the Premier League. The Premier League's back off
the international break, we all love it when it returns and my
word, what a return, we have two. Massive Darby games are
going to focus on. We got the north London Derby,
Arsenal against Tottenham. Both those teams are flying
and we have Manchester City
against Manchester United as well. But let's focus first on
Arsenal against Spurs that's coming up on Saturday. I mean,
this is massive.
I can't even walk out what to focus on first
in this game. Game because both these teams are right at
the top of the table. I mean,
Arsenal sitting top, obviously Spurs can go up there as well.
This doesn't happen that often with these two teams,
Nick Mandola. So what are we focusing on most here? Because
the key battle in this game, I think both defenses look really
solid. So far going forward. We know they have lots of attack
and weapons but it's almost a Midfield, right? Where this
battle when this Darby's going
to be won and lost. And
it's going to be the heat of the battle there.
I'm delighted to say as well, I'm gonna be there at the stadium
at the weekend, so I cannot wait to be in North London, for
this one. And, yeah, by the way, we already know, there's
these two teams, their fans, their players.
They do not like each other, do they? So, what we looking
forward to in this game, Nick, Joe could it possibly be as
entertaining as the United States Men's National Team
against Saudi Arabia. I'm not sure.
But I will tell you this,
we've got Arsenal and Tottenham near the top of the table
and legitimately their performance wise and overlying metrics.
Metrics lost, super metaverse metrics both of these teams
look good in their own way
in their I say in their own way because I think we knew
Tottenham was going to at least be sorted out. We didn't know
how good they were going to be this year, but we had the faith
in contact
that that he was going to get enough points to have them in
the discussion for some of their season goals Arsenal.
Right now, has lost one game. And even in that game, showed
us something
I'm interested to see
when this Snow back line goes up against Harry Kane. Um, and
so on, and those midfielders you mentioned behind them,
because as Andy is pointed out so many times,
they've changed the culture around Putnam, we knew they had
the attackers but those horses for lack of a better term
in the middle of the park that arsenal, we know they have that
too. I mean I just want to ask the tough time fan, not to
interject here. But where do you feel the Midfield battle
sits.
Well I think Personnel depends a little bit.
Yeah some injuries for Arsenal right now might have them
a little bit short-handed. I think I think for Spurs that
I keep waiting for Basu Mama to come into the starting lineup.
Yeah,
whether it's only beer, whether it's Benton core, whoever it
is, it feels like that is the piece that eventually at some
point. I think comes into this team and kind of
almost takes the training wheels off if you will. It
feels like Conte is kind of Being them along slowly, slowly
slowly very defensive, very solid, the principles, and all
of that. Just very difficult
proving in the Premier League at least impossible to beat
thus far. And so, I do think, I think that's going to be,
what's the real challenge for Arsenal in this game, because
the quality, the Spurs have there in the middle, they can
break up play, unlike a lot of Premier League teams right now.
It was a lot
of very, very kind of aggressive Midfield teams,
especially at the top of the premier league right now. Spurs
have gone, the other way completely and so it poses
a completely different
Challenge. I think to anything that
certainly Arsenal have seen thus far in the season but to
what, I think most premier league sides will show anyone
this year
and he's kind of a tactical battle really isn't it with
that 3434 spurs in a 4-2-3-1 for Arsenal, is going to be
a lot of fluid
attackers. There was gabbar Jesus sacca.
I would regard and others just just kind of drifting around
there. It's going to be difficult for top them to
the fence. I think that three-man backline to know when to
come. L, went to follow a man, went to sit back. I mean,
what do you think about that particular? Kind of
battle, I guess? And that area of the pitch.
Yeah. And I think that's why Gabrielle Jesus has had so much
success so far for Arsenal this year, why he's immediately
started scoring goals. It's like, we know he's being
deployed
nominally as a centre-forward, but we've seen so much of him
over the years where he's really, really strong is
playing kind of that secondary role, and they might not have
anybody else. Who can step into that role up top, but he's
still The finding those spaces. He's still attacking fullbacks
one-on-one in the way that he used to do for Manchester City
and so when you've got a centre-forward who's one
as versatile as that? But to is talented and confident.
