North London Derby Weekend
Nov 4th, 2016 by 'holic
There are few matches in football that mean as much to the supporters as those against the nearest and dearest. They don’t come much more ‘passionate’ than Arsenal versus Tottenham. As the match is on Sunday lunchtime there will be two preview posts tonight and tomorrow.
We tend to remember more the triumphs at the Lane perhaps more readily than at home. Two League titles, Rocky’s League Cup semi-final, and Liam Brady’s goal in ‘5-0 at the Lane’ are always talked about with particular satisfaction. However there have been good days at home and most recently we still hold in high regard the consecutive 5-2 beatings dished out in February and November 2012.
During the Wenger years we have massively dominated the fixtures, winning 22 drawing 19 and losing just 7 in all competitions. Only once have our visitors from Middlesex left Asburton Grove with three points. It’s fair to say that in Arsene’s first decade we went into the derby games expecting to win. In fact in his first thirteen years Tottenham had just one Premier League win to celebrate against us.
They have worked hard to stop us being their bogey team and recent history shows how much more close the matches have been of late. We haven’t beaten them in four Premier League matches since we last did the treble over them in League and FA Cup in 2013/14, although we did beat them in the League Cup at the Lane last season. It is fair to say, however that the mysterious ‘shift in the balance of power’ is still fictional nonsense.
The rivalry between the supporters of both clubs has intensified in my lifetime although the atmosphere at the southern end of Seven Sisters on derby day is markedly different to the return fixture. Up until the seventies the matches were not even all-ticket affairs, so there would be many more visiting supporters at both matches but a decade of violent clashes forced a rethink. Then the Taylor report and the introduction of all-seater stadia reduced the numbers further.
This is one of the more atmospheric matches at the Grove every season, and even after all the years I have been watching it the anticipation kicks in long before the kick-off. A potent mix of confidence and belief is tempered by that nagging little doubt in the back of the mind. The game itself is usually a tense and nervy affair. This degree of pleasure one takes from this match will always depend on the outcome. Win and the pints and songs will flow on Sunday afternoon, draw and we will all have a big attack of meh!
What? No, there is no third option, it won’t happen! Come back tomorrow evening for a look at the team news and the ‘holic pound. Until then I am digging out the best derby matches on YouTube and reliving some wonderful goals and matches. Roll on Sunday.
42 Responses to “North London Derby Weekend”
NLD Drink!!
Woo and indeed Hoo!!
See you Sunday, H!!!
Victory 4 d Gooners
I have always felt that the dominance over Spurs we have enjoyed in the Wenger era, never once finishing below them, has not quite reflected in the results of the NLD. OK, 22 victories against 7 defeats is a tasty statistic but 19 draws suggests that sometimes the teams settle for an honourable point rather than risking calamitous defeat in the closing stages. The games are almost always very tight and impossible to call. Here’s hoping for a thumping win on Sunday that will still be talked about for decades to come – but I think Spurs will play above themselves despite key injuries and we’ll end up with a slightly underwhelming 1-1 draw.
They have lost. We will win. It’s done.
I like you Simon. Do come back! 🙂
See you Sunday, Dubs. 🙂
Cheers H! There in spirit with you all on Sunday.
Two previews? you spoil us , sir.
Thank you.
Esso 🙂 Cent 🙂 Reminders of who friends really are. Cheers both.
Back to football, excellent! Of course we’ll win. But it could depend on how many of Theo, Santi, Nacho and Belle … and Kane are fit to play. I await team news with interest.
It will involve a little bit guesswork, Chris. 🙂
I’m told that Kane isn’t fit for 90 minutes but their goal drought might prompt them to start him rather than put him on the bench. Morale is poor at the Lane but my Spuds mates ( I have some, even family,) are worried about Toby what’s is face missing as much as missing Kane or Dembele.
I have zero sympathy for them. They went through last season with scarcely an injury but they are playing big boys games in the Champions League now and their squad is creaking. My heart bleeds
Mais oui c’est ça, Arseneholic. 😉
Cheers Holic !
Tottenham at Sunday lunchtime …….
