Tottenham Hotspur will make the trip across North London to face their bitter rivals Arsenal in the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday Night. This will be second North London Derby in a space of just 17 days, after Unai Emery’s men overcame Tottenham 4-2 at the Emirates in a Premier League fixture early in the month.
This game not only represents a chance for revenge for the Lillywhites but also a chance to get a little closer to breaking their recent trophy drought, as the winner of the game will progress to the final four of the Carabao Cup.
Former Tottenham midfielder Jamie Redknapp has said the Mauricio Pochettino should field his best XI on Wednesday night and resist the temptation to rest players, as this competition represents Tottenham’s best chance of returning to their new stadium with a trophy.
In his Daily Mail column, Redknapp wrote: “Tottenham have to pick the strongest team and find a way to grind out the victory. Pochettino has previously dismissed this competition but silverware is the only gap on his c.v. Win at the Emirates and Spurs will prove they are ready to win a trophy.”
The 45-year-old also said that Arsenal’s win a fortnight ago won’t count for much going into the game as Tottenham have put in some mature displays following the defeat.
He added, “Tottenham were outfought by Arsenal in their last meeting. Wednesday will not be any easier but since then Spurs have shown incredible character and resolve.
“Their draw in Barcelona is the most courageous I have seen them play under Pochettino. Last season, they drew too many winnable games in the Premier League but now they are finding a way to win them, as they did against Burnley on Saturday.
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“They look capable of handling the big games and that is why this week’s derby is another crucial step in their development.”
Whatever the competition, North London Derbies are always fierce, closely-contested affairs, and this one is likely to be no different.
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