Voices on the game – Arsenal

There’s an intriguing narrative around the north London derby this weekend. In our new feature here on tottenhamhotspur.com, we bring you some of the key opinions on each fixture ahead of kick-off, featuring a selection of voices from inside both clubs involved and the wider footballing world. This week, we hear from the Daily Mail's Matt Barlow, plus Harry Kane, Jermaine Jenas and others…

Matt Barlow

Football Writer for the Daily Mail

“It's one of the most exciting derbies in the country at the moment because it's two teams basically fighting for the same thing. I expect both teams to be in that 'two from four' - the group of four clubs looking for two Champions League places at the end of the season. Because Spurs and Arsenal are coming off of disappointing results, it heightens it all I think. There's been a lot of talk about Spurs since the Newcastle game and equally there's been concerns about Arsenal after the loss at Liverpool. There's a lot of excitement about Arsenal's summer of trading but ultimately it's always decided on performances. Pepe was seen as a good acquisition but until you see him performing regularly in the Premier League and doing it, you can't really say. Whether the new people have any great impact this weekend, I don't know. Arsenal losing Ramsey was a big loss and they're perhaps hopeful that Mesut Ozil might be back this weekend to play some part.

“The one thing I can say about Arsenal is they've got goals. The front couple are exciting - or front three if you include Pepe. They're exciting and they're scoring goals but they'll possibly be vulnerable at the back. Spurs have obviously got Harry who'll score you lots of goals but at the moment, on the evidence of the Newcastle game, scoring goals could be a problem. They'll be better if they get Dele Alli back and I agree that they probably need to be settled, they need Ndombele fit because there's obviously a lot of emphasis on having him and reshaping the balance of the team around him. Getting Alli back would be a boost - he helps Harry in terms of scoring goals - and Son will be pleased to see David Luiz again. The goal that Mo Salah scored for Liverpool last week reminded me of Son's goal for Spurs against Chelsea last year in the 3-1 win when his last move was leaving David Luiz behind and scoring. We'll see how they deal with him.”

Harry Kane

Spurs striker

“There's no hiding place – it’s a game both teams are desperate to win. We’ve had some good and some bad games against them and it’s important, especially before the international break, that we get a good result and take that momentum into the games once we come back.”

On the reaction to last weekend's home defeat to Newcastle: “Criticism hurts, of course it does, but that’s part of the game and if you don’t play well then you’re going to get criticised - that’s the profession we’re in. We’re the first to know when we’ve played well or when we haven’t. We know we’ve got to do better, work harder, hopefully perform better on Sunday and as I've said, there’s no bigger game than the north London derby to get us motivated.”

It was put to Harry that he usually shows good goalscoring form against the Gunners: “Yes, and I'll hopefully look to continue that on Sunday. Sometimes you just get those teams that you seem to always score against and Arsenal are one of those teams for me personally. Hopefully that will be the same again this weekend, but as I always say the most important thing is that we win the game and the three points are more important than me scoring. But if I can help the team get the win then that will be an added bonus.”

Jermaine Jenas

Former Spurs midfielder

“Speaking from my own experience of playing in these games, sometimes they come around at the perfect time. They wake you up. The moment you drive to the Emirates, you feel the rivalry… on the coach, warming up, everywhere. It’s time to go there and put in a solid display - the quality will look after itself. The team is capable, we’re good enough to go there and win. I think there will be a lot of goals and it will be the standard north London derby - goals, nail-biting right to the end and the free-for-all that we all love.”

Unai Emery

Arsenal head coach

“We can remember last year's derby and the positives from it, (but) some things were less positive. Above all I want to write a new derby (memory), a new match for us here. Against Tottenham it's a derby with our supporters at home and we want to be able to have a special day with them. The intensity was very important (last season) but they are also going to try to play with their identity and we need to impose our game plan against them, knowing it's going to be difficult. We need to look at our positioning offensively and defensively. Above all, we need to play each ball, each metre, each minute with that intensity. After, we need to be clever when we have the ball and are in good situations to make the difference against them. Also, I think it's a very, very big challenge for us and it's a very, very good moment, a good match and the possibility of winning against them on Sunday gives a chance for good success. We also remember that last year we finished behind them with only one point's difference in 38 matches. We are going to play against the Champions League finalists and there are a lot of positives for us, for our supporters, to enjoy that match on Sunday.”

Mauricio Pochettino

Spurs manager

What does Mauricio feel when he wakes up on derby day? “The atmosphere, the smell, from both sides, the responsibility of what it means to play in this game. I love to fight, love to compete. I’m always optimistic, believing the team will perform better than our sporting enemy.”

On what he expects from the Gunners: “It’s only the beginning of the season. It’s difficult to judge. After a few months, we’ll have a clearer idea. It will be tough because it’s a derby and we all know very well what a derby means. We need to be ready to fight.”