Keown Warns Spurs To Expect Arsenal Backlash

Spurs have been warned to brace themselves for a backlash at Ashburton Grove tonight because rivals Arsenal are still sore from their 5-1 thrashing by Tottenham in last January's Carling Cup semi-final second leg at White Hart Lane.

The win took Juande Ramos's side to Wembley where they beat Chelsea 2-1 after extra time to lift their first silverware since 1999.

Several of the young players in the Arsenal side that night have since matured and gained invaluable experience - and could feature in manager Arsene Wenger's squad as the two teams go head-to-head for the first time since the Carling Cup tie.

Also since then, of course, Ramos has been shown the door and Harry Redknapp will be in charge of the Tottenham side for his second match - and first North London derby.

But former Arsenal defender Martin Keown says that although Spurs are buoyant following Redknapp's appointment and their first League win of the season, they should beware of a backlash.

Keown feels Spurs could be in for a rough ride from an adversary whose pride was wounded.

"I don't think they will be relishing going to the Emirates to face Arsenal, who I expect to be quite ruthless," ex-England centre-half Keown was quoted as saying on metro.co.uk.

"It seems the last time the two teams met was a million years ago. It was only in January and everyone thought Juande Ramos was the new saviour but so much has happened since then. Arsenal will still be looking to settle the score though and I expect them to win."

Keown rekons the Gunners are playing great football, but cautioned: "The disappointing result against Hull was a major blow. Arsenal haven't had that many tough fixtures and would prefer to have more points than they have already got.

"But they have had a couple of good results since then and exciting young players like Theo Walcott are building their reputations. They have also been boosted by the return of Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor to top form because they have a thin squad.

"They need to win some silverware and it's true that Arsenal fans have been spoilt by success. But their fans are an intelligent bunch. They have been brought up on this lovely football coupled with winning trophies and they know the balance is there and that Arsene Wenger is building for the future."

Mark Hinton, Goal.com