Avoiding the Drop

I try to think like a reader when I choose subjects to write about.  What are YOU interested in hearing about, what can I deliver to you that will make you think or react or (hopefully) feel the need to respond to me with a comment.

Today, though, you will have to settle for some personal thoughts from me on the North London derby match.  This match today at the Emirates is part of my twice-yearly personal hell.  The two times per year when I cannot talk about footy with my Dad, with whom I have the greatest of relationships the other 50 weeks of the year and with whom I have the greatest running dialogue about the beautiful game.  Although if Fuse would return my calls, we could be like that.  But I digress.

It’s not often these days when these two sides, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, are near each other in the table.  Arsenal has owned this rivalry’s results lately in the Barclay’s Premier League.  Overall, though, this series is not as one-sided as you might imagine.  Currently, the all-time league battles between the two stand at 59 wins for Arsenal, 42 draws and 45 Spurs victories.  Last season saw two draws between the two, the famous 4-4 game that was Harry Redknapp’s second contest in charge of Spurs and containing one of the most amazing goals I have ever seen from the foot of David Bentley, and a rather dour 0-0 in February.

The feeling of hatred between the sets of supporters is palpable.  These two clubs are separated by only a few miles in North London, and ordinarily, they never play at home on the same day (other than today) due to the overwhelming animosity.  The last thing the London Police want is those two sets of supporters pouring into the tube together at the same time.

Today’s match sees third place Arsenal hosting fourth place Tottenham Hotspur.  As I said before, it’s been quite some time since the clubs were that close in the standings for the early match of the season.  Arsenal stand at 6 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses (United and City), and Spurs are 6 wins, 1 draw and 3 losses (United, Chelsea and Stoke City).  Arsenal’s goalkeeping situation is less than desirable at the moment, and Spurs will be without in-form striker Jermaine Defoe.  The lineups will not include Denilson, Tomas Rosicky, Theo Walcott, Defoe and Aaron Lennon.

Still, though, this match should be a cracker, charged with emotion, and high quality.  Bentley, in particular, always relishes sticking it to Arsenal, and the observers of the club have been begging to see him and striker Peter Crouch in action together due to their skill sets matching up so well.  For Arsenal, it will rely on the amazing combination of captain Cesc Fabregas, wingman and ruthless goal-scorer Andrey Arshavin, and the cunning graft of Robin Van Persie.  Defensively, neither team is especially strong.

Okay, I’m off to pace around my house for the next three hours.  Then I can talk to my Dad again.  Happy Halloween everyone, catch us on Twitter and in comments here and enjoy your Saturday.

Courtesy of Jamie Trecker, here’s today’s television schedule, all times EDT:

SATURDAY
Moscow v Zenit St. Pete        0700    Setanta
Arsenal v Tottenham 0830    ESPN2
Stuttgart v Bayern Munich        1030    GolTV
U17WC: Gambia v Colombia        1048    ESPN360
U17WC: Holland v Iran        1048    ESPN360
Fulham v Liverpool 1100    Setanta
Bolton v Chelsea            1100    FSC/FSE
Sunderland v West Ham        1100     (SDD FSC 1800)
Stoke v Wolves            1100    (SDD Setanta 2130)
Pompey v Wigan            1100    (SDD Setanta 2315)
Burnley v Hull                1100    stream only
Everton v Villa            1100     Setanta X* (SDD 1800)
Getafe v Real Madrid            1255    ESPND
Juventus v Napoli 1300    RAI (SDD on FSE 1730)
Real Madrid v Getafe            1300    stream
Man U v Blackburn            1330    FSC
U17WC: Burkina Faso v CR        1348    ESPN360
U17WC: New Zealand v Turkey    1348    ESPN360
Osasuna v Barcelona            1500    GolTV
AC Milan v Parma            1545    FSC/FSE
St. Etienne v Lyon 1600    Setanta
Bilbao v Atletico Madrid        1700    GolTV
Braga v Benfica            1715    ESPN360
Columbus v RSL            1800    DK/RSNs/MLSNET.com
Cruz Azul v Atlante            1900    Azteca
San Luis v Monterrey            1900    Telefutura
Tigres v Tecos                2100    Telemundo
Indios v Puebla            2100    Azteca
Atlas v Pachuca            2300    Telemundo