I mean the the goals that he scored this season
are not tap ends, they're not just a bunch of beautiful
passing and somebody putting on a plate in front of him. And to
go, he is scoring to use, NYX word, legitimate goals. And so,
like
to see both of these teams, I think in the form that they're
in right now. I don't think there's any question
definitively. Two of the three best teams in the Premier
League right now.
And if you look at all the numbers, there's a case to say
that while Manchester City probably have a much higher
ceiling that these two match them for the floor,
if you will, then the very, very worst performance from
either one of these teams is going to match something close
to the very, very worst performance of
Manchester City even when they're not at their very best.
These two teams are very difficult to beat and that is
that is never ever been the case. For either of these clubs
in the Act is at the same time,
it's really, really exciting.
It is and it's been building up the end of last season.
Obviously, Conte came in Tottenham just picked Arsenal
right? At the end of the season, to finish in the top
four. We all know how that went this rivalry has been great
but like you said, Andy
over the years, one's been good. One's been down vice versa,
but Nick they're both right up there at the top of the table
at the start, the season. This early days, don't get me wrong.
But there's any of these North London teams in your opinion,
have a chance to stay in this title race. And do you think
Both of these things finish in the top for the season. Nick,
that's a good one. That is a on The Spar question, I'm going to
say, yes, I think there's a chance, a very good chance, and
above
more than one in three chance that that both of the teams
make it into the top three. The reason I say that is
I've just been kind of looking at the rosters and
around the league
and both of these teams, have a chance to be there when we get
to the World Cup break, and we're going to have fan bases
and
Coaches and pundits sitting on the table for that long. So
I would actually go to say that to be in the top four in about,
you know, two months time is a huge, huge thing because
the momentum is that going to be momentum in the way
we think of it. But the opposite of that and how you
could feel about your team's chances if you're outside
the picture and you know during the World Cup you're loading up
the table. While you're watching your favorite player and you're
still in sixth, I really
think it can affect an entire community.
Positive Vibes for sure
early in the season for both of these teams and it's going to
be interesting to see how they do battle this weekend and
the aggressive nature. I think of taking
taking the lead and kind of taken it making a statement
early in the season. For both of these teams going to be
really important quick predictions and the Edwards,
top them or Arsenal or Draw
Spurs. Haven't wanted the Emirates since 2010. It's
pretty long time. There's a reason I they've had good
performances in the past and gotten draws out of them.
They've had good performances and gotten
losses out of them.
It feels like this is a bit different though because
it feels like this is the game that Conte was brought in
the kind of set up and kind of battle that he was brought in
and he relishes I think in a way that a lot of other
managers don't and so
the X Factor the preparedness. The intensity
may be a slight Advantage Spurs there but I think in the end it
probably just works out to a draw.
I'm going to go with you actually on this. I think it's
going to be very similar. You remember when telling them what
to Chelsea,
Start of the season. I asked all have a lot of the play,
create a lot of chances, but I think there's a dog in this and
adjust a grittiness
about top them now under Antonio, Conte, that they're
going to battle back in a game like this, a rivalry like this,
you need that? So I hope it's a five order or something crazy
like that, but
I think it's going to be
really, really interesting. And he's and he's like, no,
please don't Nick, what's your prediction for this game?
I want to see Wonder one
but I'm going to see there's a I think with
With the week that cane and dire just went through with England
and how important they want to be. Just makes me think that
maybe Arsenal might have a little bit more freshness and
positivity, so just to break up the draw thing. Because when we
do our pics on the website, I'm going 11.
I will say our snow gets a winner.
There you go. Hopefully football be the winner because
I think this is going to be a great game
this weekend. Again I'm going to be there. The Emirates and
over on pro soccer talk on NBC sports.com will have previews
how to watch information Recaps analysis. We have you covered
head of a massive North London Derby.
What a game? This is gents. What a start to the season. For
Spurs and Arsenal, as you can tell, cannot wait for this one
in North London, this weekend.