Probably the neutral fan. It rarely fails to excite, usually goals, often produces drama and a red card is likely (especially if Xhaka plays). But I can’t say I ever enjoy the games, as I wrote last year.
At least we’re playing well on this occasion. All of our top players are playing well and we definitely have the momentum behind us. I enjoyed Tottenham’s performance at Wembley a great deal. It could hardly have gone better. Low morale, ongoing injury problems to key players, a manager who’s losing his mojo and a fanbase who are frankly panicking at the prospect of coming over the Emirates. Forget all that nonsense about ‘form going out of the window’ when it comes to local derbies. This is really set up for us to put down a marker for the coming months. We’re fully prepared mentally and physically for a sustained, competitive title challenge. Spurs are likely to accept a battle for a Europa Cup place is a more realistic goal. What joy to see them return to playing football on Thursday evenings.
I didn’t attempt to get hold of a ticket for the match. I detest Sunday lunchtime KO’s with a passion. Atmosphere diluted and a post-match session is tempered by having to work the following day. I’ll probably watch the game at home. Going to the pub will inevitably mean sharing the match with Spurs’ fans and I can’t handle that. I’ll only make an idiot of myself and at my age, I can’t be doing with people looking on my behaviour with a mixture of bemusement and embarrassment.
I’ll get a few beers in and pace around my flat as I endure the game. I’d love to build up an unassailable lead so I can relax and savour our win but I can’t see it happen. We will have to grind out a win. They’ll come and defend in depth and it won’t be pretty. I can see us winning 1-0 and it will leave us in a really positive mindset going into the international break. Let’s just get the game over with, escape with a unspectacular draw and let’s all agree on who really is the top team in North London.