Former England manager Sam Allardyce has stirred the pot ahead of the highly anticipated North London Derby between Arsenal and Tottenham by revealing his selection for a combined North London Derby XI. Allardyce’s surprising choice favored Arsenal’s captain, Martin Odegaard, over Tottenham’s playmaker, James Maddison. The announcement came during his appearance on the “No Tippy Tappy Football show,” where he emphasized Odegaard’s impressive performance during the previous season as the basis for his decision.
Both Arsenal and Tottenham have started the season strongly, each accumulating 13 points from their first five Premier League matches. Allardyce’s preference adds an intriguing dimension to the pre-match discussions, highlighting Odegaard’s role as a key player in the fiercely contested North London rivalry.
Ian Wright Sounds Alarm on Richarlison Ahead of North London Derby
Arsenal legend Ian Wright has issued a stern warning to his former club as they prepare to face Tottenham in the upcoming North London Derby. Wright cautioned Arsenal to be vigilant regarding Tottenham’s Brazilian attacker, Richarlison, who has been making waves in recent matches.
Richarlison recently found the net in a dramatic late victory for Tottenham against Sheffield United, scoring the first of two injury-time goals to secure the win. Wright, speaking about Richarlison’s potential impact, expressed his confidence in Tottenham’s attacking abilities, stating, “You’re looking at a team now that is very confident, with a player up front who is easily capable of scoring 10 to 12 goals. Richarlison, now that his head is clear, is going to pose problems for opponents.”
Wright attributed Richarlison’s improved form to the support and guidance from the Tottenham manager, emphasizing the player’s newfound mental clarity as a significant factor contributing to his recent success.
As the North London Derby at the Emirates Stadium draws nearer, all eyes will be on Richarlison to see if he can continue his impressive run of form, making him a key player to watch for both Arsenal and Tottenham fans.
