Gareth Bale will take the wind out of the Gunners’ season

Posted Wednesday, February 27, 2013 by The Sun

Gareth Bale will take the wind out of the Gunners’ season
GUNNING FOR ARSENAL ... Gareth Bale has been backed to continue his amazing run

SCOTT PARKER reckons Gareth Bale will take the wind out of Arsenal’s season.

Tottenham warmed up for Sunday’s North London derby with another virtuoso performance from the planet’s most in-form talent at West Ham.

Bale’s sensational injury-time winner added a new chapter to his incredible season, which has brought him 19 goals and a feared reputation as Spurs hunt down a Champions League place.

Midfielder Parker, 32, believes the Gunners will have been hit hard psychologically as they watched yet another super-show from their bitter rivals’ £80million-rated genius.

The England man said: “I’ve been in that position and it’s deflating.

“You’re watching the scores flash up on the night and you see a goal from a match where your rivals are playing.

“You hope it’s the opposition and then see it’s the one team you didn’t want to score. That’s deflating.

“I’m sure the Arsenal players will have noted that. Arsenal are still a top, top club but we have players in our squad now that they would want any day of the week.

“When you have world-class players, they step up.

“Words can’t describe how well Gareth is playing at the moment. He is scoring critical goals which make big headlines.

“We were always in control of the game against West Ham.

“I thought we were a bit sloppy but, yet again, Gareth stepped up and got us three points.

“West Ham keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen had an absolutely world-class night but we fully deserved the win.

“We have closed the gap on Arsenal as a club as we have been living in their shadow.

“But we are fully aware of how hard we’ve had to work to get where we are and need to focus on staying there. If we win at White Hart Lane on Sunday we can push away from them a bit. Lose and they close the gap to one point so it’s still all to play for.

“Arsenal clawed their way back against us last year and we are mindful of that. A win will put us in a good position.”

Spurs could not ask to be in a better position right now than third after early-season wobbles.

Welsh wizard Bale, 23, has been the spearhead of a recovery which shows no sign of fading.

The one criticism aimed at Tottenham is that they are totally reliant on his brilliance and boss Andre Villas-Boas has built a one-man team.

Parker added: “As much as Gareth is outstanding at the moment we are helping him.

“Ask any of the lads and they will tell you they are doing everything they can to get on the scoresheet.”

One player who did find the net with his first Premier League goal for Spurs was attacking midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson.

And the Iceland international toasted his own landmark by heaping more praise on team-mate Bale.

Sigurdsson said: “Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Gareth are outstanding players. He has to be up on their level.

“Gareth has been doing it for many years and you can see he is a special player.

“Gareth showed again at the end that he can do something special.

“With his speed and his left foot you can tell he is a special player.

“I hope he can continue developing over the next few years and do something amazing.

“He is still young. You probably hit your peak when you are 27.

“Hopefully he can stay injury-free and continue the way he is playing.

“This is perfect preparation for Arsenal. We have a couple of days to recover and then we will start training and thinking about Sunday.

“It’s going to be a massive game for us. There are a few more games to go but it’s very important to get above them in the league.

“We have had good momentum of late, especially with scoring an equaliser so late in Lyon in the Europa League last week. It has changed from earlier in the season when we were conceding late on and losing points.”

Sigurdsson, 23, added: “Getting my first league goal has made me feel 10 stone lighter.

“This is why I came to a club like Tottenham — to play games like that and win in the last minute.

“I’m enjoying it, even though it has been tough, especially with me not scoring in the league. Hopefully this will give me confidence and luck.”

West Ham old boy Parker revealed his shock and sadness at being BOOED on his return to the club.

He was the fans’ Hammer of the Year for three consecutive seasons before being sold to Spurs for £5m following relegation in 2011. But he was welcomed back to the Boleyn by jeers on Monday night. He admitted: “It was upsetting. In football, one thing I’ve learned is not much surprises you but I didn’t expect West Ham fans to boo me.

“They obviously see it as me going to a local rival. Maybe it was the heat of the moment in a derby but I thought I might get a better reception for the time I spent there.

“I was disappointed but won’t dwell on it — maybe people have short memories.

“I had four fantastic years there and West Ham will always have a special place in my heart.”