By 
This Sunday’s North London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham is arguably one of the most important in the history of the two teams.
For Arsenal, they go into the game on the back of two costly Cup defeats that have surely extended their wait for silverware to an agonising seventh season. Yet win this game against their fierce rivals, and all will be forgotten - and forgiven.
Tottenham, on the other hand, are riding high in third place and are still in with a shout to bag their first title since 1961. A win on Sunday over Arsenal will see them stretch their lead over the Gunners to a daunting 13 points, with just 12 games of the season remaining.
The stakes are undeniably high.
Even in Singapore, more than 10,000km away from Sunday's battleground at the Emirates Stadium, the disdain Arsenal and Tottenham fans have for each other is as clear as daylight.
Arsenal diehard Ganesh Sivam described Spurs supporters as"obnoxious and deluded".
"They haven't won the league title since 1961 (before colour TV came about) and yet the way Spurs fans speak about their team, they'll have you believe that they are the most successful club in the history of football," said the season ticket holder at the Emirates Stadium.
His fellow Singapore Gooner - as Arsenal fans are known - Raun Anand was more critical. He said: "They are jealous of our team, of our club and of our stature. Why wouldn't they? We are the best team in London. 13 league titles compared to just two for them. Do me a favour."
Adarsh Bala and Daryl Spykerman (Photos courtesy of Daryl Spykerman)But Spurs fanatic Daryl Spykerman hit back at Arsenal, or more specifically their manager Arsene Wenger, accusing the Frenchman of going “round the world, stealing young kids and putting them in the Arsenal academy”.
Lifelong Tottenham fan Adarsh Bala also called his Arsenal counterparts “fair-weather fans who support their team only when they are doing well”. In contrast, he said: “We Spurs supporters stick by our team through thick and thin.
But despite the fans’ belief in their respective teams, one thing is clear: Expect a cagey affair come kick-off on Sunday.
Arsenal fan Terence Lim is bracing himself for a closely-fought match. “As this is a very important game for both teams, I think the teams will be slightly hesitant to go all out.” Still, he has predicted the Gunners to take all three points, with captain Robin van Persie scoring both goals in a 2-1 win.
‘Come On You Spurs’
But Bala is convinced Tottenham can add to the Gunners’ recent misery by condemning them to their third consecutive defeat. “We have the psychological advantage having already beaten them 2-1 at White Hart Lane this season, possibly a two-goal victory,” he said.
Spykerman, though, felt less gung ho. “I hope Spurs will win 3-0 and Arsene Wenger will throw his bottle in anger and hit Harry Redknapp, who will then unleash his pet dog Rosie on him! But I think both teams will play out a 1-1 draw.”
Wenger under siege
While a win over Spurs will ease the pressure on the beleaguered Wenger, Redknapp’s swashbuckling team is still on course to finish above Arsenal for the first time since the French manager rode into Highbury 17 years ago.
Still, Sivam is convinced come what may at the end of the season, Wenger should still be in charge at the Emirates. “He is still the best man for the job. He brought us to the top and he is the man to bring us back up again.”
Agreeing, Anand said he does not blame Wenger for Arsenal’s current troubles. “I blame the other clubs. Football now is no longer just a lifestyle, it is a business. Chelsea, Manchester City and United just keep buying players, so if Arsene don’t spend, Arsenal will continue to go down.”
And despite the current pessimism hanging over the team, the 21-year-old full-time national serviceman remains confident that on Sunday, Arsenal will take to the field a team transformed and put Spurs to the sword. “I expect Arsene to kick open the door to the dressing room, give the lads a real talk down on how much his game will mean to the club and to the fans and ending it with a very George Graham-esque ‘Now go out there and be The Arsenal!’”
Will Arsenal win? Or can Spurs condemn the Gunners to their worst finish under Arsene Wenger?
20 comments