please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Arsenal travel across North London this Sunday afternoon to take on Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby. The importance of this can’t be understated and both set of fans understand that. The North London Derby has been a treat for the neutrals in recent times, full of goals, incidents and comebacks, the games between Arsenal and Tottenham have lived up to the pre-match hype. And that’s hardly surprise, when you consider the attacking nature of both teams and also the inherent fragility of the two teams. Arsenal had the last laugh and bragging rights when these two sides last met as Arsenal beat Tottenham by five goals to two at the Emirates earlier in the season. Emmanuel Adebayor played a massive role in that game, both good and bad from the point of view of Spurs fans. He opened the scoring and was the stand out player in the opening fifteen minutes, but after a terrible tackle on Santi Cazorla, he got himself sent off. Arsenal took advantage and put three goals past Hugo Lloris before the half-time whistle was blown. Santi Cazorla extended the lead before Gareth Bale pulled one back for Spurs but Theo Walcott put the finishing touches for Arsenal on another emphatic win as Arsenal recorded another 5-2 win over their bitter rivals. Both Arsenal and Spurs have won their last three league games, and along with Manchester United, they are the form teams in the League at the moment. Arsenal played Aston Villa at the Emirates in their previous league game, and the Gunners needed a late goal from Santi Cazorla to win all three points. The performance was not memorable but at this point in the season, all that matters is the result. Tottenham travelled to Upton Park to take on West Ham in their last League game. Gareth Bale scored a truly world class goal in the dying minutes of that game as Spurs came back from being 2-1 down to win 3-2 and maintain their four point gap over Arsenal, as well as going above Chelsea into third place. Everything is set up for the perfect North London derby, and Tottenham know that they can strike a significant blow by beating Arsenal, because a seven point gap with only ten games to go would be a massive advantage to Spurs over Arsenal. But like last season, the Gunners know that Spurs can be chased down and overhauled if they do something special in the NLD, so hope is not lost. It’s been six years since Arsenal last beat Tottenham at White Hart Lane in the league, so the task ahead of them is not going to be simple. With so much riding on this game, it’s certainly not one to be missed and as with most North London Derbies, it should also be a brilliant game of football. Spurs like Arsenal lost key players during the last summer transfer window and have since started rebuilding their squad but they have had to do that with a new manager, unlike Arsenal. Harry Redknapp was sacked and Daniel Levy turned to Andre Villas Boas to try and get Spurs back into the Champions League. Villa Boas had failed in his last job at Chelsea so Levy was taking a risk in appointing him. The first thing the new Spurs manager had to do was to deal with the departure of Luka Modric who was finally sold to Real Madrid. Modric had been the main man in the Spurs midfield under Redknapp and he established himself as one of the best midfielders in the league, so it was a big loss for Spurs, but they also got a big fee for the Croatian from Madrid. Replacing him was not an easy task but Spurs did recruit the excellent Moussa Dembele from Fulham for £15 Million and that has proved to be a brilliant piece of business by Spurs. Dembele has been one of the key players for Spurs this season and his ability to beat people in the middle park as well as his passing range, makes him a very dangerous player. Spurs also managed to lure Hugo Lloris from Lyon during the summer transfer window and at the time it looked to be one of the best buys of the summer. Initially, Lloris could not get into the Spurs first team and he to bide his time, but now he has firmly cemented his place in their first team. Lloris gives Spurs a calm authority and he has showed why he is rated as one of the best keepers in Europe with his performances. Moussa Dembele was not the only Belgian that Spurs recruited in the summer, the other was Jan Vertonghen from Ajax. A very highly rated and classy defender who has slotted into the Spurs set up without much fuss. These three players have made significant improvements to the Spurs side and they form an excellent spine. With them, Spurs look a lot more solid. Gareth Bale has stepped up to another level this year and now he is showing that he is a world class player. Bale has dragged Spurs to third place in recent weeks, and he has scored six of their last seven league goals. In total, he has scored nineteen goals in all competitions and some of those goals have been stunning. Bale’s ability to power past people is remarkable and those famous lung bursting runs from the Welshmen are almost unstoppable. He is the man that Arsenal must stop on Sunday because if Bale has his way, then it might be a long