Crouch eager to try north London derby
TOTTENHAM’S Peter Crouch has played in some of English football’s biggest grudge matches, but the striker is relishing playing in his first north London derby tomorrow against Arsenal.
Harry Redknapp’s thriving Spurs visit the Emirates Stadium for an eagerly anticipated clash that is being seen as a test of their ability to dislodge the Gunners from the Champions League places.
And Crouch, who has scored just once in the Premier League this season, expects the contest to live up to its top billing.
“I am really excited, I’ve been fortunate to play in some big derbies,” he said. “Liverpool-Man United – I played in that and that was fantastic. I played in the Birmingham derby, I played in the South Coast derby.
“I’ve played in a few, but this is certainly one that you look for when you’re somebody who watches football. I always look at the North London derby and see how passionate it is and see the quality of the game, so I’m really looking forward to it. I watched the game at the Emirates last season, it was unbelievable. I’m not sure it’s good for managers or anyone else concerned when you see a 4-4 game, but we’ll take any sort of a win over our local rivals.”
Redknapp could hand forgotten man David Bentley a first start of the season against his former club, after he starred in place of the injured Aaron Lennon in the midweek 2-0 Carling Cup win over Everton.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, meanwhile, has been hit by a fresh injury to goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski that rules him out for three weeks. The Pole, who suffered the problem in his comeback against Liverpool on Wednesday, had just recovered from knee surgery and leaves Manuel Almunia and Vito Mannone to fight for the jersey on Saturday. Wenger said:?“It’s big disappointment because he has just come back from injury.”