Crunch Time For Spurs

Tomorrow night's match at White Hart Lane against the old enemy takes on huge significance as both teams fight for a prize for their seasons work. Arsenal to keep alive title hopes and Spurs to get back that Champions League spot which they have held much of the season. Both teams have injury worries but have squads which can cope.

Spurs have been wasteful against the lesser sides this season seeming to lack imagination to unlock the defenses of teams that come to defend. Luckily, this is unlikely to be the case against Arsenal and the game should be far more open.

I am hoping that Harry Redknapp will give SuperPav the nod ahead of Crouch but think he might stick with him as the Arsenal back four are not the biggest and he might be an aerial threat. Surely Harry and his massive bench coated mastermind group can think of a plan between them to beat their neighbors.

Having thrown away an easy chance to qualify for European football on Sunday, the Spurs need to show some pride and determination to give themselves a chance of Champions League football next season.

The only real worry for Portsmouth at Wembley was the pace of Gareth Bale. His darting runs are a danger to any defense and if he can get round the back a few times it will be a worry for Arsenal.

Unfortunately there is not much chance of the other fullback providing any ammunition so on the right we have to hope that David Bentley crosses like he can and relishes the challenge of the match against his old club.  

I hope they don't think the best plan is to lump it to Peter Crouch because it feels to me like we are heading for an explosive game if the team is set up right. It could be just as exciting as the semi final was dull. Spurs didn't turn up at all at the Emirates earlier this season and hardly turned up on Sunday.

I think the players will be looking to put the disappointment of Wembley behind them in style and hope they play like they can with energy, imagination and panache.