afternoon for the Gunners. Bacary Sagna has still not recovered from a knee injury, so Carl Jenkinson is expected to cover for him. The goals have dried up a bit for the likes of Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott in recent weeks, and Arsenal fans will be hoping that mini-drought in front of goal ends against Tottenham. Santi Cazorla has scored three goals in his last three league games, and with his new role on the left, Cazorla has found more space to operate with. Jack Wilshere knows what the North London Derby means to Arsenal fans and once again, he is Arsenal’s biggest hope. Wilshere’s ability to drive from the heart of the midfield and pick out a pass is second to none, but his passion and willingness to fight for the Arsenal cause is also important and it's an example that other Arsenal players must follow. Just like last season, this is a massive North London Derby, and Arsenal fans are hoping that just like last season, their season can be turned around by beating their bitter rivals in this grand old game. Team News: Arsene Wenger: 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: 168 Wins: 71 Draws: 44 Losses: 53 For: 265 Against: 229 GD: 36 Last 6 Meetings: Arsenal 5 - 2 Tottenham Hotspur Arsenal 5 - 2 Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham Hotspur 2 - 1 Arsenal Tottenham Hotspur 3 - 3 Arsenal Arsenal 2 - 3 Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham Hotspur 1 - 4 Arsenal (League Cup) please log in to view this image Manager's Views: Arsene Wenger on maintaining the recent good form in the league: My Team: please log in to view this image Final Score: please log in to view this image
Massive NLD this one We could be in the top 4 if we win, or 7 pts behind the spuds if we lose. We've given the spuds a right royal tonking in the last two NLD's. Let's hope we do it again on Sunday.
Bit of both, but we can't go there trying to protect a draw. I think we've got more than enough in us to beat them. But we have to turn up and fight from the first minute.
I would sort of agree with that, but I feel that only a win could halt Tottenham's current momentum or shall I say, Gareth Bale's momentum.
Wonder if Wenger has made any special plans for Bale? Or is it the 'we only focus on our game' nonsense?
Fergie played Jones in midfield alongside Carrick and got him and Rafael to double up on Bale, when United played Spurs at WHL. Who is our Jones if we went down this route?
Diaby is probably the only midfield player we have who has the pace to double up on bale and not get sent off for fouling him all the time! And Diaby isn't available yet i assume. And he couldn't do it for 90 minutes with his current fitness. When he is around after injury he seems to only last 60-70 minutes. I wish he would just stay injury free for a few months to build some proper form! If we play how we did in the second half against Chelsea and City, for the whole game, against spurs then we can definately win it. A draw would be ok considering we are playing away and Bale is on fire. As long as we remain in touching distance im confident we will get past them by the end of the season. But a win would be a great turning point in our season. A loss would be bad. 7 points behind spurs and 2-5 behind chelsea would make it difficult to get into the top 4 over 10 games. But that said it isn't the biggest hurdle. A point behind spurs and potentially above Chelsea sounds a much better position!
Diaby would be a disaster. And it is not because of his current form, but because of his lack of focus, discipline and slow decision making.
£70 million match. I would opt for Podolski up front for this. Dawson and Caulker play a relatively high line, and are both strong in the air. Giroud doesn't have the pace to exploit the high line, and will be less effective aerially. Poldi also has a shot on him just as lethal as Bale's, but he rarely gets to use it when out on the left. My starting XI: ----------------Szczesny------------------ -Sagna-Koscielny-Vermaelen-Monreal- --------------Arteta-Diaby---------------- --------Walcott-Wilshere-Santi---------- ----------------Podolski--------------------
I don't think we'll play Dawson and Caulker, it will more likely be one or neither. They both played last night, with Vertonghen at left back as we wanted as much strength and physicality as we could get in the side to counter West Ham's aerial threat. I think it will be Vertonghen and either Dawson or Gallas and I think I'd prefer the latter for this one.
Diaby's been poor since he's returned, very very slow, no way could he handle Bale's pace, what you on about. Even Piskie agrees!
This might surprise a few people but I would opt for rosicky in the middle to help deal with bale, he is a great tackler, quick and good at reading the game. I'm not suggesting he plays as a defensive midfielder, just his normal game, he is also very good at keeping possession, a lot of bales goals recently have come from the opposition essentially gifting him possession in the middle of the park.
Completely agree with that Rosicky is a very tenacious player. I think he and Arteta in MF could handle Bale.
