Theo Walcott feels that despite Tottenham’s very active summer in the transfer market, the Gunners still have the edge over their north London rivals ahead of Sunday’s North London Derby.
Arsenal’s only acquisition this summer has been Yaya Sanogo on a free transfer with a whole host of senior players departing, leaving Arsene Wenger’s squad rather thin. Admittedly he is making space for some of their exciting youngsters to step up into the fold, but with injuries a big problem already, the Gunners need to reinforce over the remaining few days left in the window.
Many are now considering Andre Villas-Boas’ side as favourites to top the Gunners this season as their spending spree continues in the wake of the imminent loss of Gareth Bale. Plenty of new faces have arrived at White Hart lane while some notable departures (see below) will see a new-look Spurs side visit the Emirates this weekend.
Walcott is looking forward to the first NLD of the season and feels it will be an impressive spectacle. When asked by The Evening Standard if Spurs are the superior side at present, the Englishman responded:
Not at all. I feel we’re very, very strong.
Everyone makes out our squad is very weak and there are not many of us but I think we showed in the last few games that we bounced back from a bad result in the first match [a 3-1 defeat against Aston Villa] and proved a lot of people wrong.
Every club are different and they invested their money very well. For us players we just want to do a job on Sunday, we don’t care if they have brought in £30m stars.
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They have some very good players and a very good manager but we need to make sure we focus on ourselves. The way we’re playing at the moment we believe we can beat anyone.
It’s a massive game and I always enjoy them. The fans make it very special. It’s very early in the season considering there is an England game coming up but us players love it and it’s a fixture I always look at straight away.
Tottenham are playing very good stuff at the moment but we are looking very sharp so for the neutral it’s going to be a pretty impressive spectacle.
Certainly Tottenham have bought well this summer, they have lost Gallas, Parker, Huddlestone, Livermore, Dempsey, Caulker and soon to be Bale which has weakened the side substantially. Luckily for Arsenal the Derby comes early which will allow the gelled Arsenal team, who are in good form despite their opening weekend blip, to exploit the new-look Spurs side who will take some time to grow as a group.
This summer the Spuds have brought in Etienne Capoue, Paulinho (both defensive-minded midfielders), Roberto Soldado (a Spanish international centre Forward), Nacer Chadli, Erik Lamela (both wingers) and Vlad Chiriches (centre Back). They are also holding talks with Ajax star Christian Eriksen – why don’t Arsenal go in for the highly rated Danish international?
Arsenal in contrast have brought in Yaya Sanogo.
While there will be no new signings to save the day this weekend, we can only hope the likes of Ramsey and Wilshere will be 100% fit for the tie after knocks against Fenerbahce. Then we pray that there are no new injuries from the Derby.
Arsenal do have a very good chance against Spurs, but as for the XI that plays against them – that’s it. Barely any depth at all. Podolski, The Ox, Arteta, Vermaelen all injured. There is a high possibility we will see Gibbs play more of a role as a left winger this season with Monreal in behind if the injury woes continue.
What are your thoughts Gooners? Think Arsenal can win the Derby this Sunday?
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