Redknapp: Arsenal won’t win title
The Frenchman’s faith in his young squad borders on the evangelical, despite a conspicuous lack of silverware in the last four years and the fact that they have already been beaten twice this season, by Manchester City and Manchester United, and dropped careless points in their last outing against West Ham.
Arsenal sit joint-third in the table with Spurs, five points behind the current leaders Chelsea, and Redknapp believes their challenge will once again be undone by familiar failings, most pointedly a lack of experience in key positions and a naivety which makes them more vulnerable than any of their main rivals.
“Personally I don’t think Arsenal will win it,” Redknapp said, when asked to assess the credentials of the established ‘big four’. “I think the winners will come from Chelsea or Manchester United.
“I think Arsenal still lack a bit of experience. They’re not an experienced team, it’s still a young team. I just feel Chelsea and United have players who have been there and done it all and been the full course in the championship race. Chelsea, in particular, are powerful, they are men and you just feel they have that power. I think they will take all the beating.
“Arsenal are an attacking team. They go forward, they attack you and that’s how they play and it’s great to watch. Their two full-backs probably wouldn’t know what it was if you told them to sit in. If you can get the ball and can attack them, you have got chances with them, for sure.”
Redknapp’s comments are bound to infuriate Wenger, who takes a dim view of anyone who doubts the potential of his youngsters, but they are a sign of Tottenham’s bullishness as they attempt to end a cataclysmic run of form against their near neighbours and rubber-stamp their own Champions League qualification credentials in the process.
It is almost 10 years since Spurs last tasted victory against Arsenal in the Premier League, and 16 since they triumphed on red north London soil, but there is a growing sense that this could be the year for a shift in the traditional balance of power in the English capital.
Spurs boast formidable strength in depth, particularly in their attack, which has already plundered 33 goals in all competitions.
While they will be deprived of three of their most luminous talents — Aaron Lennon, Luka Modric and Jermain Defoe — through injury and suspension this afternoon, Redknapp’s canny recruitment policy and the deep pockets of his chairman Daniel Levy means they might not be missed.
It is the hardening of Tottenham’s attitude, however, which has given Redknapp greatest cause for optimism.
The flaky, flimsy nature of previous Tottenham sides appears to have been banished and it is no coincidence that they boast the top flight’s best away record, which already includes wins at Hull, Portsmouth and West Ham.
Conquering the Emirates would represent a major step up but, for the first time since Martin Jol’s squad finished fifth in 2006, Tottenham’s travelling contingent will travel in expectation, rather than forlorn hope.
“We’re getting closer to Arsenal, without a doubt,” Redknapp added. “They’re an outstanding team and a great club, full of outstanding young talent. Arsene has done a great job there over the years. He inherited a great team from George Graham and then moulded his own team and produced great young players.
“But we also play some fantastic football. We have a squad here capable of matching anyone so we will be going there to win the game, absolutely. We’ll be positive and take it to them.”
Redknapp believes Spurs’ revival is part of a wider trend which will see the established elite in English football placed under greater strain than ever before, a theory backed up by the fact that this campaign has already been pockmarked with shocks.
“I believe there could be a change in the top four this year because other teams are getting stronger,” he said. “Manchester City are certainly getting stronger and Villa have got stronger this year and made some great signings. And, Tottenham are getting stronger, too.”
Today, they have the chance to prove it.
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