Arsenal vs Tottenham
Venue - Emirates Stadium, London
Time - 12:45pm GMT, 1:45pm Nigeria

Often at derby matches, pre-analysis, statistics and what not fly out of the window. All is left to watch and manipulate your emotions with are 22 men who seem to attack the game as if they have forgotten one and every mangerial instruction and are possesed by spirits of derbies past. The last time Arsenal met Tottenham, at White Hart lane, Eboue had a rush of blood to the head, and was consequently shown the approprioate color by referee. Forcing Arsenal into a defensive game to hold out for a goalless draw.

In the last London derby played last weekend against West Ham, Arsenal gave up a 2 goal lead to draw the game 2-2 at full time, leading analysts to point out the complacency in the team and the inabilty to kill off or see through games in which opponents threaten resurgence after going down to Arsenal’s superior attack. Quite positively manager and players alike have identified this, not necessarily as a chronic problem, but as an issue that has to be dealt with and consciously taken care of if the need arises again. Especially as it had occured against AZ Alkmaar in the UCL mid-week before the West Ham game.Interestingly at this point of the season Arsenal has won as many matches, drawn as many matches but have lost one less than the Spurs albeit with a game in hand. Interesting because at this stage last season, Tottenham couldnt even buy a win, while Arsenal where on a fumbling start to a very inglorious season. In as much as we might disagree, the Gunners go into this fixture against a better performing side than they met last season.

Arsenal, in the EPL has a 100% home record this season, seeing off oppositions with wide goal margins, the least return being 3-1 against Birmingham. In midweek, playing with a majority of second stream players, the team more than held theirs by defeating a resurgent Liverpool side 2 goals to 1.

The first came from an awesome 20 yard strike by Fran Merida that careened off the right upright into the back of the net while the second came off the left foot of Nicklas Bendtner after a series of neat passes. Returnee keeper Lukazs Fabianski however also contrived to let in an even more fabulous left footed strike from Emiliano Insua. In that game Arsenal also employed the services of Samir Nasri playing his first game this season after sustaining a long term injury in pre-season training. Also back in the starting lineup was Eduardo after coming on as a late susbstitute in the draw against West Ham.

It will be interesting to see how Arsene Wenger lines up his team against Tottenham come Saturday. With Mannone showing glimpes of inexperience, Fabiansky and ‘former’ number one Almunia also fit to play, who goes between the sticks on Saturday, like the date of the rapture, is known only to Wenger. We expect to see the usual backline of Sagna, Gallas, Vermaleen and Clichy. In midfield Cesc would assume his rightful place, alongside Song, I’d expect Wenger to go for Diaby ahead of Nasri not entirely cos of full fitness but as Diaby’s height offers defensive size in the middle of the park. In attack Arshavin who has been talking up his first derby action having sat out the last fixture as a substitute should start on the left of the 3 man attack, Van Persie in the middle while Eboue or Bendtner takes up the last slot on the left.

So far the Spurs possess the most impressive away record in the premiership this season, winning 3, drawing one and losing 1 of their 5 away matches. They come in to this game on the back of an impressive 2-0 win over Everton in the Carling cup. However they will be prosecuting this game without their leading goal scorer Defoe who still serves his suspension after being sent off against Portstmouth in their last away win in the EPL.

Media darling Harry Redknapp will look to get the North London derby spirit going, claiming 4 goals in his first acting as enough incentive. With the availabilty of gangly striker Crouch and the pace of Aaron Lennon, it will be expected that a number of high balls will be coming into the box from both set pieces and breaks down the right if allowed. Captain Robbie Keane, who incidentally has a good scoring record against Arsenal has been talking up the match. He indicated in his own opinion however that the teams are now more evenly matched than previous occassions. The game play on Saturday would indicate if this statement is true.Defoe will miss out due to suspension after he saw red against Pompey.

So look ye all forward to another definitely more than sure to be interesting North London derby…lot of qualifiers there eh?!!!! 

******Thanks to slimshay for the preview. . . it has been slightly modified to give it a neutral view******

cool cool

The poster is blindly biased. You beat a resurgent liverpool. Did the same team play against United. You used a second string team to beat a second string team. U will suffer the first home loss of the season.

LoL , whatever they still defeated you

thinking about the match,wenger shouldnt take chances of bringing in his young guns cos the spurs are ready 2 trash dem 2 a total win.

beg wenger to play the same team against spurs and we will see a repeat of the carling cup of 2 years ago, Maybe 9-1 in favour of spurs

Mikolo history or no history, that match is draw!

OP,
Arsenal keeper Lukasz Fabianski picked up a thigh injury in midweek so Manuel Almunia could return for the first time since September.

Arsenal

Suspended: None Doubtful: None

Injured: Denilson (back), Djourou, Rosicky and Walcott (all knee), Fabianski (thigh), Wilshere (ankle)

Tottenham

Suspended: Defoe (1 game)

Doubtful: Lennon (ankle); Woodgate (concussion)

Injured: Giovani (ankle), Modric (broken leg)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/8330353.stm

@BinghiNya,

The poster is blindly biased. You beat a resurgent liverpool. Did the same team play against United. You used a second string team to beat a second string team. U will suffer the first home loss of the season.

Only in your dream. For your Info, even Keane is already loosing hope on this particular match

BinghiNya:

beg wenger to play the same team against spurs and we will see a repeat of the carling cup of 2 years ago, Maybe 9-1 in favour of spurs

do spurs not have youth team? bring them on against ours and see the score line.

No marriages, birth ceremonies or Burials tomorrow, just good old Red and White.

My prediction is, Watch out for the Cerebral Assassin.

abeg make una, free dat fella, he got beat he cant accept it.
To the game then tommorrow. A cannon will forever be cooler than a cock!!!

Cocka doodle dooooo .

Or Cookoo rookooooo

Gunners win 5-1

An even match this
2-2

Men, the Gunners will alwaz be forever, ouch, den dey play soccer!

Arsenal dey red hot now o. therefore all opposing teams beware

Nice one though from the analysis one would know its from an amateur all the same kudos. I think Arsenal would win 3 goals to one. The reason being that the quality in Arsenal is far deeper than what spurs could cope with. They spurs are definitely going to get a handful tomorrow but Arsenal should what their complcency in the defence cos it can cause the a draw.

Arsenal 2-3 spurs

Without Defoe & Modric, Spurs dont stand a snowballs chance in hell.
Arsenal 5-2 Spurs

i know we'll win but i'd be happy with a draw

derbies are always tight affairs but gunners should carry this 2-1 hey if they can spank them like the upstarts they are bonus

kolly4luv:

Men, the Gunners will alwaz be forever, ouch, den dey play soccer!

No be lie

Go, Gunners go!!!

Is Arsenal really inform as the supporters say.

@ Alkmaar 1-1 surrendered a late goal
@ west ham 2-2 surrendered 2 goals
@emirates 2-1 can't really call it a test: 2 second string teams played.

Tottenham lost at home last week but gets fired up for this. A draw on the cards.

it won't be easy for us without defoe modric and lennon 

United lost last week while liverpool had no Gerrard and a half fit Torress. Gunners are over rated.

suddenly. . . . am beginning to feel the rising sensation of an arsenal loss. . . suddenly!

We should nick the three points no matter what. No complacency today. Ever BLAZING

Ruudie

"Get thee to a Monastery!!" But seriously guys the PMT is too much to bare Hope the lads are up for this one!! And does anyone have any idea what Manu Almunia actually did to Arsene

GOONER 89

Ruudie where is your love child "Ali (are u) der? Is he still playing in England?

@Loyika . .

What's up?
Long time. . .

Where have you been ?