Theo Walcott has shown just how important the North London derby is by warning his Arsenal team-mates saying that a defeat to their North London rivals can prove detrimental to a player’s career.
Arsene Wenger’s men head into the fixture following back-to-back defeats in the Premier League to Manchester United and Swansea City, and Walcott insists a win on Saturday is crucial.
Speaking to Arsenal’s official website, Walcott said:
“No matter how your season is going, if you don’t get a result in this game, it could hurt you completely,
“For weeks, months, it could ruin people’s careers, it’s that mad, this game. That’s how important it is. It’s massive for the fans, it’s all about bragging rights.”Walcott said “work rate” is the key factor in the North London derby.
“I think hard work, everyone defending for each other, everyone working for each other, and helping your team-mates out.
“If someone saw heads down, [you] lift them up very quickly, there’s no time to be dwelling on a mistake, or if something’s happened in a game, you get on with it. I think it’ll come down to that - who wants it more.”
Petr Cech confident about Ospina
Injured Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech said he has full confidence that his replacement David Ospina will do well in Saturday's north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur.
Arsenal currently find themselves in third place in the English Premier League standings with 51 points from 28 games, while their opponents are one place ahead with 54 points.
Cech has been ruled out of the game with a calf injury, but is certain that Ospina will live up to expectations in such a crucial game.
"David is a very experienced goalkeeper. He has played really well, especially in the FA Cup games where he has been vital. I think everybody at the club, including the staff and the players, has big confidence in him because we can see in training and in his international games that he is a great goalkeeper," Cech was quoted as saying by the club's official website on Friday.
"We have full confidence in him and it won't be a problem. He has enough experience to play this type of game and he has played this game before so I think he will be fine. I have to say, it is always great when you have someone with the personality of Ospina where he pushes you every day in training and works hard," the veteran goalkeeper said.
The 33-year-old is likely to miss at least four league games, plus the Champions League trip to Barcelona and FA Cup replay against Hull City.
