Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger could go a long way to silencing all those who doubt his ability by winning at the ground of the Gunners’ bitterest rivals this evening. Tottenham stand in the way of Arsenal going to within four points of the champions in-wait and the Gunners host United on the first day of next month. The problem for Arsenal is that this is the position in which they so often falter.
It’s as if a switch clicks in the brain of some of their players making them think that the Premier League trophy can give you tropical diseases. In US sport they’d be looking for some kind of “curse of the…” but for the North London side it might just be the curse of the nutty professor.
It could also be the curse of giving away a man who always seems to make a contribution against Spurs – Emmanuel Adebayor.
Arsenal hasn’t won at Tottenham since selling him to Manchester City, and during his time at Arsenal he managed eight goals against Spurs, including four at White Hart Lane. Don’t get me wrong tonight will be a tight game. It’s just in recent encounters Wenger seems more bothered about finding an excuse for losing than just the excuse being that they won.
The other title challenging side in action tonight is Chelsea who can go to within six points of Manchester United. If they get to within even three points of United before the end of the season it will be remarkable achievement given their recent poor form.
Carlo Ancelotti would do well to keep Fernando Torres on the bench here as the striker’s barren run of form isn’t likely to help them push for an unlikely title. Birmingham are no push over and don’t look completely safe at the other end of the league but this is a game that Chelsea should be winning. It’s at home after all.
