North London rivalry will be rekindled this Sunday as Tottenham Hotspur welcome Arsenal to White Hart Lane for derby day.
There will be plenty riding on an encounter between two fierce foes, with both chasing targets set out at the start of the season.
Tottenham will be desperate for a win after last week’s embarrassing second half display against Chelsea which left their hopes of getting into the Champions League for next season looking very slim.
However, a win for fifth placed Spurs would put them within three points of their fiercest rivals, even though the Gunners will have played a game less.
Arsenal piped Tottenham 1-0 in their first Premier League encounter in September 2013, thanks to a brilliant finish from Olivier Giroud. Both sides had their chances and the game started off with both sides looking a threat going forward. But it was Arsenal who broke the deadlock midway through the first half when Theo Walcott’s low cross was somehow poked home by the left foot of Giroud who continued his good goal coring start to the season. Both sides had their share of problems from the game, though, as Jack Wilshere was substituted at half time because of illness, whilst Etienne Capoue fell awkwardly on his ankle 15 minutes from the end.
Tim Sherwood’s side, who have suffered four defeats in their last six outings in all competitions, will also be aware that the likes of Manchester United and Everton sit within touching distance just below them and harbour ambitions of snatching continental football ticket for next season.
Tottenham’s form hasn’t been great of late, it has been quite patchy ever since the Europa League restarted, and they will be hoping for no hangover here, especially following their 3-1 loss to Benfica at White Hart Lane, where the home side was well beaten. They have won three of their last five in the league, losing the other two.
Spurs will, however, be without centre-halves Michael Dawson with a hamstring and Vlad Chiriches (back), midfielder Etienne Capoue (ankle) and record signing Erik Lamela (thigh and back) – with the latter battling to figure again before the end of the campaign. Mousa Dembele may return to the side after missing out on the Europa League side against Benfica with a hamstring injury. Kyle Walker and Sandro both picked up knocks against Benfica and are at risk of missing out.
Arsenal bounced back from their disappointing defeat to Stoke City in the Premier League with a comfortable win over Everton to reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup. Though they were knocked out of the Champions League by rampaging Bayern Munich they put in a creditable performance in the Allianz Arena, drawing 1-1 on the night against the European Champions. They’re in a difficult period of fixtures so a win would be welcome for the Gunners to keep in touch with the rest at the top of the table but their form has been inconsistent over the past five league games.
Arsenal will be without their most high profile playmaker Mesut Ozil who has a hamstring problem after being substituted in midweek against Bayern Munich. Aaron Ramsey will not be part of the side because of a thigh problem. Nicklas Bendtner is sidelined with a knee problem, Jack Wilshere is absent with an ankle problem while Theo Walcott and Abou Diaby are continuing their recovery from long-term ligament injuries.
Yaya Sanogo could be available after recovering from an ankle problem. Kim Kallst, left-back Kieran Gibbs and Nacho Monreal may be available for selection after bouncing back from injuries.
Sherwood will need to check his back four especially Jan Vertonghen who made costly errors that opened the floodgates at Stamford Bridge last week and led to Tottenham’s implosion. Sherwood will be demanding a better display and Vertonghen will play a key role in ensuring there are improvements at the back.
Tottenham’s defence will need to check the deadly movement of Oxlade-Chamberlain. The Ox has been in impressive form in recent time, and was the real bright spark in the Arsenal side in Munich in midweek. There’s no doubt he can make the difference in a big game for his side and terrorise the Spurs back line if he’s given the space to run into.
Wenger will need to employ a technical formation in his defence to cage the threat of Emmanuel Adebayor. Adebayor is one of the most popular figures amongst the visiting fans, and isn’t a stranger to either scoring or getting sent off against his old club. He is also Tottenham’s biggest threat going forward, so will he come up with the goods for the home side this weekend?
Last Saturday evening’s embarrassing capitulation against Chelsea once again highlighted the frailties in a side that had over £100m invested in it during last summer’s transfer window. Unforgivable individual errors from Tottenham’s back four clearly rattled Sherwood, leading him to publicly question the character of some of the players in his dressing room.
In recent years, this fixture has been seen as a must-not-lose for Wenger and his side, but when the two teams emerge from the tunnel at White Hart Lane on Sunday afternoon, the shoe will firmly be on the foot of under-pressure Spurs boss Sherwood.
Anthony Nlebem
