mawspurs
01-12-2006, 08:41 PM
SPURS NEWS
Tottenham playmaker Steed Malbranque wants to follow the example of his former Fulham team-mates and complete a miserable week for Arsenal.
Source: Teamtalk
The 26-year-old did not watch the Cottagers' historic midweek win at Craven Cottage, preferring to spend time with his one-year-old daughter, but heard how the Gunners' Premiership title challenge was derailed.
Fulham skipper Luis Boa Morte, a good friend of Malbranque, was inspirational on the left flank and the French midfielder is hoping for a similar performance himself in Saturday's north London derby.
"I am going to try and do the same and create problems down the left," said Malbranque, who can play anywhere across midfield but has been earmarked for the left side, with Aaron Lennon favoured on the right.
"I look at the results and I know they have had two bad results in the last two matches but it doesn't really make a difference that Fulham beat Arsenal - I really don't care.
"For me, the most important thing is to win on Saturday. It's a derby match and I think Arsenal players will be at 100%."
Malbranque played in tense derby matches for Lyon against St Etienne and was made aware of the importance of beating Arsenal when he arrived at Spurs from Fulham before the transfer window closed for the winter.
He has previously cited the possibility of silverware as one of his reasons for coming to White Hart Lane and believes a cup final victory could be achieved in his first campaign.
"Yes, I think it is possible this season," he said. "There's the Carling Cup, where we have a good chance, and the UEFA Cup, and we're doing well in that, too."
Spurs were famously pipped to the final Champions League place by Arsenal last season but Malbranque believes Martin Jol's men have the quality to go one better a year on.
He added: "I think it will be hard but it is a long season, still quite a long way to go, and I think it is possible for us to gain a place."
Tottenham playmaker Steed Malbranque wants to follow the example of his former Fulham team-mates and complete a miserable week for Arsenal.
Source: Teamtalk
The 26-year-old did not watch the Cottagers' historic midweek win at Craven Cottage, preferring to spend time with his one-year-old daughter, but heard how the Gunners' Premiership title challenge was derailed.
Fulham skipper Luis Boa Morte, a good friend of Malbranque, was inspirational on the left flank and the French midfielder is hoping for a similar performance himself in Saturday's north London derby.
"I am going to try and do the same and create problems down the left," said Malbranque, who can play anywhere across midfield but has been earmarked for the left side, with Aaron Lennon favoured on the right.
"I look at the results and I know they have had two bad results in the last two matches but it doesn't really make a difference that Fulham beat Arsenal - I really don't care.
"For me, the most important thing is to win on Saturday. It's a derby match and I think Arsenal players will be at 100%."
Malbranque played in tense derby matches for Lyon against St Etienne and was made aware of the importance of beating Arsenal when he arrived at Spurs from Fulham before the transfer window closed for the winter.
He has previously cited the possibility of silverware as one of his reasons for coming to White Hart Lane and believes a cup final victory could be achieved in his first campaign.
"Yes, I think it is possible this season," he said. "There's the Carling Cup, where we have a good chance, and the UEFA Cup, and we're doing well in that, too."
Spurs were famously pipped to the final Champions League place by Arsenal last season but Malbranque believes Martin Jol's men have the quality to go one better a year on.
He added: "I think it will be hard but it is a long season, still quite a long way to go, and I think it is possible for us to gain a place."