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Arsenal: North London Derby Result Not As Important As We Think
Everyone is backing Arsenal to win over their bitter Rivals Tottenham. While a win would be crucial, we can not get hung up over one result.
I want to begin this with a confession. I was born and raised in New York City. I became an Arsenal supporter as a way to get back at my Chelsea loving father. It was a way to bond, we had a rivalry over football. I have never been to the hallowed ground of Highbury. I wasn’t old enough to truly appreciate Tony Adams. I don’t know what the North London Derby is like in the flesh. However, with that being said I am here to tell you that Arsenal’s potential victory or defeat on Sunday has been overblown.
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The game is of course immensely meaningful to fans. This is a huge day for Gooners everywhere whether in the U.K. or abroad. Both teams have as good of squads as they have ever produced in recent years. However, despite all that we can not be so obsessed with one result. This is the most hotly contested match of the Premier League Season by far. No other derby comes close to the ferocity of this game, but we can not allow our season to boiled down to this 90 minutes.
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I have been watching pundits give their opinions and have also been reading tons of literature leading up to Sunday’s game, and it has left me with one realization. We, meaning Arsenal, can not let this consume us.
We are a massive club. We are a major European power. We are the best club in London. A Win, loss or draw on Sunday will not change that. We as Arsenal supporters must not lose sight of that. Spurs are not in our class. Period. Full Stop.
It is a cliched but true saying, form goes out of the window for this type of match. Spurs are repugnant and Arsenal are sparkling but that does not matter. If Spurs edge us on Sunday we can not look at that as a complete indictment on our season. Likewise, if the Gunners win, we are still very very far away from a Champions League or Premier League crown.
I will be up at 7 a.m. ready to watch the game. However no matter what the outcome is we need to be ready to pick up and move on. A win on Sunday should be duly celebrated, but ultimately viewed as beating a competent opponent. Likewise, a loss can not be met with falling skies and bomb shelters.
Our team has shown mental fortitude in the last few matches, now as supporters, we much emulate that same level-headedness. While a win against Tottenham will surely be a feather in Arsenal’s cap, a loss does not spell doom and gloom. As supporters, we must be ready to rebound quickly in order to face PSG and United later this month.
Next: Arsenal Vs Spurs: Combined XI
Trust me I am not afraid. I predict a 2-2 draw myself, but Sp*rs do not intimidate me. I just want to be sure that we do not get overly fixated on one match with a team that haven’t finished above us in the league for 21 years!