There are plenty of reasons to look forward to Saturday’s Premier League meeting between old rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium. Rarely have both clubs gone into a North London derby in such rude health, after all.
It’s Harry Kane vs Gabriel Jesus. Heung-Min Son vs Bukayo Saka. The experience of Antonio Conte against the exuberance of Mikel Arteta.
And if this latest meeting is even half as enthralling as that iconic 4-4 draw from all the way back in 2008, well that would be some way to welcome the Premier League’s return following the September international break.
But what became of the Spurs team who fought back from 4-2 down to snatch the most unexpected of points 14 years ago? From LA to Russia’s third tier, where are they now?
Heurelho Gomes
Ok, the Brazilian wasn’t the most consistent of goalkeepers. But, when it came to producing eye-catching, highlight-reel reflex saves, Gomes was always happy to oblige. Hanging up his gloves after a spell at Watford, the 41-year-old is working as an ambassador for former employers PSV Eindhoven these days.
Alan Hutton
It’s remarkable to think that, until Nathan Patterson joined Everton back in January, Alan Hutton had spent the previous 14 years as Rangers’ most expensive ever export. Tottenham paid £9 million to sign the Scot in January 2008.
Hutton, capped 50 times by his country, is now a pundit working for the likes of BT Sport.
Vedran Corluka
A member of the Croatian squad who came within 90 minutes of glory at the 2018 World Cup, 103-cap veteran Corluka is now back on the international scene. The one-time Manchester City defender will be heading to Qatar in November. Not as a centre-half of course, but as an assistant coach.
Jonathan Woodgate
Another former defender who has dabbled in coaching. Woodgate packed a lot into that two-year stint on the benches of Middlesbrough and Bournemouth, sacked by the former after sliding into a relegation battle before suffering Championship play-off heartbreak at the latter.
According to Alan Nixon, the former Real Madrid man is now one of the candidates to take over from Danny Schofield at Huddersfield Town. Third time lucky, Jonathan?
Benoit Assou-Ekotto
The very definition of the phrase ‘cult hero’; given Assou-Ekotto’s famous indifference to the beautiful game, it’s perhaps no surprise he hasn’t followed Woodgate and co into management. Now living back home in France with his two children, Assou-Ekotto does still pull on his boots now and again in his local veteran’s league.
David Bentley
That wondrous flick and volley against Arsenal back in 2008 was supposed to represent the dawn of Bentley’s Spurs career. In the end, that was about as good as it got for him in North London. Bentley would only score one more Premier League goal for the club before retiring in 2014 and turning his hand to the business world.
“People want to focus on ‘Where did it all go wrong?’ but for me it’s ‘Where did it go right?’” the one-time Blackburn Rovers talisman tells The Athletic. “The age I’m at, I could still be a footballer but I couldn’t imagine still playing now. I haven’t played for seven years and have done so much. I lived in Spain with the family for three years, I’ve built businesses. I’ve had such a great time, being with my children every day.
“I loved football but then it ran its course.”
Rumours that Bentley still owes Harry Redknapp a new suit remain unconfirmed…
Luka Modric
Do we really need to tell you what became of Luka Modric? How about three La Liga titles, five Champions Leagues, 154 international caps, a World Cup final appearance and, just to complete the set, a Ballon D’Or.
After a sluggish start to his Spurs career, that dazzling performance in the eight-goal thriller against Arsenal felt like something of a turning point for Modric in North London.
Jermaine Jenas
Jenas by name, genius by nature. While not quite as spectacular as Bentley’s earlier effort, it was Jenas’ wonderful solo strike that laid the foundations for Tottenham’s famous comeback at Arsenal.
Despite being forced to retire early due to injuries, you can still catch the 21-time England international on the Beeb. The One Show, rather than Match of the Day, is his home these days.
Tom Huddlestone
It’s certainly a strange sight. 35-year-old Tom Huddlestone patrolling the midfield in the red of Manchester United. One of the more underrated footballers of the recent Premier League era, Huddlestone is now a player-coach at Carrington.
Gareth Bale
They do say you should never go back. But, to be fair to Bale, his second spell at Spurs actually went far better than his critics would have you believe. 16 goals in total, 11 in the Premier League, and a stunning hat-trick against Burnley. Clearly, the footballer who dominated English football before his world-record move to Real Madrid is still in there somewhere.
Now 33, Bale is keeping himself fit in Los Angeles ahead of Wales’ first World Cup campaign since 1958.
Roman Pavlyuchenko
Beleive it or not, Pavlyuchenko is still going strong at the age of 40. And how. Ok, Znamya Noginsk in the Russian third division is hardly what you’d describe as the ‘elite level’. But 46 goals and assists in 53 games is not to be sniffed at.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
