Smith hopes Emirates’ first NLD can break crowd report at WSL

Arsenal girls’s legend Kelly Smith hopes that Saturday’s historic north London derby within the UAE can break the record-breaking attendance of the Tottenham Hotspur Girls’s Tremendous League competitors.

Emirates will host its first North London derby of the Girls’s World Championship this weekend as league leaders Arsenal tackle Champions League leaders Tottenham Hotspur.

The primary north London derby in WSL historical past was held at Tottenham Hotspur in November 2019 and achieved a report attendance of 38,262 as Arsenal received 2-0.

Smith, who has received the FA Cup 5 occasions with Arsenal, is attending Saturday’s recreation along with her household and is hoping for Arsenal to win each on and off the sphere.

When requested if the Gunners can set a brand new report for attending WSL this weekend, she mentioned solely Sky Sports activities: “Sure, it could be nice to maintain that report and it could be nice for the sport.

“I used to be in that match in 2019 and a part of that crowd, and simply seeing so many individuals supporting the ladies’s recreation was superb.

“It encourages individuals to exit, purchase tickets, go and help this nice event within the girls’s recreation.

“The Arsenal gamers are taking a look at this match as actually tasty they usually need to beat their opponents, and being Arsenal followers, I hope they are going to.

“It is at all times been just like the previous rivalry within the males’s recreation, however it’s the sort of new rivalry that we’re attempting to develop to be one thing particular within the coming years.

“We would like it to be talked about as a giant North London derby. I’ve performed part of it just a few occasions and it is a special day.

“For Arsenal and Tottenham gamers to play on the Emirates Stadium, this well-known stadium, that is what the sport wants and deserves, and to play in these massive stadiums with massive crowds.

“It brings a number of consideration to the video games and let’s hope we get as many individuals there as doable.

“I am unable to wait. I will be there with my household, cheering them on and hoping Arsenal can do this and preserve themselves within the title race.”

Arsenal depends on Emirates expertise

Saturday’s match would be the second consecutive match that Arsenal will host on UAE soil, after it hosted Wolfsburg there on Wednesday within the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.

Jonas Edvall’s facet additionally beat Chelsea for the Premier League title within the Emirates in September, and Smith believes their constructive expertise on the sphere will give them an edge over Tottenham.

“I do know women actually like to play there,” mentioned the 43-year-old. “That they had a recreation there in opposition to Wolfsburg, so it is a warm-up match for the sport on Saturday.

“It is a massive recreation on Saturday for each groups – taking part in in that well-known stadium goes to be enormous for them.

“It is all about the way you deal with your feelings. I feel Arsenal may need had extra expertise taking part in there.

“They’ve performed there just a few occasions over the previous few years in order that they know the altering rooms, they know the dimensions of the pitch and the courtroom, and that prepares you properly whenever you play video games like this.

“There’s a little nerve, as a result of in latest historical past Arsenal have been the very best staff and they’re anticipated to win on these events. That’s additional stress in these matches, particularly being within the Emirates with help at residence.

“I feel Arsenal have skilled key gamers to deal with the massive events they usually get pleasure from taking part in in these matches.

“Tottenham would not have that a lot; they performed at residence in 2019, however will probably be a brand new event for them, however they are going to be prepared for it.”

Tottenham are near Arsenal

Arsenal have but to lose in opposition to Tottenham within the WSL since Tottenham had been promoted to the division in Might 2019.

However within the reverse fixture in November on The Hive, Arsenal wanted an injury-time equalizer from Vivian Miedema to salvage the 1-1 draw as Tottenham earned their first-ever Girls’s Premier League level in opposition to Arsenal after 5 consecutive defeats in opposition to them. .

“That is most likely the very best Spurs staff I’ve seen in a very long time,” Smith admitted. “I feel Tottenham are getting near Arsenal.

“It must be an actual robust combat. I do not assume Arsenal are going to play this match and I feel they’ve already received, they need to earn the precise to carry out and play to win the day.”

“The final recreation was a 1-1 draw, so it exhibits you the way shut Tottenham are to the massive groups.

“I have been actually impressed with the way in which Spurs have developed the previous few seasons with the help they’ve had from the lads.

“I feel Reahan Skinner (Tottenham coach) has performed a improbable job, an actual success. I do not assume anybody anticipated them to complete fourth or fifth for almost all of the season.

“I feel in earlier years this match did not actually imply a lot as a result of Tottenham had been solely on this league for just a few seasons.

“However they’ve invested some huge cash into this system they usually’re now getting near the highest groups, so it may be an awesome match.”

Who will win: Arsenal or Tottenham?

After Chelsea’s match in opposition to Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday was postponed, Arsenal might transfer 5 factors away from the defending champions with a win on Saturday.

In the meantime, a victory for fifth-placed Tottenham would depart them one level behind third-placed Manchester United, who’re final within the Champions League.

So what’s Smith’s prediction for the primary North London derby of the WSL to be hosted within the UAE?

“Each groups ought to be seeking to win on Saturday,” she mentioned. “I feel it may be a little bit of a chore to start out with.

“The stress is on Arsenal to maintain profitable, preserve in search of the title race, however I feel if Arsenal scores early, religion will develop in them and they’ll win the sport.

“I feel Leah Williamson could be key to them if she was match. She provides them a unique additional dimension on the again along with her passing vary and driving.

“Within the draw earlier this season that they had a little bit of a wall again for Arsenal and you can see them pushing and attempting to equalize and in the long run they did it in extra time in order that they know find out how to go from behind.

“However I simply assume that Arsenal in the meanwhile, within the type that they’re in, will outdo them on the day.

“I feel there could be a factor or two for Arsenal. I do not assume they’d compromise, particularly if Leah Williamson and Rafael Souza had been the partnership.

“I hope it is a cracking recreation and all of the followers will stand behind the groups and make it an unforgettable event.”

The North London Derby will happen on the Emirates Stadium, between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday 26 March, at 2.15pm.

To buy tickets, please go to: https://www.eticketing.co.uk/arsenal/EDP/Occasion/Index/2989