Source: Daily_Mail
Watch out Arsene: my hot Spurs can overtake you next season, says Harry Redknapp
As Arsenal and Tottenham prepare for a north London derby in which the stakes could barely be higher, Sportsmail asked managers Harry Redknapp and Arsene Wenger some key questions...[LNB] Derby rivals: Harry Redknapp (left) and Arsene Wenger[LNB]Q Arsenal have out-performed Tottenham in the Barclays Premier League for more than a decade. Will Spurs finish above them next year? Will they manage it in the next five years?[LNB]REDKNAPP: It's not impossible to overtake them in the long-term; I think it's a possibility. It's not a massive gap any more. We've got terrific players and a good squad and I think we can be bang up with them next year. I feel we are improving and given a fair run next yearwe've got a lot of players who can only get better, like Aaron Lennon, Tom Huddlestone, Michael Dawson and Sebastien Bassong. And is there a better left back in the country than Gareth Bale?[LNB]WENGER: I don't know. I have been here for 13 years. You can never rule it out. They have a good side. At the start of the season we were nowhere in people's predictions, so it's always down to performances. They have a good side and good potential. They have done well this season and the race for fourth will be tight.[LNB]VIDEO: Redknapp on Spurs progress...Q Where will Wednesday night's game be won and lost?[LNB]REDKNAPP: It's difficult against Arsenal. They overload midfield, play one up and you can get over-run in the middle of the park. They can overload you. We play with two up. If I played just one up everyone would say we are being negative. I haven't really got a striker who can play up on his own. They are a good side but they are not unbeatable. We fancy our chances.[LNB]WENGER: If Harry says he will go with two strikers, that means they play with one up! Everybody knows the way we play. We will try to win the game because we know that one point is not good enough for our target, to win the title. Our job is not to speculate on any weakness of Tottenham. Maybe the fact it is a derby will get their frustration out after the FA Cup. It's always difficult to know how much of an impact that has on the next game.[LNB]Q What are your abiding memories of the north London derby?[LNB]REDKNAPP: I still remember very clearly Arsenal winning the championship at White Hart Lane in 1971 when Ray Kennedy scored late in the game. Five days later they became the first team since Spurs in 1961 to win the Double.[LNB] Memory Lane: Arsenal's Ray Kennedy clinches the title in 1971[LNB]WENGER: I was not as much aware of it before I came here but you come to realise that it's always a special game. The tension gets progressively bigger as the game gets closer. It's always a big, big game. This season maybe even more so. At the moment, this one is important for us to get the three points. It was special to win the title at White Hart Lane in 2004. I think Chelsea played before us and lost and we were champions when we walked on the pitch.[LNB]Q If you left your club and were offered the job of your rivals, would you accept it?[LNB]REDKNAPP: It would never happen. When I finish here I certainly won't be getting the Arsenal job. I have as much chance as you![LNB]WENGER: Don't go too far! I am happy where I am.[LNB] Back to Spite Hart Lane: Sol Campbell to face the Tottenham fans who still call him 'Judas'Cesc Fabregas' future lies at Arsenal, insists Arsene WengerRobin van Persie could have been a match for Lionel Messi, says Arsenal boss WengerWatch out Arsenal - improving Spurs are now on par, warns RedknappTOTTENHAM HOTSPUR FC
