Former Tottenham ace has announced his retirement.
Former Tottenham Hotspur playmaker Rafael van der Vaart announced his retirement this week at the age of 35.
Van der Vaart spent two seasons at Spurs which were among the best of his career, scoring 28 goals.
He scored five times in four matches against rivals Arsenal, leading a Spurs resurgence to challenge their rivals.
The most memorable was a brace for Tottenham in a 3-2 win over the Gunners at The Emirates.
Ledley King paid tribute to the Dutchman’s impact, telling the club’s official website: “He also loved the big games, loved the derbies, loved playing against Arsenal – and scoring against them! I think that’s when he was happiest!”
With two upcoming derbies against Arsenal next month in the league and cup, Tottenham need their current version of Van der Vaart to produce.
Their current most prolific player against the Gunners is one very different in style to Van der Vaart, but every bit as effective.
Harry Kane has an unbelievable record against Arsenal, who cut him from their academy as a youngster.
Kane has scored seven goals in eight games in North London derbies and finished on the losing side only twice.
Spurs should pick their top scorer in both matches, but they also need more players to step up and become heroes like Van der Vaart did.
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