Tottenham Can Beat Arsenal

Tottenham Can Beat Arsenal On All Counts This Season - Rafael Van Der Vaart

Rafael van der Vaart believes Tottenham can beat Arsenal in head-to-head matches as well as on the ladder by season's end...

By Adithya Ananth
Sep 10, 2010 /www.goal.com


Rafael van der Vaart insists that Tottenham Hotspur can not only get the better of Arsenal in their head-to-head games, but also beat their arch-rivals by finishing in a higher position in the Premier League.

The midfielder recently made a controversial £8 million move from Real Madrid, as Spurs boss Harry Redknapp was under the scanner for the chase that eventually led to securing the player's signature.

With the chain of events having taken their course, the 27-year-old Dutchman now plays for the White Hart Lane faithful, and is expected to make his Premier League debut against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

"Arsenal have a great team also, a lot of great young players," Van der Vaart said, according to The Mirror.

"But I think our squad is not worse than Arsenal's so I think we have a good chance to win against them.

"And not only win the game against them but also, over the whole season, we can aspire to beat them."

With a League Cup tie between the two sides less than a fortnight away, the midfielder conceded that fell Netherlands international and Gunners striker Robin van Persie had helped him come to terms with the magnitude of the north London derby - particularly more so this season as both sides are also going to brush shoulders with Europe's elite clubs in the Champions League.

"I already spoke with Robin and he said it is the greatest derby in the world," added the former Ajax midfielder. "We will see, I'm looking forward to playing in the derby."