Can’t resist a classic lunch menu from the Tott’s training facility ……
Starter – Manager’s Hash (Corny Argentine Beef)
Main Course – Roasted Stuffed Cockerel, Mashed Spuds, Selection of Vegetables
Dessert – Sour Grapes
Tea and Coffee, served in mugs as there are no cups at White Hart Lane
?
And with all their much talked about injuries, it seems Tottenham’s Rehabilitation Centre is even worse than ours …..
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=099Cmu4cY7Q
??
Trev, 🙂
This month marks the 120th anniversary of our first competitive match against the neighbours, in the short-lived United League in November 1896 at the Manor Ground in Plumstead. Woolwich Arsenal won 2-1. I rather fancy a repeat of that score tomorrow.
Good work from the monks, Ned.
Re the Menu above,
I forgot to add the drinks list which is basically –
Lots of Lily White Whine
Stellar stuff, Trev.
I hate NLD:s, or rather the days leading up to them. Feel physically sick just thinking about the match.
I’ll take a point…
Welcome back to the bar, Dave, for the first of your twice-yearly visits. I’m sure you’ll understand when I say I hope the visit isn’t an entirely pleasant one :-).
http://i.imgur.com/KwWgBUV.jpg
That’s my score prediction… hopefully Walcott will be standing this time too!
😀
Welcome Dave !
I bet you would. ?
Cheers Pangloss, I do drop in a bit more than that but mostly just browse!! Trev, I’d chew my own leg off for one matey!!
Dave,
I’ll add it to the menu above ! ?
Excellent and most enjoyable build up towards your preview Guvna. That’s another dram for you on my account. It’s reaching bottle-like proportions now.
Good stuff @15 and 18, Trev. You are joining our team in hitting top form at the right time.
Good research there Ned. I’ll take that though I yearn for a so much more spectacular victory for the boys in red.
COYGs.
Welcome Dave you are a true sportsman . I see Gary Mabbutt says that Arsenal fans are nervous that Spurs will ‘ nose in front’. Not the ones I know but the NLD is a hard one to call. I see that the side scoring first in this one has failed to win on 23 occasions the highest figure in PL history. But I’d still be pleased if we scored first tomorrow ! Especially if it is in the 89th minute?
Welcome Dave.
As TTG observes, your visits and contributions here have always been redolent of the Corinthian spirit. As the Guvna notes in this post, that spirit has not been in much evidence elsewhere for many years. Venom and bile are the more prevalent tone these days.
That prevailing tone notwithstanding, your visits to this establishment have garnered you much respect amongst the regulars. There’s a glass of your favourite tipple on the bar for your next visit.
It would of course be disingenuous not to add that we all sincerely hope that that drink will be required to drown your sorrows after your favourites have been given a sound thrashing by the boys in red.
Slàinte mhath
COYRs
nice one ‘ hol
.
tasty ? trev
.
dave ?
All am asking for is for am Özilant display chant topped with some “na na na” chants and some mugs of Guinness to sleep with after the game. I’d be expecting a 3-1. I’d have to see the game in a stream close to my house tonight and by tomorrow I’d confirm the score.
UTA.
Sorry for my typos, was having some not to be mentioned moments watching Özil vs Ludo while typing. ??
Trev, don’t forget the lasagna.
Boro ties Citeh at the death! Top of the league is on!
So our result against boro wasn’t all that bad after all..
😀
Citeh nicked off a point at 90th!
Get teh fuck in!
Evverton making the boys from the bus stop look competent. Remember when one and all pundits were proclaiming that Ross Barclay is the real deal? He isn’t.
Welcome Dave, you may want to skip the one I’m about to write. 😉
Setting a high bar, there guvnor.
Mr Holic, I look forward to it!! I’m just back from watching Barton Rovers lose 2-6 at home to Histon ( remember them beating Leeds in the FA cup a few years ago??) in the Southern League, having been winning 2-1 with less than 20 minutes to play. I’m praying Spurs defend better tomorrow
Conte has Chelsea playing with belief again and commentators on today’s game think they are the new favorites for the league title. Hazard has come back to form and alongwith Costa is terrorizing defenses. Our return leg at Stamford Bridge will be interesting and our match against spuds tomorrow takes on new significance as three points are an absolute must. Hope we win tomorrow whatever the margin.
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