Tottenham Hotspur welcome Arsenal to White Hart Lane on Sunday.
Martin Keown
Gunners legend Martin Keown wrote his regular ‘Tackle Keown’ column for the Daily Mail, and responded to a question asking him what his favourite North London Derby memory is from his playing days.
Spurs are heavy favourites heading into Sunday’s game, and will desperately need a win to keep the pressure up on Chelsea above them in the table, whilst Arsenal need all three points to keep touch with those inside the top four.
This season has seen the changing of the guard in North London, and the shift of power has well and truly turned, with Tottenham now considered to be stronger than the Gunners.
It was very different during Keown’s playing days, however, with his team dominating Spurs for the majority of the time that he played for the Gunners.
He responded when asked what his favourite memory was of playing in the NLD at White Hart Lane, when writing his column for the Daily Mail:
Arsenal Legends coach with Martin Keown
“My favourite was when Kanu knocked the ball over Luke Young’s head and scored late on in a 3-1 win in 1999. There was a sublime arrogance about that goal — it showed the difference in quality between the two sides at that time. Then, we never really got too involved in the hype surrounding the derby because Manchester United were our main opponents. When you are vying for titles you do not worry about your neighbours unless they are your direct opponent in the title race. Tottenham had the chance to put a dent in our title ambitions but they weren’t able to wipe the smiles off our faces.”
In a quirky twist of fate, it is now Arsenal who have an opportunity to put a dent in Tottenham’s title hopes this weekend, and there is nothing the Gunners would like more than putting a swift end to their bitter rival’s title charge, in their own back yard.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
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