It is the game Arsenal fans always look for first when the Premier League fixtures are released in May and tomorrow marks the first North London derby of the season, both sides will be looking to gain 3 points to maintain their challenge on the top four and keep pace with Chelsea at the top. Arsenal will be looking to keep up their unbeaten run and continue where they left off at Aston Villa with a return to some impressive football. Tottenham on the other hand will be looking to put to bed the demons of their 1-0 home loss at the hands of West Bromwich Albion.
Arsenal Team News
Arsene Wenger is expected to ring the changes from Arsenal’s Capital One Cup exit in midweek, long term absentee Abou Diaby is part of the Match day squad but would be a surprise starter baring in mind he has only had 68 minutes of first team action in 18 months. Other big names returning are Kieran Gibbs, Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny, Mathieu Flamini, Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil and Danny Welbeck are all expect to feature heavily for the home side.
Spanish Left Back Nacho Monreal remains sidelined with a back injury, as well as Yaya Sanogo who has not recovered from his hamstring injury. long term absentees still missing are Theo Walcott (knee), Serge Gnabry (knee), Mathieu Debuchy (ankle) and Olivier Giroud (fractured foot).
Tottenham Team News
Much like Arsenal, Pochettino is expected to make several changes from midweek. prior to there Cup win over Nottingham Forest on Wednesday Night he made 11 changes from the West Brom defeat, fans should expect much of the same. Spurs have no fresh injury concerns and are expected to recall former Arsenal Striker Emmanuel Adebayor, Dutch playmaker Christian Eriksen, Erik Lamela and Nacer Chadli.
Kyle Walker is the only notable long term absentee for the visitors following abdominal surgery.
Arsenal Provisional Squad
Szczesny, Gibbs, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Chambers, Arteta, Ramsey, Cazorla, Sanchez, Ozil, Welbeck, Ospina, Wilshere, Podolski, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rosicky, Coquelin, Diaby, Flamini.
Tottenham Provisional Squad
Lloris, Vorm, Naughton, Rose, Davies, Vertonghen, Chiriches, Dier, Kaboul, Fazio, Capoue, Stambouli, Paulinho, Dembele, Mason, Bentaleb, Eriksen, Lennon, Townsend, Chadli, Lamela, Soldado, Adebayor, Kane.
Last 10 Premier League Meetings
| 16/03/14, 17:00 | Tottenham – Arsenal | 0 : 1 (0 : 1) (0 : 0) | |
| 01/09/13, 17:00 | Arsenal – Tottenham | 1 : 0 (1 : 0) (0 : 0) | |
| 03/03/13, 17:00 | Tottenham – Arsenal | 2 : 1 (2 : 0) (0 : 1) | |
| 17/11/12, 13:45 | Arsenal – Tottenham | 5 : 2 (3 : 1) (2 : 1) | |
| 26/02/12, 14:30 | Arsenal – Tottenham | 5 : 2 (2 : 2) (3 : 0) | |
| 02/10/11, 17:00 | Tottenham – Arsenal | 2 : 1 (1 : 0) (1 : 1) | |
| 20/04/11, 20:45 | Tottenham – Arsenal | 3 : 3 (2 : 3) (1 : 0) | |
| 20/11/10, 13:45 | Arsenal – Tottenham | 2 : 3 (2 : 0) (0 : 3) | |
| 14/04/10, 21:00 | Tottenham – Arsenal | 2 : 1 (1 : 0) (1 : 1) | |
| 31/10/09, 13:45 | Arsenal – Tottenham | 3 : 0 (2 : 0) (1 : 0) |
Arsenal will go into this North London derby as favourites, the Gunners remain unbeaten and will be looking for a repeat of last season’s result which was part one of a Premier League double, however they underestimate Tottenham at their peril. Adebayor is always fired up to play against his former club and with Christian Eriksen at their disposal they will always be a threat in the final third. As is the case in most derbies I expect a fiery encounter between these bitter rivals with the tempo being very quick. Both sides like to press high up the pitch, they also both like to play an attractive and attacking style of football. The key will be the Midfield battle, both sides like to play the 4-2-3-1 system which could produce a stalemate, who ever draws first blood in this one will be a good indicator to which side is likely to leave with all 3 points.
