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Maybe this weekend was always written in the stars for Gareth Bale.
Possibly one of the best players to ever wear a Tottenham jersey, Bale’s fairytale return this season looked sadly on track to become a dismal failure … until the last few weeks.
Finally, at last, things have settled down for the Welsh magician. Bale is singing for the Spurs and has come to a delightful understanding with the Harry Kane talisman.
Results are looking up for the men in white and, quite aptly, Bale’s rebirth comes just in time for a North London derby, eight years after the exact month since the last one.
Eight years after the exact month since his last North London derby, Gareth Bale is back for more
Say the words “Gareth Bale in shape” and the blood of an Arsenal fan will run cold. The left winger terrorized the Gunners during his first stint in North London and now, with a lot of confidence, Bale is back for more.
In what is a crucial match for both teams desperately hoping to qualify for European football, Sportsmail Check out the archives of Bale’s brilliance against the Gunners of yore.
Tottenham 1-3 Arsenal: January 2007
The Spurs may have been sent packing on their own turf in this encounter, but a piece of magic from Bale signaled a turning of the tide.
At the time, North London’s men in white were desperately trying to get out of the shadow of their powerful neighbors.
The gunners delighted in goading their rivals along the way, but the Spurs were slowly building a project.
A fresh-faced Bale was going to be instrumental to everything, but this particular time, he was simply dipping his toes in the water.
A fresh-faced Bale had his moment in the sun in 2007 with a sublime, curly free kick.
Still not growing into his lanky frame, Bale looked like a boy against men when he took to the field, yet it only took him 15 minutes to make a big impression.
After a free kick was won about 30 yards from goal, slightly to the left side of the box, Bale wasted no time betting his claim. The youngster took possession of the ball despite playing alongside players like Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane.
With a flick of his magical left foot, he curved the effort up and over the ball before wedging it into Manuel Almunia’s bottom corner.
The moment, in the grand scheme of things, was enormous. White Hart Lane exploded, and Spurs fans finally began to believe that their moment was coming with a very special player on their hands.
Tottenham 2-1 Arsenal: April 2010
Bale’s status in the Premier League skyrocketed in such a short time that when the two sides met in 2010, he was considered the leading man.
Many fans will remember this game for the extraordinary debut goal of 19-year-old Danny Rose, in which he volleyed from nearly 40 yards.
But it was Bale, however, who tied all three points with a sumptuous finish in the second half after catching a pass and guiding it past Almunia with his first touch in an effortless move.
The Welshman brought Almunia to his knees again and swept Arsenal with his effort
Cult hero Nicklas Bendtner was able to win back a goal for the Gunners, but the hard work for the Spurs and Bale was already done.
The Welshman remained untouchable for most of the game, attacking the touchline and showing his explosion of strength since his goal against Arsene Wenger’s men in 2007.
Bale had now become a physical specimen, difficult to remove from the ball and impossible to push into the air. With their powers beginning to peak, the Spurs now had the upper hand.
Arsenal 3-2 Tottenham: September 2010
Same season, same mastery.
Bale was a thorn in the Gunners ‘side as Tottenham staged an impressive comeback to win at their rivals’ stadium for the first time in 17 years.
In the process, they ruined the Gunners’ hopes of reaching the top of the Premier League, inflicting a bitter double blow.
Two goals in the half hour courtesy of Samir Nasri and Marouane Chamakh set the game up for the same old story, with Arsenal asserting dominance before racking up the points.
Bale, however, had other ideas.
Lukasz Fabianski could only watch as Bale’s delicate shot headed straight for the corner.
Right after re-merging for the second half, Bale propelled his team into action. Back in the days when he was still wearing the number 3 jersey, the Welshman ran across the field during a counterattack and knocked down a Rafael van der Vaart pass with graceful grace.
Controlling the search pass with his heel, Bale someone managed to launch the ball in his stride with defenders hot on his tail, before passing it past Fabianski’s attack and selecting the bottom corner with pinpoint precision.
