please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Arsenal meet Tottenham Hotspur in this North London derby at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal will go into this game as the underdogs at home for the first time since anyone cares to remember. Both sides have gone in separate directions since the start of the season. Arsenal have got worse compared to last season while Spurs have improved under the management of Harry Redknapp. Arsenal will go into their meeting with Tottenham after suffering two heartbreaks in the Champions League and FA cup. All but out of Europe and having been dumped out of the Cup by Sunderland, Arsenal only have one aim left and that is to get Champions league football for next season. Spurs need another game against Stevenage in the FA cup in order to progress to the last 8 where they will meet Bolton at home. In the league they sit in third place and have a ten point cushion from the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea in fifth. Spurs are seven points off the top spot and they will need a great run until the end of season if they are to match and overtake the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United in the title race. Arsenal are only in the top four ahead of Chelsea because of goals scored. With Liverpool and Newcastle United still in the hunt, it’s going to be a tight and tough battle for the teams that want that fourth spot. Tottenham Hotspur have had the better of their bitter rivals in recent times in the league. In fact, Arsenal have not won any of their last four meeting in the league. The last league win came back in 2010 when Van Persie bagged a brace while Cesc Fabregas scored with a stunning sole effort at home against Spurs. A Kyle Walker strike sealed all three points for Spurs in the Premier league clash at White Hart Lane back in October. Last season, Tottenham entered the Champions League for the first time in their history and they managed to progress to the last eight before Real Madrid trashed them. Spurs found the task of balancing Champions League and Premier League football a difficult one. They could not sustain a top four spot for two years running and had to settle for the Europa League. This season they decided to focus on the league solely and have reaped the rewards so far. They already have 53 points this season and that is nine short of matching last season’s point tally. In the summer, Tottenham unlike Arsenal kept their star midfield player despite the attempts of Chelsea to bring Luka Modric to Stamford Bridge. While, Arsenal could not do the same with Cesc Fabregas and in the end had to let him join Barcelona. Spurs already had that upper hand before the season even started. One of the main problems for Spurs last season was not having a top forward that can score goals and combine effectively with the likes of Bale,Modric,Lennon and Van der Vaart. Peter Crouch was moved on and Emmanuel Adebayor was brought in on a loan from Manchester City. He has been a key difference to Spurs and his end product bear that out. He has scored ten goals and made eleven. He got four assists against Newcastle alone. Arsenal fans do not need to be told about the qualities of Adebayor. An ex Arsenal player that once scored over 30 goals in a single season. Adebayor should he score will only be the second player to score for both Arsenal and Tottenham in a North London derby. Another man that has made a difference at Spurs is Scott Parker. He joined them from West Ham and his energy and commitment has been top class. A player that keeps it simple but is so effective at his job. The likes of Aaron Ramsey and Van Persie will not been given more than second on the ball with Parker around. Rafael van der Vaart since joining Tottenham has loved his games against Arsenal in the derby. He has scored four goals in three games against the Gunners. He has been injured in their recent games but should be fit to face Arsenal if selected. Welsh winger, Gareth Bale has continued his rapid development and his pace and power has created havoc in defences up and down the country this season. Bale and Van der Vaart scored in the 3-2 win for Spurs last season at the Emirates and they will not waste many chances if they are allowed space and time at the Emirates. A running theme in Arsenal's season has been injuries and injuries in the back four. It was the turn of Per Mertesacker to join the treatment room after injuring his ankle at the Stadium of Light. Laurent Koscielny picked up a knock in Milan but should be ready in time for this game. With the likes of Modric and Parker in the Spurs midfield, Arsenal will miss the qualities of Jack Wilshere. And they have missed him all season. The young midfielder who impressed so many with his power and technical abilities last season has yet to feature in a single game this season. He could yet feature if he can recover from the latest set up in his recovery. Aaron Ramsey was the man expected to fill some of the creative void left by Cesc Fabregas and the young Welshman has struggled especially in 2012. His passing has been erratic and he has looked like a player that has had too many games. But Wenger continues to use him and he could start in the NLD. It will be great game for him to find his form again. Robin Van Persie has 22 goals in the league and he is a threat that Spurs players would want to keep out. Despite not playing in an Arsenal side that have been anywhere near as creative as others, he has banged in the goals at an amazing rate. It’s safe to say that the Dutchmen is enjoying the best form in his career. All Arsenal fans will be looking towards him in the hope that he finds something magical on Sunday