Bale can be Arsenal’s undoing: Villas-Boas

Spurs manager eager for midfielder to prove himself in derby.

LONDON:

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas has warned Arsenal that Gareth Bale will use today’s crucial north London derby to prove he deserves to be ranked as one of the world’s top three players.

Bale will be firmly in the spotlight when Arsenal arrive at White Hart Lane for a potentially decisive moment in the battle to qualify for the Champions League.

Villas-Boas’s third placed team are already four points clear of Arsenal, who lie fifth, and a victory over their bitter rivals would be a major blow to the Gunners’ hopes of finishing in the Premier League’s top four.

If Tottenham are to add to spluttering Arsenal’s woes, they will need another dominant display from Bale.

The 23-year-old’s superb form in recent months has led to claims that the Wales winger is now as influential as Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona playmaker Lionel Messi.

Villas-Boas has no doubts about Bale’s brilliance and he believes this weekend’s marquee match-up is the perfect stage for the winger to showcase the electric pace and lethal finishing that has the likes of Real and Barcelona contemplating blockbuster bids in the close-season.

“Gareth is world class,” said Villas-Boas. “At the moment, he is showing the form to be at the level of those two players, who have won so much throughout their careers, including European trophies. He still has to achieve that and we hope he can achieve it with us. I think he is very down to earth.”

While Bale clearly poses the greatest threat to Arsenal’s bid to win at White Hart Lane for the first time since September 2007, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is adamant his side won’t just focus on stopping the Welshman.

“We don’t plan for anybody,” said Wenger. “It’s always the same, focus on our strengths and forget your opponent. There’s nobody special that you least like to face. All players have different qualities.”

Wenger, whose club have gone eight years without a trophy, can ill-afford another chastening defeat today as he looks to rescue a traumatic campaign that has seen subjected to more criticism than ever before.

“There are still 10 games to go after Tottenham and a lot can happen. Let’s not forget Chelsea are involved as well. But, today’s game will have a psychological importance for the rest of the season.” 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 3^rd, 2013.