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2008-01-22 - Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal
A Sports Betting Pick by Lamps
Carling Cup Semi-Final - 2nd Leg
White Hart Lane
Kickoff 19:45 GMT
Tottenham
Despite dominating for large periods in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium, Tottenham could only draw 1-1 and now must complete the job on their home soil at White Hart Lane.
Many will agree that 2 even possibly 3 nil would have been a fair reflection on the game 2 weeks ago but unless you take your chances you won’t win football games. Despite Tottenham’s superiority on the night I can’t help but feel that missed chances will come back to haunt Spurs. This Arsenal side is very talented and like a year ago they have no fear, if given the opportunity they will out pass Tottenham which could lead to their demise from the competition.
Yet Ramos is all to aware of this and I’m certain he’s well prepared for the game ahead, he wants to win a trophy for Spurs in his first season and this is great opportunity for him. The Arsenal reserve side is the weakest of the 4 semi finalists and when you think Ramos hasn’t lost a cup game in some 3 odd years(mostly all whilst at Sevilla) it’s easy to favour Tottenham in the return leg.
At home Tottenham has been very inconsistent winning 6 losing 4 and drawing the once. Spurs in recent months have been a side that concedes for fun and have lost games or dropped points when in front, the side clearly missed Ledley King. Who is not only the Captain but the backbone of the team since his return the team has been performing and winning again. Dawson is playing better now that his partner is back and in the last 2 games Tottenham has recorded back to back clean sheets, all be it against Reading and Sunderland but still its signs of improvement and if the side can shut out Arsenal on Tuesday they have a great chance of going to Wembley.
The credit can’t go all to King, in fact he was rested ahead of this game at the weekend to ensure his knee is healthy before Spurs’s biggest game of the season so far. Berbatov has been sensational along with strike partner Keane who bagged his 100th league goal the weekend, both are creating lots of chances for each other whilst getting on the score sheet as well. Arsenal couldn’t handle Berbatov at the Emirates and if he turns on at the Lane I really fancy Tottenham to progress.
Other team news is that Malbranque returns from suspension to slot into left midfield whilst the impressive O’Hara will start in the middle most likely with Jenas partnering him. Lennon will be on the right and will look for a better showing than he did in the first leg where he couldn’t shake off Traore for much of the game. After back to back clean sheets Cerny will start in goal with Chimbonda playing his final game before his suspension for 5 yellow cards kicks in.
The Spurs way is to attack and I see them going for the jugular in this one, as the first leg proved even if you attack for long spells, if given a chance the Gunners are quick to punish and will score. On the other hand Spurs created many chances 2 weeks ago and if they can get ahead and then search for that elusive second goal this tie could be theirs, I like Spurs at the moment and feel this is the kick start game of their season.
Last 5 Spurs Games
* 19.01.2008 ENG 1 Tottenham-Sunderland 2:0
* 15.01.2008 FA CUP Reading-Tottenham 0:1
* 12.01.2008 ENG 1 Chelsea-Tottenham 2:0
* 09.01.2008 ENG LC Arsenal-Tottenham 1:1
* 05.01.2008 FA CUP Tottenham-Reading 2:2
Arsenal
The “kids” were outplayed in the first leg but will be quietly confident of beating Tottenham on Tuesday night. Wenger will demand a much better performance at the Lane compared to the efforts of the first leg and with away goals counting double if this young Arsenal side can get 2 goals unless they lose they will progress to the final.
As much as Spurs took the game to Arsenal in the first leg I feel the youngsters just didn’t click that night and from what we’ve seen of them over the season it clearly was a blip and not a true reflection of their ability. I was eager to see the squad for this tie anticipating the addition of Adebayor to assist in the cause but the following squad has been announced Fabianski, J Hoyte, Gallas, Senderos, Traore, Diaby, Denilson, Gilberto, Eduardo, Walcott, Bendtner, Mannone, Sagna, Rosicky, Randall, Gibbs, Lansbury, G Hoyte.
Although many key players are absent for the Gunners there are some first teamers in the squad. Captain Gallas, Eduardo, Sagna and Rosicky if they start are going to have to step up and take the pressure off the least experienced players. This was a factor for me in the first leg the house hold names didn’t stand out and the team never got going, if Gallas starts I expect him to lead by example, if he has a good game Fabianksi’s work load will obviously be diminished.
Sendaros who is prone to making the odd mistake will clearly want his captain to start as with the King/Dawson combo knowing there’s a guy along side you who is a natural leader that lifts the side will surely help the Suisse defender. In the past against big forwards most notably to Drogba, Sendaros has had a hard time so the potential battle with Berbatov will be fascinating to watch.
Going forward Rosicky and Denilson will be pulling the strings from the middle of the park with a fast, high tempo flow, Gilberto/Diaby will have the responsibility of doing the dirty work for Arsenal and breaking things up in the spurs midfield. If the stylish Arsenal midfield starts playing and is able to pass the ball around then Eduardo, Bendtner and Walcott will surely have chances to score. We saw in the first leg how Arsenal needed just the odd chance to hit the back of the net and if Spurs comes at Arsenal I feel on the counter Spurs are there for the taking.
I won’t look at the Arsenal away form as many players didn’t feature in those games but I will add that this Arsenal side can play at any ground and like we saw in last years final against Chelsea, despite the apparent mismatch on paper they can play you off the park. I see Arsenal scoring for sure but I still favour Tottenham slightly, for me OVERS is the pick.
Arsenal Last 5
* 19.01.2008 ENG 1 Fulham - Arsenal 0:3
* 12.01.2008 ENG 1 Arsenal - Birmingham 1:1
* 09.01.2008 ENG LC Arsenal - Tottenham 1:1
* 06.01.2008 FA CUP Burnley - Arsenal 0:2
* 01.01.2008 ENG 1 Arsenal - West Ham 2:0
Head To Head Last 5 Years
* 2006/2007 ENG 1 Tottenham - Arsenal 2:2
* 2006/2007 ENG LC Tottenham - Arsenal 2:2
* 2005/2006 ENG 1 Tottenham - Arsenal 1:1
* 2004/2005 ENG 1 Tottenham - Arsenal 4:5
* 2003/2004 ENG 1 Tottenham - Arsenal 2:2
* 2002/2003 ENG 1 Tottenham - Arsenal 1:1
The Pick :
Tottenham 2-1 Arsenal