Van der Vaart equalized from the penalty spot, before launching a free kick from the right flank as defender Younes Kaboul headed home with an invaluable winner in the 85th minute.
Bale was widely praised for his performance, and experts labeled him the driving force behind the Spurs’ emphatic comeback.
Tottenham 2-1 Arsenal: March 2013
This was Bale’s last outing against the Gunners and, just at the right time, it was a good thing that it made the back of the net shake.
This was the season that Bale really became his thing. He went from being a very good and outstanding star of the Premier League, to an undisputed world champion.
Bale had reached his latest form of evolution and it was no surprise that Real Madrid were already closing the door for his signing.
He lined up in a strong Tottenham and found himself constantly monitored by Arsenal defensive midfielder Mikel Arteta, who will be in command of the game from the bench on Sunday.
Bale raises his fingers to point to the scoreboard after defeating Arsenal in his last derby
Bale’s mere presence left the Gunners’ backline with a flutter, and with him now moving into a more central position, it became apparent that chaos would ensue.
The Spurs star man prowled the entire front line, and Arsenal soon gave in to his advances. A powerful run down the center of the field saw Bale yelling with his arms outstretched, demanding Glyfi Sigurdsson to throw a pass his way.
The Icelandic international duly obeyed, and Bale made a difficult finish look like child’s play.
Aaron Lennon would score a carbon copy of Bale’s effort and the Spurs would get another slice of bragging rights against the Gunners.
It was a fitting sendoff for Bale, who was simply too much for his opponents to handle. He started not only as the best player in North London, but as the best in England’s top flight.
Honorable mention – Arsenal 5-2 Tottenham: November 2012
This was a painful loss for the Spurs, and Bale himself will certainly not fondly remember it. However, his performance this afternoon is still somewhat surprising.
The Spurs had taken the lead through pantomime villain Emmanuel Adabayor on his return to his old club, and the most embarrassing afternoon seemed to be on the Gunners’ cards.
That is, until Adebayor was sent off for a great wild challenge over Santi Cazorla.
A classic toss of the bags followed and, rather unusual for Bale, he was seen throwing a furious Jack Wilshere with a powerful shove before pointing out that he was one of the smallest men on the field.
Bale proved he was ready for the rough and tumble after colliding with the fiery Jack Wilshere.
Bale was excited, although his ten-man team would soon be drowned out by Arsenal’s advances.
The Gunners took a vicious momentum and peppered the Spurs net, yet throughout the game, Bale remained impossible to control.
Left, right and center shrugged off opponents, before rattling the wood from long range.
The game had outpaced the Spurs in the later stages, but that didn’t stop Bale from cutting in and throwing an effort into the far corner. The visiting winger had little to celebrate that day, but the Welshman’s strike drew everyone’s applause.
The return
So now a new chapter will be written. Perhaps, it should be noted, one last emotional dance.
Earlier in the season, when Bale’s very prominent struggles to readjust to Spurs life were documented, he had to endure a frustrating night on the bench against Arsenal in early December, when Mourinho’s men achieved a victory by 2-0 that increased confidence.
Now, however, Bale doesn’t have to worry about being an unused submarine. He is the main man once again.
On Thursday night, when Spurs took on Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League, Mourinho admitted that Bale was being saved especially for the North London derby.
Bale is finishing the season strong with Spurs and has bonded well with Harry Kane
‘We are. Not just me, him and me, ” Mourinho replied when asked BT sport before kick-off if he was managing Bale’s minutes.
His feelings, the way his body feels, so many games that we have to play. Of course, the second stage is more important than the first stage at the end.
“Arsenal out, Villa out, it’s too much, not just for Gareth, it’s too much for everyone, so we’re driving a bit.”
If he returns to Madrid at the end of the season, Bale will have only this last chance to improve his enviable Spurs record against bitter rivals.
It currently stands at 10 games, five goals and one assist. We look forward to one last piece of magic.
