Arsenal Vs Spurs: Resilience, ruthlessness will determine victor

Arsenal faces Tottenham on Saturday in the final North London Derby of the season. Ruthlessness and resilience will determine the victor.

In March of last year, Juventus’ Giorgio Chiellini momentarily hung up his defender’s boots and spoke with the penetrating perceptiveness of a clairvoyant. Commenting on his team’s 4-3 aggregate victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League Round of 16, the Italian made it clear that The Bianconeri trusted in their experience and Spurs’ lack of mental fortitude to win the game at Wembley and go on to the quarter-finals.

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‘It’s the history of Tottenham,’ the defender told BT Sport.  ‘They always create many chances and score so much but, in the end, they miss always something to arrive at the end. We believe in history. Also yesterday, in the game between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain [which Real won] – the history it’s important and the experience is important.’

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Tottenham are currently enjoying the most successful period of their existence. Mauricio Pochettino has turned the club into a consistent Champions League side. That cannot be argued. However, the fact that their greatest success also comes bereft of any silverware puts their lowly status into perspective. Arsenal, on the other hand, is currently in the midst of the most tumultuous transition in the club’s recent history, with the departure of long-serving boss Arsene Wenger and the arrival of new man Unai Emery.

The gap between the two clubs is only four points and by 2 PM GMT on Saturday, it may only be one.

This speaks volumes to the much more important and obvious gap between the two clubs in terms of prestige, expectation, global impact and ambition. While Arsenal look to find traction during a rather chaotic period, Tottenham find themselves still in touching distance of their rivals despite enjoying their longest time in the sun.

However, for all of Spurs’ shortcomings, and they are extensive, Arsenal cannot escape scrutiny either. The Gunners have fallen a long way from the menacing, ruthless and literally invincible force they once were. The days of Martin Keown laughing in the face of Eric Cantona are gone. Towards the end of Wenger’s reign, the team seemed more toothless than ever, lacking leadership, bite and hunger. Under Emery, there has most definitely been a renewed vigor in the side, but the team still needs to prove themselves away from home against the ‘big boys’.

Saturday’s north London showdown is a massive one. This match not only holds great importance in terms of league position, but it also symbolizes a major moment in the evolution of these two rivals.

Tottenham are a wounded animal. Consecutive losses to Burnley and Chelsea have sounded the alarm bells. Tension is beginning to bubble over within their ranks as well. Pochetino’s fiery exchange with Mike Dean after the Burnley defeat and Harry Kane’s ‘headbutt’ on Cesar Azpilicueta on Wednesday show signs of aggravation setting in amongst Spurs. How they react in the face of adversary will be extremely telling.

On the other hand, Arsenal have weaved a few good performances together to create a lifeline of sorts. If they want to prove they aren’t the ‘Same Old Arsenal’, then a ruthless display on Saturday is in order. Putting Tottenham to the sword wouldn’t just be satisfying in the microcosm of one match or even one season. An away victory at Wembley could drive the club forward back to where it belongs and be the first step in welcoming back St. Totteringham’s day.