The most important test: North London Derby

by .

The big one is HERE. Arsenal take on Spurs in the battle for bragging rights in North London. Unbeaten in 18, this is a huge test for Emery. For Spurs, this match is really about whether they have the minerals to be championship fighters. They’ve started to perk up of late and they certainly put in a boss performance against Chelsea.

Much is riding on this from an optics perspective for Arsenal. Lose and the pattern of top 6 struggles will continue for Emery as it did for Wenger. Lose, and United will start to look a lot more difficult. Lose, and the klaxon of progress will start to sound a little meek.

So what are we looking out for?

For me, similar to the Liverpool game. Give us a performance that shows the fans that we’ve progressed. I want to see a strategy that’s interesting, that shows we had an extra few days on the training ground… one that exposes their weaknesses, or does something smart to nullify their strengths.

If the Chelsea game is anything to go by, they’re going to try and swamp JorXhaka in midfield. He’s the key to our game moving forward, and not just that, he doesn’t always perform well under immense pressure. This game is really will be a barometer for his improvement this year. He needs a barnstormer. He needs have a blinder if we’re to succeed.

Additionally, it’s going to be interesting to see what sort of Mesut shows up. Emery dropped him last week and, in my opinion, accidentally called him a pussy in the press. I think the real reason he dropped him was about preservation and the simple reality that he struggles with fitness. Last time he was rested he flew out the traps. Sure, it was against Leicester, but let’s not pretend they’re not a physical side. If he can’t raise it tomorrow, it really will say something about his future with Arsenal.

We’re going to need a fresh-legged performance from Torreira. The signing of the last 10 years in my opinion. Petit had an interesting take on the Uraguyan.

“Arsenal have been too glamorous in the past few years, and not dirty enough, but with Torreira, the dirt is coming back into the team.

“He is not the most talented player, but he is like a dog on the pitch, he is a leader and sets an example.

“He doesn’t impress you physically, but you can feel his breath on your neck, and his foot in your calf because he is there all the time, and that is the kind of player you need in a team.”

He’s going to need to be at his dog like best today. The concern is that he’s doing the job of two because Xhaka doesn’t have the mobility or physicality in midfield. Ideally, we’d have two Torriera’s, but such is life.

I also think there’s some interesting choices to be made going forward. Will we make sacrifices with our formation and go with one up front and rely on swift counters? Does he continue to have the best of both with both our forwards? Will Iwobi get the nod? Will he give Mikhi another run-out?

The great thing is this: We have no idea what Emery is going to try. But you can bet your bottom dollar it’s not going to be a case of ‘express yourself and hope.’ I think his comments about the game were spot on.

“At the moment, Tottenham is better than us in the table and better than us last year but in history Arsenal is better at other moments than Tottenham,”

I’d rather the conversation be about Arsenal being better now, versus the insecure retort of ‘we have a better history.’ Spurs are in a better moment than us, of that there is no doubt, the power is with them. That can be easily overturned, and a good place to start is now.

This is where the money is made. This is what cements legend amongst fans. This is what we live for.

Have a great day, see you in the comments! x

P.S. Take a listen to our podcast before it becomes old.

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AJ

Torriera you beauty

Rambo Ramsey

Oh we love you Emery

Dissenter

Our Uruguayan animal

useroz

Fuck the spuds

Really 4 – 2! Within 5 min!!!

Leftsidesanch

Torreira!!!!

azed

Fuck those inbred cunts!!!

Un na naai

He’s deserved that
MOTM for me Torreira

Dream10

What a cameo by Ramsey man
We’re letting him go smh

Kay

Wow Torriera is already my favorite

raptora

I’m on the moon right now.
Speechless.
Best Arsenal I’ve seen since that Fabregas team.

Dissenter

Dale

In the context of what’s going on right now
This is my best derby in 12 years

Tony

OMG my son is apoleptic his hero has scored

JoppaRoad

WTF do you lot think about that!

EMERY BALL

COME ON YOUR BEAUTIFUL GUNNERS!

I SAID KEEP THE FAITH!

DaleDaGooner

Torriera!!!!!

Leedsgunner

This is more like it!!!

First goal for the Arsenal!!!!

Zimmie2652

Tor with the brilliant turn and finish. Love it. Couldn’t be a player more deserving of a first goal today!

Jamie

Spare a thought for GoH. 4-2.

LegendMax

Football is beautiful…

CHALO!

Fuckin hell…….Torreira that’s a goal !!

Guns of Hackney

Torrier for £22m is daylight robbery. Trouble will be keeping him. Barca and city would love him.

Guns of Hackney

Shut up, Jamie.

kc

I knew he’d be brilliant when we bought him. Had no clue just how brilliant. He’s the one we’ve been missing. What a player!

AJ

Guen hassles well

Danish Gooner

WE HAVE GOT OUR ARSENAL BACK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bamford10

4-2. Awesome. Great frickin’ spirit from the players today.

Un na naai

Best league in the world

Arsene's Nurse

Happy days. What a change. Lets have 5.

Dissenter

Don’t fucking take the foot off
Bully them till the end
No freaking game management required
Don’t take the foot off their throats.

Rambo Ramsey

Spurs defense got overwhelmed. How do you deal with Auba, Laca and Ramsey all at the same time?

useroz

We want 5……..

raptora

Now tell me how Poch is a better manager than Emery.
Emery litterally changed this game while Poch was picking his nose clueless what’s going on.

Jay

This is too good to be true, we have battered these cunts

Guns of Hackney

This makes getting rid of Özil much easier.