against Spurs. Gervinho has returned from the African Cup of Nations and will be in line for his first league game since he went away. Gervinho has been a bit of a hit and miss this season, his pace and dribbling skills has impressed but he has lacked that same clinical touch Samir Nasri had last season. After Milan and Sunderland, this game has grown even bigger in terms of importance for the Gunners. If Arsenal are going to prevent yet another full collapse then a win or even not getting beat will be vital. If Arsenal are to rebuild fully in the summer then having Champions League football is going to be a massive help in that process. Chelsea like Arsenal are going through a tough spell so it’s important that Arsenal can come out of their crisis quicker than Chelsea. A win here will be a great boost for Arsenal if they are to meet their sole objective in the remainder of this season. This seasons Champions league run might be coming to end but next seasons can only begin if Arsenal remain in that fourth place. Teams News: Form Guide: please log in to view this image Three Key Match-ups: please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Overall Record vs Tottenham Hotspur: Played: 166 Wins: 69 Draws: 44 Losses: 53 For: 255 Against: 225 GD: 30 Last 6 Meetings: Tottenham Hotspur 2 - 1 Arsenal Tottenham Hotspur 3 - 3 Arsenal Arsenal 2 - 3 Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham Hotspur 1 - 4 Arsenal (League Cup) Tottenham Hotspur 2 - 1 Arsenal Arsenal 3 - 0 Tottenham Hotspur please log in to view this image Mangers Views: Arsene Wenger: My Team: please log in to view this image Final Score: please log in to view this image
Good read as always SJW. Looking at the matchups, it's impossible to see how we can win this game. A rusty Sagna vs an in form Bale isn't the best for us. We can assume that Adebayor and Saha will start, so we're going to need a physical prescence in the side. Here's the 11 i'd pick. (aren't Kossy and Gibbs injured?) --------Szczesny Sagna---Song----Djourou----Vermaelen -----------Arteta----Ramsey ------------------Benayoun --Chamberlain--RvP---------Gervinho Benayoun deserves a shot, he's played well in every game he's featured in, and chipped in some important goals. Arshavin is too unpredictable, Rosicky has played quite a few games recently.
Wenger said Kos should be back for the Spurs game. Heard nothing about Gibbs but then again it is Gibbs we are talking about. So would not be surprised if he has picked up some knock.
I heard Gibbs was due to play in the reserves tonight, but had to withdraw from the squad, due to a small injury. I swear the guy is made of glass.
Massive game for us. It can't be understated. Win here and it will give us a huge confidence boost in our fight for 4th and if we want to attract top players to our club in the summer, we need to be playing champions league football next season. There were a few people the other day saying that they weren't even up for this game as we should be aiming higher than 4th. Well, reality check ! we aren't. We are fighting for 4th and we all need to be up for the fight - players, manager and fans. We come into this game with injuries to key players (again) and it looks like we are going to have a makeshift defence (again) For me it's essential that we play TV and Kos (if he's fit) at CB as Spurs will play a lot of balls into the danger area in the middle of our box and we need to be able to deal with Adebayor. I think Sagna is probably one of the better RBs Bale is going to come up against, but LB does concern me - although I would play Gibbs there for his pace.
this derby has taken on almost Cup Final proportions. COME ON ARSENAL - we have got to win this. Wenger get your best motivation hat on.
We do tend to play well when space is offered, just look at the discrepancy between the Blackburn and Sunderland games. I think we will score agains them. I'm not confident we will keep them out though. My strategy would be... to attack them from the first whistle.
This is indeed a make or break game. For me the spotlight will be on our defence. What will Wenger pick? Even one of our best defenders in Vermaelen is suffering from ill confidence. I think Sagna should do well against Bale but Song will have to double up on Bale. We will be countered with speed so no wrecklessness from us is key. Rosicky should do well in the middle and with Gerv and OXO/Walcott up front, we should get success. The key for us should be on the right side against Ekotto, who i think is a little ricketly at left back. Walcott or OXO should be able to get some success from there. However our main weak point will be our left side, who will Wenger play there? I have a feeling that Harry will switch Bale to the right and this could cause us even more problems. Gervinho will have to help out a lot!
Sunday’s local derby will be a match coming with significant bragging rights, as well as important points at stake for both sides. Arsene Wenger’s injury ravaged side take on their London rivals, fresh from a high profile court case endured by Henry James Redknapp. Arsenal will be picking a back 4 from numbered balls dropped into a brown paper bag. Spurs will fancy rubbing Wenger’s nose in that stuff deposited by ‘Arry’s dogs. The media is informed by both managers that the FA has not made any contact regarding a part-time role recently vacated by a certain Mr Capello. Players likely to be given a debut are Mustafa Win, Try Across, Was O’Side and Blanch Flower. Referee will not be Mike Dean or even David Dein.
The spelling's on the badge To whoever said Saha will start, I'm not so sure. VDV should be back and I can't see us going 442 from the start away from home against a top 6 side.
