Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has confessed that Tottenham have come a long way in the past few years and that his side are desperate to win the upcoming North London derby.
Spurs travel to the Emirates Stadium on 18 November for a Premier League clash when domestic football resumes after the international break.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side won the last meeting between the two teams back in April with goals through star duo Harry Kane and Dele Alli.
They are currently third in the league table as they look to chase down leaders Manchester City and are already four points ahead of sixth-placed Arsenal.
Wilshere has admitted that Spurs’ strength has been growing in the past couple of seasons as they even finished above Arsenal in the league during the last campaign.
The Englishman is desperate for the Gunners to lay down a marker in the next game and wants to pick up a result for supporters.
“We want to make North London red this time around,” Wilshere told Youtube channel Arsenal Fan TV.
“We know that Tottenham have come along way in the last few years, they finished above us last year which really hurt.
“I know it’s not the be-all and end-all finishing above Tottenham, but we want to do that. We know if we finish above them this year we will be there or thereabouts.”
OPINION
Spurs certainly seems streaks ahead of their North London rivals as it stands and won’t even be looking over their shoulders at their neighbours. Pochettino’s side could become the only team to put up a real fight in the title race, something that Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal team are very unlikely to do. The gap is beginning to significantly open up between the two sides and Spurs could inflict a crushing blow if they pick up three points at the Emirates. They have the quality in their team to rip them apart and Kane should be licking his lips at the prospect of facing Arsenal’s shaky defence.