Tottenham Hotspur v
Arsenal
Tottenham Hotspur welcome fierce
North London rivals Arsenal to White Hart Lane on Sunday in a derby match
considered to be one of the feistiest the Premier League has to offer. Both
sides have reason to be content with the season so far; Arsenal have looked
like title contenders from the very start of the campaign and now seem hot
favourites to win the FA Cup. Despite a shaky start under now former manager
Andre Villas-Boas, Spurs have been one of the sides most pleasing to watch,
particularly since Emmanuel Adebayor has been brought back into the side.
Tim Sherwood has changed the
team ethos since his arrival; he is very much a manager with an attacking
mindset and seems to have brought the best out of his wingers and full-backs in
the final third. As a result, they have recorded very impressive wins on the
road (4-0 away at Newcastle United), but have also leaked goals at the other
end. The worst came at the Etihad where they shipped six without reply. Arsenal
have looked like a classy side from game one, quite reminiscent of the sides of
the late ‘90s and early ‘00s. The signing of Mesut Ozil has been called into
question in recent weeks but his display against Everton, particularly his
tracking back proved that form is temporary but class is permanent.
Arsenal have overcome their
local rivals twice already this season, claiming a 1-0 league victory in
September and a 2-0 win in the third round of the FA Cup. However, league form
is a lot closer these days than such local domination suggests. Spurs have
taken 13 points of their last available 18 at home, including winning their
last two while Arsenal only have two wins in their last six and are without an
away win in their last three.
Arsenal will be without Ozil for
at least a couple of weeks though as a result of a hamstring injury picked up
against Bayern Munich on Tuesday night and is sure to be a big loss to them in
this game. Spurs are likely to be without centre-back Michael Dawson but will
be buoyed by Younes Kaboul’s return after his red card against Chelsea was
rescinded.
Both sides come into this game
on the back of European exploits. Arsenal gained a creditable draw against
German giants Bayern Munich and spurs on the back of a hard game against Benfica.
This could affect the pattern and fluidity of the game but when you consider
that this is a game with pride and bragging right at stake, it could be one of
the spectacles of the season if played under an intensity level matching the
passion.
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