Arsenal vs. Tottenham Hotspur

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Arsenal take on Spurs in the second NLD of the season. Arsenal faced Spurs in the Carling Cup 3rd Round, winning 4-1 thanks to penalties by on form Samir Nasri. Spurs look to stop Arsenal from going top of the Premier League in the lunchtime kick-off, in one of the most foughtly contested NLD for years. Spurs' form is mixed, with a loss against Bolton and a good win v Blackburn sandwiched by a midweek draw against Sunderland.

The Gunners are on the bounce of two good away wins after a poor 1-0 loss at home to Newcastle which is sure to give Tottenham some hope.

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TEAM NEWS

Arsenal centre-back Laurent Koscielny is available after serving a two-game ban for his red card against Newcastle.
The Gunners will also monitor midfielder Jack Wilshere, who picked up a back problem at Everton last weekend.

Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe is back in training following ankle surgery, and could win a place on the bench.
The club will assess Aaron Lennon's hamstring problem, but fellow midfielder Tom Huddlestone is out for three months with an ankle injury.

Arsenal
Doubtful: Wilshere (back), Rosicky (hamstring)
Injured: Almunia (elbow), Diaby (ankle), Frimpong (knee), Ramsey (broken leg/fitness), Vermaelen (Achilles)

Tottenham
Doubtful: Defoe (ankle), Lennon (hamstring) Van der Vaart (hamstring)
Injured: Dawson (knee & ankle), Huddlestone & Keane (both ankle), Dos Santos, King & Woodgate (all groin), O'Hara (back)

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MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head
• Arsenal's 2-1 loss at White Hart Lane in April was their first defeat to Tottenham in 21 league games.
• Spurs have won only one Premier League game away to Arsenal, a 3-1 victory in May 1993. The Gunners have taken 29 points from a possible 33 in their last 11 league games against their north London rivals.
• Tottenham have kept one clean sheet in their last 23 Premier League matches against Arsenal.

Arsenal
• The Gunners have won five of their last six league games.
• Arsenal have not lost back-to-back home league games for 13 years. The Gunners suffered successive defeats to Liverpool and Blackburn at Highbury in November and December 1997.
• Arsenal's next goal will be their 50th in all competitions this season. Saturday's game will be their 20th match of the campaign.

Tottenham
• Spurs have conceded 15 goals in their last seven league and cup games. They have not kept a Premier League clean sheet since holding Manchester City to a goalless draw on the opening day of the season.
• It is 68 league games since Tottenham last won away to one of the top flight's 'big four' of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. They have drawn 20 games and lost 48 since beating Liverpool 2-1 in August 1993.
• Jermaine Jenas has scored four goals in his last seven appearances against Arsenal in all competitions.

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Fans Say :

To Be Continued...

We won the league at White Hart Lane... [ <3 ]

quote Super Cesc

Arsenal take on Spurs in the second NLD of the season. Arsenal faced Spurs in the Carling Cup 3rd Round, winning 4-1 thanks to penalties by on form Samir Nasri. Spurs look to stop Arsenal from going top in the lunchtime kick-off, in one of the most foughtly contested NLD for years.

Good unbiased build up to the game.

3-3 or 4-3 Arsenal.

We asked Dannyido and DJ to do an interview but both declined.

Because we're both busy.

Would take a point right now. It's a shame we can't field our strongest or a near strongest XI, because I feel that side could well do something against Arsenal. Especially with them losing at home twice too. Hope Gallas doesn't play.

quote DjedwardSmith

Only thing I'd bet on is there being at least one red card.

I know it's sounds cliché for the former player etc but I think Gallas will crumble in this game. I'm a fan of his as a footballer but can definitely see him cocking up big time which will lead to a goal or him getting sent off for a reckless last man tackle of some sort.

I think ( and hope) that Harry will field a very attacking side, simply because if we can't stop conceding then we need to score enough to balance that out.

I expect plenty of goals and I think our shoddy defence will cause us problems and on the other hand our on form players like Bale, Modric, Pav and Van Der Vaart ( if he plays) will cause them alot of problems.

I predict: 4-3

I reckon we will keep going behind and responding until it's 3 - 3 but a huge defensive error will cost us the point late in the game. It will be good if Defoe can come on late in the game, can't wait to see him back.

even with a full strength team i wouldnt be any more confident of getting a result never mind a point

complete bottle job when it comes to going to the top 4 grounds