Crouch anticipating Emirates match

Peter Crouch is hoping to exploit any weakness in the Arsenal defence on Saturday.

Arsenal have conceded late equalisers in their last two matches against AZ Alkmaar and West Ham and Spurs are hoping that there might be some frailties in their back four.

“You saw at the start of the West Ham game, when they went 2-0 up that they play great football, as they always do.

“Hopefully we can keep that to a minimum and, as West Ham proved, you can come back and you can score goals against them. Hopefully we’ll be tight at the back and get a good result.”

Crouch also praised Arsenal for their resilience after they were written off for a top four spot, with Manchester City expected to take their place, although he remains hopeful Spurs could yet crash that party.

“I think at the start of the season a lot of people wrote off Arsenal. They’ve got a young squad, but they seem to have shown everyone that they can still play.

“But I think we’ve suprised a few people by the way we’ve started. We’re in the top four at the minute and we want to stay there as long as we possibly can.”

This will be Crouch’s first North London derby and with the teams so close together in the table, there is added spice to one of the country’s fiercest rivalries, something Crouch is looking forward to.

“I am really excited. I’ve been fortunate to play in some big derbies, some big games.

“Obviously the Liverpool-Man United game I saw the other day, 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 out for when you’re someone 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 an unbelievable game to be honest. I’m not sure it’s good for the 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.”

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