Szczesny: Arsenal still pride of north London

Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny reckons we are still the pride of North London even though we lost to that lot on Sunday.

Szczesny told the Mirror: “You can’t say the balance of power has shifted after just a couple of months. We’ve had a poor start to the season but you can’t say they’re in the ascendancy after just one game.

“I think Spurs are a great club. They showed against us that they can play really good football. But are they better than Arsenal? I don’t really think so. Why? Well, I’m Arsenal fan and whatever happens I will believe in this club.

“Of course we were very disappointed. Playing at White Hart Lane is one of the most important games of the season for our club, for our team and for the fans so we are very disappointed about losing the game and losing the way we did. We are gutted really.

“In the second half I think you could see an improvement. In the first half we were a little bit too sloppy on the ball. In the second half we scored an equalizer, we controlled the game and then we gave a silly goal away. So I’m very disappointed about that.

“And of course the manager was angry, too. We came out with no points from White Hart Lane – one of the most important games of the season – so everyone was disappointed and angry.

“Not only did we lose the game but we have lost a game that we believed that we should have at least drawn and possibly won it. So there was big disappointment.”

Other yarns doing the rounds this morning: Arsenal are thought to be monitoring the progress of former academy players, 17-year old Watford defender Tommie Hoban, who is also reportedly wanted by Manchester City.

Meanwhile, Martin Keown has defended manager Arsene Wenger, who was labelled “two-bob” by idiot Clive Allen for refusing to shake his hand. However, Keown says Wenger should have been better prepared for the departures of key midfielders Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri.

You. Don’t. Say.

CARL ELDRIDGE – Follow me on Twitter @eldomedia