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| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
ARSENAL  Szczesny Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Gibbs Walcott, Arteta, Song, Gervinho Rosicky Van Persie | TOTTENHAM  FriedelWalker, Kaboul, King, Assou-Ekotto Lennon, Parker, Modric, Bale Van der VaartAdebayor |
One side have recently been knocked out of two cups and look likely yet again to finish the season without silverware. The other are flying high in the Premier League, still in with a shout of the title, and looking to advance into the quarter-finals of a cup competition.
You could be forgiven for thinking that Arsenal were the form team heading into this fixture, and based on many a season gone by you would be right. Not this season though. This season it is Tottenham’s turn to shine.
The rivalry between the two sides has rarely been fiercer, and Sunday’s north London derby could cement the long speculated ‘turning of the tide’ in the Lilywhites’ favour.
After going 20 games without a victory against theire neighbours, Spurs have won three and drawn once in their last four Premier League games against Arsenal. Harry Redknapp’s men go into a game at the Emirates Stadium as favourites for the first time and confidence will be high. If they play the same way they did in the 5-0 victory over Newcastle, this could well turn out to be a harder pill for Wenger to swallow than the humiliating 4-0 defeat away to AC Milan 11 days previously.
The Frenchman must raise a team bereft of confidence, otherwise he will taste the bitterness of a Spurs double over Arsenal for the first time in his managerial career, the Gunners having not suffered such a fate since 1993 - three years before Wenger arrived at Highbury.
Speculation over Wenger's continued hold on the Gunners' reins has never been more intense, but he can look towards star striker Robin van Persie to save the day.
With 22 Premier League goals already this campaign, the 28-year-old has been the sole shining light in an otherwise dark and dingy season for his side. Without the impact of the league's leading goalscorer, Arsenal would find themselves, amazingly, in a relegation scrap.
But if the Dutchman is on song, then he has the ability to drag his team to victory and, potentially, save his side's season with Champions League qualification.
Gunners defenders Laurent Koscielny (knee) and Kieran Gibbs (groin) face fitness tests ahead of the game, but are expected to pull through, while midfielder Aaron Ramsey (ankle) is expected to miss out. Francis Coquelin (hamstring) and Sebastien Squillaci (groin) are, however, sidelined.
Defender Carl Jenkinson recently returned for the reserve team, but is not ready for first-team action, while centre-back Per Mertesacker (ankle) joins the ever-expanding list of long-term absentees after being ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Harry Redknapp confirmed on Friday that Spurs striker Emmanuel Adebayor (knee) and Rafael van der Vaart (calf) are expected to be fit after training during the week, along with Benoit Assou-Ekotto (groin) and Luka Modric (ill).
Ledley King (knee), as always, faces a late fitness test but Sandro (calf) and William Gallas (calf) are still unavailable.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
In the corresponding fixture last season, Tottenham came from two goals down at half-time to secure a 3-2 win, their first three points on Arsenal's ground in 17 years.
- Spurs last won home and away against Arsenal in the same season (1992-93), winning 1-0 at home and 3-1 at Highbury.
- Since Harry Redknapp's appointment as manager, Tottenham have lost only two of eight north London derbies in all competitions, and only once in seven Premier League meetings with the Gunners.
- Tottenham have won just once of their last five league away games.
- Emmanuel Adebayor (pictured right), if he features, will play on his 28th birthday against his former side.
- Arsene Wenger's Arsenal have lost three games from winning positions this season. Only West Brom have capitulated more times.
- But the Frenchman's team have also accumulated 10 points from losing positions, the third-best record in the league.
- According to Opta Sports, Theo Walcott has completed just 14 of his 103 crosses from open play in the league this season.
- Robin van Persie has scored 21 goals in his last 20 appearances for Arsenal.
- Arsenal's average of 1.7 points per game is their lowest under Wenger, whereas Tottenham's average of 2.1 points per game is their highest since the Frenchman arrived in England.
This is a tough one. Derbies are notouriously hard to predict. Arsenal's recent dismal form can almost certainly be thrown out of the window, the same with Spurs' impressive form.
The two sides were in a similar situation in the reverse fixture in October, with Arsene Wenger's side bereft of confidence and Redknapp's charges making a name for themselves with their expansive football.
Only Walker's 30-yard whipped drive handed Spurs the victory that day, to end an extremely nervy encounter. I think home advantage will aid Arsenal, but I can't see them claiming the victory. One thing we have learnt to expect from recent north London derbies is goals, and I think both teams will share the goals and the points.
The two sides were in a similar situation in the reverse fixture in October, with Arsene Wenger's side bereft of confidence and Redknapp's charges making a name for themselves with their expansive football.
Only Walker's 30-yard whipped drive handed Spurs the victory that day, to end an extremely nervy encounter. I think home advantage will aid Arsenal, but I can't see them claiming the victory. One thing we have learnt to expect from recent north London derbies is goals, and I think both teams will share the goals and the points.
Editor's Prediction
Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham 
