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Can Arsenal salvage their title campaign against Tottenham?

By on March 3, 2016

Anxiety stalks Arsenal. It stems from their years of third and fourth-placed finishes and fantastic mid-season collapses. One night they might be world beaters and they have the capacity to spectacularly fall apart the next weekend. Last season it was August, and the year before that January. This season, an enormous North London Derby on Saturday threatens to derail their current Premier League title campaign following defeats to Swansea City and Manchester United.

Tottenham Hotspur have been quietly launching a formidable title change and despite a small blip against West Ham United on Wednesday, a win over Arsenal would send them roaring with confidence into the run-in. More importantly, they’d have a six point lead over Arsene Wenger’s men.

Arsenal legend Martin Keown, who played in a decent share of North London Derbies himself, told the Mail that he believes that this is the most important derby ever, because it’s not just about the derby.

“In my day, Tottenham were always trying to stop us winning something. That was all that mattered to them. We used to dismiss them,” said Keown.

“But this is different. If [Spurs] win this game then they could finish above Arsenal for the first time in Wenger’s time in England and win the league. Arsenal have been trying to win it for 11 or 12 years.”

Much more than bragging rights are at stake on Saturday; there’s a title potentially up for grabs at White Hart Lane. Tottenham have the tougher run-in of the two teams, but the momentum from a win over their rivals could carry them past Leicester City.

In contrast, Arsenal face only three teams currently in the top half of the table in their final ten matches of the season. However, they’re ranked only thirteenth in the league against the middle-third of the table and critics say they’re only in the title race because their rivals have fallen even further short of their expectations.  They will also be missing Petr Cech in goal at the weekend due to an injury suffered in their midweek loss to Swansea.

A win would take Arsenal back within three points of Leicester, but it would be very hard for either side to recover from a loss. Perhaps Arsenal should angle for a draw against Spurs, but Wenger is to proud and stubborn, to a fault, to play for anything short of a win, said Keown.

Last season, Tottenham defeated the Gunners in a energetic, youthful display at White Hart Lane and Arsenal are already looking over their shoulders in anticipation. They may be surprised to find, however, that Spurs are already ahead of them and unless they can rid themselves of any nerves left over, they might be doomed for the same disappointing fate.

Homepage photo credit: Ronnie Macdonald, via Flickr

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.