White Hart Lane plays host to the North London derby on Wednesday night with both teams desperate for a win.
Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham Hotspur currently occupy fifth place in the Premier League, three points adrift of FA Cup finalists Manchester City but with a game in hand, as they battle for a top four finish. The added incentive for the Lilywhites is the opportunity to administer the killer blow to Arsenal’s fading title hopes.
The Gunners are six points adrift of league leaders Manchester United and can ill afford any further dropped points.
Arsene Wenger’s men already boast a win at the Lane this campaign – an emphatic 4-1 Carling Cup success in September last year. They also cruised to a 2-0 lead in the reverse fixture at Emirates Stadium back in November, only to concede three second half goals and hand their bitter rivals a first success on Arsenal territory in 17 years.
South African schemer Steven Pienaar is doubtful for the hosts with a groin strain but Spurs do welcome back Peter Crouch who was suspended as Real Madrid dumped them out of the Champions League last week.
Arsenal have doubts over Bacary Sagna and reserve goalkeeper Manuel Almunia but are expected to welcome Alex Song back into the first-choice fray. Whether that sees newly-crowned PFA Young Player of the Year Jack Wilshere make way or Abou Diaby dropped, will be Wenger’s toughest decision. Fielding Russian Andriy Arshavin or keeping faith with Theo Walcott provides Wenger’s other major selection dilemma.
A Spurs win would complete a hat-trick of consecutive Premier League success over their local adversaries. One for Arsenal would keep alive a title race teetering on collapse. Yet if form offers any form of foresight, a draw is the likeliest outcome with seven of the sides’ last 10 league meetings at White Lane ending in stalemate.
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