Why the north London derby holds no fear for one Highbury hero | OneFootball

Few players understand what it takes to win titles and dominate north London better than Nigel Winterburn, and ahead of Arsenal’s latest visit to Tottenham, the former left back is backing his old club to rise to the occasion once again.

A three-time league winner and part of Arsene Wenger’s famous double-winning side of 1998, Winterburn sees this derby as a chance for Arsenal to underline their Premier League title credentials.

“As I’ve said all season, this is the strongest squad in the league – no doubt in my mind,” he said. “They’ve shown they can play with flair, they’ve shown they can dig in. The biggest thing for this group now is belief. They’ve got the willpower; they just need to keep believing it.”

Winterburn points to a squad capable of ignoring injury issues, making in-game tactical adjustments and coping with the demands of the run-in – something previous Arsenal sides lacked.

“We’ve seen key players miss games, such as Havertz, Jesus, Odegaard, Saka, and Arsenal have still coped,” he explained. “In the past, losing one or two players could derail a season. Now, you look to the bench and the options are incredible. Mikel calls them ‘finishers’, and that ability to change games late on can be decisive.”

The derby itself also still represents a huge test for players and supporters alike as they bid to prove they have the faith and stamina to go the distance this season.

Earlier this season, they dismantled Spurs at the Emirates, with Eberechi Eze scoring a memorable hat-trick on an humiliating afternoon for their local rivals.

For Winterburn, speaking with Hayters via Casino Groups, that performance matters. He added: “Derbies are always intense, always emotional, but when you’ve already shown you can dominate a rival like that, it gives you confidence. The key is blocking out the noise, trusting what you do, and delivering for yourselves and for the supporters.”

He is equally convinced that manager Arteta has learned the lessons required to lead a title charge.

“Look at where the club was before Mikel Arteta arrived – the squad, the atmosphere, everything.

“He’s rebuilt it step by step. He knows that until you win the Premier League, the questions don’t stop, but he also knows this is the strongest group Arsenal have had and arguably the strongest in the league right now.

“This team has a brilliant opportunity to go down as legends. But those moments come from matches like this  when it matters, when it’s uncomfortable, and when you have to show exactly who you are.”