Premier League Preview: Arsenal vs Tottenham - 7M sport

Premier League Preview: Arsenal vs Tottenham



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Posted Friday, November 19, 2010 by thesportscampus.com

North London will come to a stand still on Saturday as Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal lock horns in perhaps the most highly anticipated derby in over a decade. With both teams (finally) competing in Europe's top club competition, Spurs fans believe they have a squad capable of challenging Arsenal's supremacy of North London. The Gunners earned a creditable victory away at Everton last weekend while Spurs beat Blackburn 4-2 at White Hart Lane. Arsenal have won eight of the last 13 games against their cross-town rivals and with both teams in the midst of a good run of form, a humdinger is in the offing on Saturday.

Arsenal

Premier League Preview: Arsenal vs Tottenham

The win against Everton might be a watershed moment for Arsene Wenger's men, as they out muscled a powerful Everton side in a gruelling contest at Goodison Park. With their closest rivals, Chelsea and Manchester United dropping points, the hard earned three points opened up the title race. While Chelsea and United have been stuttering, Arsenal have crept up the table unnoticed. But it remains to be seen if they can maintain their form during the vital Christmas period and take the outright lead.

Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri have been in inspired form this season, driving on from midfield and providing the creative spark. Nasri has finally added consistency to his undoubted talents and he also looks a tad stronger, making him harder to knock-off the ball. With Andrei Arshavin not firing on all cylinders and Theo Walcott hampered by injuries, the Frenchman's form has been vital to the team's form. Walcott is likely to get the nod ahead of Arshavin this weekend with the Russian coming off 90 minutes against Belgium in midweek. Walcott's pace could also be vital to keeping Gareth Bale pinned in the Spurs half and that will be one real battle to watch.

Another player who has been in impressive at the heart of midfield is Alex Song. The midfielder might not have the presence yet of a Patrick Vieira,but his energy and endeavour has added dynamism to Arsenal's previously spineless midfield.

They have surprisingly lost two games at the Emirates, to West Brom and Newcastle United. They have the players to outsmart Spurs, especially in the centre of the park. Marouane Chamakh's ability to hold the ball up field and bring in the likes of Arshavin and Nasri from the wide positions could determine the outcome of this contest.

Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs have been in reasonably good form this season and in all likelihood will finish in an European spot. They have been patchy over the past few weeks, winning only one out of the last five games. They were brushed aside by Bolton and Manchester United, while their draws against Everton and Sunderland cost them vital ground in the race for fourth place. The Champions League has been a huge distraction for the London side and they need to turn things around if they are to ensure their European adventure doesn't affect their League performance.

Tottenham's charge has been blighted by injuries to vital players, with as many as nine players out injured. The loss of key players has been alleviated by the strength of the squad at White Hart Lane. Over the last couple of years Redknapp and his coaching staff have built a strong squad with quality replacements all across the pitch. They are blessed with players with nimble feet like Rafael Van Der Vaart, Luka Modric and Nico Kranjcar and they are complimented by the strength of Wilson Palacios, Tom Hudlestone and Sandro.

The star who has shone the brightest has been Gareth Bale. The Welsh wizard has dazzled fans and pundits all over Europe this season with his electrifying performances. Like his idol, Ryan Giggs, he's blessed with lightning speed and quick feet. After traumatizing Maicon over two legs in the Champions League, the winger will be keen to display similar skill against Bacary Sagna on Saturday.Up front, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Peter Crouch have been the only striking options in the absence of Robbie Keane and Jermain Defoe. They have a poor record away at Arsenal and will need to play out of their skins if they are to come away with all three points.

Head-to-Head:
31st Oct, 2009: Arsenal 3 –0 Spurs
14th April, 2010:Spurs 2-1 Arsenal

Form Guide:

Arsenal: WWLLW
14th Nov, 2010: Everton 1-2 Arsenal
10th Nov, 2010: Wolverhampton 0-2 Arsenal
7th Nov, 2010: Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle
3rd Nov, 2010: Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 Arsenal
30th Oct: 2010:Arsenal 1-0 West Ham

Spurs: WDLWL
13th Nov, 2010: Tottenham 4 –2 Blackburn
9th Nov, 2010: Tottenham 1–1 Sunderland
6th Nov, 2010: Bolton 4–2 Tottenham
23rd Oct, 2010:Tottenham 3- 1 Inter Milan
20th Oct, 2010:Man Utd 2–0 Tottenham

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Fabianski (Gk), Sagna, Squillaci, Djourou, Clichy, Denilson, Song, Fabregas, Nasri, Walcott, Chamakh

Wenger has no new injury worries and should start with his best eleven on Saturday. Lukasz Fabianski is finally showing his best form after getting an extended run in the starting line up and should start in goal against Spurs. Bacary Sagna will start at right back while Gael Clichy should start at left back. In the absence of Laurent Koscienlny and Thomas Vermaelen, Sebastien Squillaci and Johan Djourou will continue in central defence. The combativeness of Denilson and Alex Song will be vital in the centre of the park while Fabregas will play in the advanced midfield role. Nasri and Walcott are likely to operate down the wings while Chamakh is the lone striker up front.

Spurs (4-4-1-1): Gomes (Gk), Hutton, Gallas, Kaboul, Assou-Ekotto, Palacios, Jenas, Modric, Bale, Van Der Vaart, Crouch

Spurs have quite a few injury worries ahead of the big game on Saturday. Hurelho Gomes is expected to start in goal while Alan Hutton and Benoit Assou-Ekotto should start as the full-backs. In central defence, returning Gunner William Gallas and Younes Kaboul are expected to pair up in the absence of Ledley King and Michael Dawson. Gallas will be returning to  his old stomping ground and expect nothing less than unabashed abuse from the home fans after his blashpemous act of moving across to Spurs from arsenal. In midfield, Tottenham are likely to be without Tom Huddlestone and Aaron Lennon, but have enough quality players to choose from with Wilson Palacios, Jermaine Jenas and Luka Modric all available for selection.  Rafael Van der Vaart is likely to return to his key role just behind the striker and how he links up with the pacy dynamo Gareth Bale and the leggy Peter Crouch is likely to determine how much of a threat Tottenham will be.

Prediction: Arsenal have the edge going into the game, especially with the game being played at the Emirates. Their Carling Cup win earlier in the season at White Hart Lane bears no meaning on this game with the teams likely to be vastly different. Spurs' natural instinct of attacking will fall right into Arsenal's hands and Spurs could be ripped to shreds on the counter.

That being said, Spurs still do pose a serious challenge especially with Johan Djourou and Sebastien Squillaci not having faced upto Peter Crouch much before, and ofcourse with Gareth Bale's lightening pace on the wings. The sub-plots in this game are huge with William Gallas making his return to Arsenal, Bale vs Walcott in a rerun from Southampton's training grounds and of course with Arsenal armed with the knowledge that they could go top of the League should they win!

Predicted Scoreline: Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham



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