Source: Telegraph
Arsenal v Tottenham: Jermaine Jenas relishes chance to impress Fabio Capello
That a couple of the kids were wearing Arsenal shirts was not lost on Jenas, who will attempt to maintain an impressive goal record for Spurs against a rival that has held North London's bragging rights in the League for a decade. [LNB]Given that Jenas has scored four goals in a Tottenham shirt against Arsenal in the space of two and a half years, the decision to play him at the Emirates Stadium may not be the hardest for manager Harry Redknapp. Ordinarily a central midfielder, this son of Nottingham can adapt and with Spurs missing the pace of Aaron Lennon, he is set to start. [LNB] Related ArticlesArsenal v Tottenham: match previewArsène Wenger believes in Arsenal squadRedknapp: Bentley ready to silence his criticsThe Daily Bung: Wenger can relax after Robbie's boast'Psychological problem affecting Pavlyuchenko'Premier League tableAnd with Fabio Capello in attendance the 26-year-old has the opportunity to gain what he believes he deserves. After all, he did score the first goal under the Capello reign, in the friendly against Switzerland in February 2008. Since then he has made just two substitute appearances - most recently 13 months ago yet believes he deserves greater recognition at international level. [LNB] "It has been a bit frustrating, at times," said the man known affectionately as JJ. "I have felt I deserved to be selected at times when I didn't really think I could have done any more. I don't think I'd done anything wrong playing under Fabio but the squad is that strong, especially in midfield." [LNB]That Steven Gerrard, a player Jenas admires hugely, and Frank Lampard, not to mention Gareth Barry and Michael Carrick, are available hinders the hopes of Jenas, a member of the 2006 squad. [LNB] "It's the strongest position in the team but there are a lot of twists and turns to come before the end of the season. "A top year would be to finish in a Champions League spot and be on the plane." [LNB]Such a twist could come a little after lunch time today when Spurs plan to deliver a message of intent. The "Big Four" are getting nervous as clubs like Spurs, Manchester City and Aston Villa threaten to disrupt the Champions League cartel. A Tottenham win would send out a mission statement. Indeed, the 4-4 draw, a year ago on Thursday, served as a warning, with Jenas scoring Spurs' third goal. [LNB] "That game felt like a victory," recalled Jenas, who arrived from Newcastle for £7 million four years ago. "It was a remarkable night, a big turning point. We were bottom with five points and a lot of people expected us to go under after being 3-1 down, but to come back and draw 4-4 and the way we did it, I think, shouted volumes about what we were capable of." [LNB]Jenas's future is secure; he recently signed a contract extension that keeps him at White Hart Lane until 2013, though he was aware of Jose Mourinho's public admiration for him last January, when the Inter Milan manager admitted he wanted to take him to San Siro. [LNB] "It was, nice to hear and I'd be lying if I said that I ignored it or that my ears didn't pop up a little bit when someone like Jose Mourinho says certain things, but at that time I was fully focused on the job at hand, Spurs weren't in the greatest position and my job at that particular time was to make sure we got out of that and I feel I did that." [LNB]Redknapp will decide whether to recall Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate, two men who Jenas admires for different reasons. [LNB]"Ledley is a freak of nature, if I'm honest," said Jenas of a player who has only one functioning knee. [LNB] "He turns up for cup finals or local derbies and he just destroys people. He's the best, as simple as that, and I think he is the difference. If he'd been fully fit I think he would now be at Barcelona or Real Madrid. We'll take him as he is." [LNB]And Woodgate, himself troubled by injuries, is resident club joker. "If anyone does any kind of photo shoot that's not involving football, you come into training to find it plastered everywhere, on the manager's door, the cubicles, everywhere. [LNB]"Anything, he makes sure he grills you with it for a good two weeks. But you need that, the lads deal with it really well and it's all part of the camaraderie." [LNB]And it is that comradeship that is helping to turn Spurs. "We're all pulling in the same direction. We all want the same thing. We're a strong outfit and I think Arsenal look at us more as a threat. [LNB]"I think their players look at us and think 'this is a team' and so hopefully, if we believe in ourselves, we can get a result." [LNB]Jermaine Jenas was speaking at a half-term football coaching course run in partnership with Haringey Council on behalf of the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation aimed at the "Create Opportunities that Change Lives" project.
