No power shift in North London

Jamie Carragher still believes that Arsenal are the top club in North London and that it will take some time before there is a power shift. Spurs finished above Arsenal for the first time since the mid ‘90’s last season but Carragher believes that it will take more time for the clubs to trade places.

“Power shift? No. I think it has to be five or six years where you finish above your rivals. A big player, if they had the option between Spurs or Arsenal in the summer, I still think a big foreign player would choose Arsenal.”

With the win on Saturday, Arsenal now move within a point of Spurs.

Attacking trio impress Neville

Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville spoke highly of Arsenal’s front line following their victory in the North London derby. The former Manchester United defender praised the way they ‘hunted’ Tottenham during the game. When speaking about Lacazette, Ozil and Sanchez, Neville said:

“If those three play at the level that they did against Tottenham, they’re going to win an awful lot of football matches for Arsenal. They will be a huge threat. Tottenham were unnerved from minute one – they were chased down and hunted. The movement from Lacazette in particular off the last line… Sanchez is always difficult to handle and Ozil’s weight of passing and decision making is really good. It’s everything you’d want, really.”

Lacazette has started his time at Arsenal well, scoring six goals in 12 appearances. Saturday was his first assist this season as he looks to add more to his game.

Xhaka thinks a City slip up could be possible

Combative midfielder Granit Xhaka holds out hopes that Manchester City’s impressive start to the season may not last. He does admit that the runaway league leaders have not yet looked like dropping points but he believes a slip up is possible. Xhaka, for now, wants to focus on what Arsenal are doing and said:

“I think in football everything is possible. Manchester City, at the moment, are on a very good run, they’re doing very well and others have dropped points – which they haven’t done – but it’s conceivable that they could drop points as well. They might not continue as they have been. But our aim is just to focus on ourselves. We know we need to work and we’re convinced that we can compete at the top. Everything’s possible, I’m a person who thinks realistically but has dreams and fantasies as well. In football, everything is always possible.”

Mislintat explains reasons for joining Arsenal

New Head of Recruitment at Arsenal Sven Mislintat has spoken about why he chose to leave Borussia Dortmund to join Arsenal. After experiencing more than 10 years of success with the German club he will begin his time at the Emirates next month. A bust-up with former Dortmund manager Thomas Tuchel has been cited as a reason behind his £1.75m move.

“I would probably never have thought of engaging with other clubs [without the falling out with Tuchel]. The ban initiated by the former coach to enter the training ground and having to stay away from the inner circle of players, the staff, and many friends, with whom I have worked closely for years, greatly influenced my thinking. In all that time, Michael and Aki [Hans-Joachim Watzke] have always been behind me. They always included me in the mentioned, complicated time, when it came to setting up the scouting so that it will always work on a very, very high level, regardless of people. That was very important to me. I have had offers in the years before, but never really thought about changing myself. I was born and raised here, I’ve been working for the club since 2006, I’m a Borussian through and through.”

Arsenal will be hoping that Mislintat can continue his excellent work which includes bringing Robert Lewandowski and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, among others, to Dortmund.