaron Lennon, alert, bright, aware, is there to stick it into the back of the net.” Apologies for any inaccuracies in the commentary there but I’m fairly sure that was it all. What a match eh?! Well, we looked to do it again last year at the Emirates but Arsenal took a goal in the 42^nd minute and after 41 minutes of dogged defending and whilst the replay of the first goal was still going on, Arsenal score another, straight from the re-start and Spurs fall apart. Arsenal dominated that game and Spurs didn’t even come close.

The most remarkable night of my Spurs life, was probably not Inter Milan at White Hart Lane (if I had been there then it probably would have been) but a cold night in April earlier this year. I was in Jersey where my girlfriend is from and she had booked us a Spa day and night at a very swanky club. I had however insisted that we do any day but the Wednesday but sods law, the club only had space on the Wednesday. So, Alice being the utter star that she is and understanding the other love in my life, let me go to a local pub to watch the match. I sat at the bar before the game in a relatively empty pub feeling very nervous indeed but also buzzing with excitement. For my company I had three pissed locals although one was a Liverpool fan. I was perplexed as to why Danny Rose was starting but I thought it might be a wildcard and that hopefully Harry Redknapp knew something I didn’t.  In the 9^th minute something remarkable happened. A David Bentley corner was punched away buy Almunia and as it fell from the sky like a meteorite from outer space, Danny Rose, on his full Spurs debut struck the ball with his left foot, before it had a chance to touch the ground. The ball scorched through the air at unbelievable velocity and ferocity and nearly burnt a hole in the goal net. I was in disbelief, I screamed to an empty pub, White Hart Lane didn’t just rock, it exploded.  Martin Tyler shouted, “Oh what a goal! Its Danny Rose on his Premier League debute with a memorable strike! Can you believe it!”

Here it is in all its glory:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r0clOtSRlo&feature=related

 As my pissed companions game back from a smoking break I was shouting “Rose has scored an unbelievable goal, best goal I’ve ever seen, look… look!” One of them responded that he’d believe it when he saw it. When they saw it one said, “bloody hell, fourth place is yours now I’d say fella. What. A. Goal.” Danny Rose ran around the pitch, a man possessed, on fire, screaming. The Liverpool fan next to me said, “they’ll have to take him off now, he’s lost his head after a goal like that!” We went on to win that game thanks to a wonderful Bale goal created by Jermain Defoe’s excellent ball. Gomes deserved plaudits for having made three exceptional world-class saves in as many minutes right at the end of the game as we held on to win 2-1. I have no shame in admitting that I literally skipped back to the hotel and bought drinks all night for my lovely girlfriend and me. I was horribly hung-over the next day but still made time to buy all the newspapers. What a wonderful night.

For my little story there are thousands upon thousands more remarkable and special, for both sets of supporters about different North London Derby’s throughout the ages. It is the first date that both fans look for when the fixtures list is released and the game all fans want to be at. I feel that tomorrow will be a very open game with fragile defences and attack-minded midfields on both teams. One would expect Gallas to want to prove a point so he should be good at the back. The key for me is not Defoe, but Van Der Vaart and Crouch’s new partnership. I feel that with a ropey defence and goalkeeper, the knock down combination could be a rich source of potential to score a goal. At the other end, our defence has been cut to ribbons by lesser teams so will need real spatial awareness to keep messyrs Arsahrvin, Fabregas and the resurgent Nasri quiet. I wouldn’t like to predict the score but I do think both teams will score. I would take a draw here and now despite Newcastle and West Brom winning at the Emirates this year. Arsenal are an excellent team and I am always first to acknowledge when they have outplayed us when updating Facebook after a game – I hope that tomorrow, I won’t have to.

Audere est Facere!