As the North London derby approaches, Emmanuel Petit, a former Arsenal player, has made a bold claim: only Son Heung-min from Tottenham Hotspur would make Arsenal's starting XI. The Frenchman's assessment underscores the perceived gulf in quality between the two rivals.
Last season, Arsenal finished a comfortable 23 points ahead of Tottenham in the Premier League table. While Spurs are eager to bridge that gap this season, Petit remains unconvinced. The former French international believes that Arsenal's overall strength, from defense to attack, surpasses Tottenham's.
Petit's assessment of Tottenham's players
In an interview, Petit questioned whether any Spurs player could secure a starting spot in Arsenal’s lineup. When host Andy Goldstein suggested that Tottenham’s new defensive signing Micky van de Ven might start over Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhães, Petit was quick to disagree. He then acknowledged that the only player from Spurs who could break into Arsenal’s starting XI was Son Heung-min, taking the place of Gabriel Martinelli on the left wing.
Former footballer Darren Bent echoed Petit’s thoughts, agreeing that Son would be the only Spurs player to make the cut. Petit conceded, saying, “Probably, yeah,” before emphasizing that even without Ødegaard and Declan Rice, Arsenal’s lineup remains the stronger of the two.
Arsenal's confidence despite injuries
Despite Arsenal's injury concerns, Petit expressed confidence in their ability to overcome Tottenham. He argued that the Gunners' superior squad and Mikel Arteta's management would give them the edge in the derby. Moreover, Petit suggested that Tottenham were under more pressure to deliver a positive result.
Emmanuel Petit, Arsenal legend, said:
“I was worried, so I was predicting a draw, but now I’ve changed my mind. I read the newspapers as well, apparently [Yves] Bissouma is injured, they are not sure about [Dominic] Solanke and the central defender [Van de Ven]. But even with those guys, I know they cannot afford to lose two games in a row, they lost to Newcastle before the international break.
“But I see this Arsenal team with Arteta, with the environment, the confidence, the way they work and have been dealing with things the last two to three years and the way they improve. I remember two years ago [May 2022] when they were thrashed [3-0] at Tottenham, they lost the [Champions League spot]. But last season it changed completely, I was worried about that, mentally and physically they were up for it. And I’m pretty sure that it will be the same on Sunday. It will be a tough game, I’m pretty sure there will be a lot of goals, I don’t see a close game, I will say 2-1 or 3-1 to Arsenal.”
Emmanuel Petit's assessment of the North London derby paints a stark picture. While Tottenham may be motivated to close the gap on Arsenal, Petit believes that the Gunners' overall quality and depth give them a significant advantage. Only Son Heung-min, according to Petit, would be worthy of a starting place in Arsenal's XI.