Reward Torrier. Sack off Özil.

Danish Gooner

HOW ABOUT THOSE SUBSTITUTES

Alexis

I love u torreira

Marko

Auba man of the match for me two goals and an assist and he’s been working hard all day

DaleDaGooner

Pochettino subbed his two cunts, they’re giving up

Dissenter

Bellerin needs to know when to clear the ball

useroz

Emery still bares his teeth @ 4 – 2.

Love it.

This is what we wished for booting Wenger!! Hear hear…

Goobergooner

Torreira scoring has topped this game off for me. That is an absolutely amazing turnaround.

What a game. What an absolute cracker.
My heart was in my mouth since 2 1 down, but the euphoria now is incredible.

Come on you gunners. Looooove it

gonsterous

wengemery really got to GoH
quick posts in succession. Hide the pain away pal

Kay

Emery is having a breather hahaha

Danish Gooner

WALKING IN UNAI WONDERLAND

Jay

I’ll also say, 2 1 down last year we would’ve folded. The character this team has shown is unbelievable and all down to the new manager.

DaleDaGooner

Who was the cunt that said we weren’t good enough for the top 4? Was it gambon??

Dissenter

Be careful what you wish for

HighburyLegend

Lol talking about mental strength…

Zimmie2652

“Spurs defense got overwhelmed. How do you deal with Auba, Laca and Ramsey all at the same time?”

Put in Özil… ;p

gonsterous

Torr has got to be one of the best bargain buys in a very very long time

Guns of Hackney

Let’s hope Emery realises that Iwobi, Özil and mikki are surplus. Ramsay good as an impact player but not worth £200k.

Torrier and gued is our midfield for the next 7 years.

We need better defenders and other attacking options.

HighburyLegend

Where is GoH ????

HighburyLegend

Lol mental strenght again ??

Guns of Hackney

Dale

Season isn’t over yet.

karim

This is absolutely fantastic !

What a game !

gonsterous

kolasinac has been underappreciated this game. He is a beast out there.

Jay

Emery has schooled Poch. No one is missing weng#r more than mourinho right now.

HighburyLegend

GoH wants the PL title, nothing less.

Kay

Wow that fighting spirit and ze mental strength

Paulinho

Might be my favourite match ever.

Fuck you Tim Sherwood.

Dissenter

Emery’s boldness in calling a spade a spade is coming to fruition

Everyone bar Pierre knew Ozil was a dopey lazy cvnt

Goonah

Hope Laca is ok

Looks bad

AJ

I hope he is okay

WengerEagle

Fucking get in, great day to be an Arsenal supporter, proud of the boys.

Kay

That tops it……… Hope laca is safe

mysticleaves

Oooh to be a gunner. fuck the scum

Guns of Hackney

I just want improvement. This is improvement.

Jamie

This is amazing. Spurs have lost the plot here.

Zimmie2652

If I’m not mistaken isn’t Poch 0-7 against Emery? About to be 0-8.

PaddyGooner

Nasty. Hope laca is ok

gonsterous

hahaha look at them spuds turn and go…
laca just got back from injury ffs

Dissenter

My best derby since the one Adebayor scored the volley in

Leedsgunner

Hopefully this result will unite the fan base one and all firmly behind the new manager.

Nasty challenge on Laca.

Dream10

Vertonghen gets away with a lot of reckless stuff.

london gunner

pochettinos suit looks like its straight out of primark

Sid

Be careful what you wish for . Hell yeah.

useroz

Time to save some energy to do the manure…

Control the game and don’t be silly.

Goobergooner

See ya mate!

mysticleaves

Ha! Erikson does sooooo much than Ozil😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Dissenter

Proper derby
This one is good

Bamford10

I think Vertonghen deliberately left them up on that. Deserved the second yellow. Good call by the ref.

Alexanderhenry

I’m enjoying the handbags as well.

Kay

Laca is not 100%

ddkingz

Manure Are dead….

Goobergooner

Xhaka has actually been smart in this match. Winks is a little bitch. I seriously love derby day. Spuds are trash.

london gunner

Yes bellerin, no longer a boy

Dissenter

We bullied them to bits
The rotation midweek helped;poed

Kay

As id Son and Alli are saints..
Spuds dont dive is it?

Stuff it on thier face

useroz

Let’s all sing… two one and you fuck it up.

Tony

Sets us up nicely for Manure

Dissenter

Holding s a boy … no more
He’s really good.

DaleDaGooner

The media and their love with Spuds should die a bit……after this proper spank

useroz

6 min fergie time

Dean doing his last deed

Olumide

I’m seriously loving this…

kc

What a fantastic win this is. A statement game from Emery. We’ve got our Arsenal back indeed.

london gunner

What’s good is we aren’t just winning we are winning playing quality football against a very good team

DaleDaGooner

And to the CUNTISH brats who said the spuds were better

Kay

Confidence is key. We just need to keep pur head down and tear manu to shreds.. Long due for us..

Bamford10

All credit to Emery. He has breathed a great fighting spirit into the side, and he made a couple of smart, important changes at half.

london gunner

Dale

I deffo thought we would lose this game before the match started.
Pleased to be completely and utterly wrong

WengerEagle

People will point it out and tbf to him, Wenger had a good record against Spurs at the Emirates even in the dark days.

But today’s performance is just different, not just about the result. We’ve outplayed Spurs all over the park and have shown massive heart to come back from 2-1 down.

Feels good man, been too long.

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