Surely a Spurs victory

North London derby always serves up a classic. 4-4, 3-3 just some of the most notable scorelines over the recent years between Arsenal and Spurs. For a long time, Arsenal have been the favourites. Yet today will be role reversal. For Spurs are the more confident, clinical and cohesive side out of the two and will be expected to be beat Arsenal- a thought which no Gunner would ever contemplate. Yes, Arsenal have won their last three games, but they were against hardly testing proposition. Adding to that, their defending has not been particularly water tight. Whereas Spurs have won their last three premier league including their 4-0 win over Liverpool. So the form book would suggest Spurs victory. But football is never won on pre-match stats. 

After the turbulent summer for both clubs, the departures of Fabregas and Nasri from Arsenal and the arrivals of Adebayor and Parker to Spurs plus their ability to hold onto Modric, Arsenal are all of a sudden are weaker side than Spurs. Take Spurs possible midfield line up for example,  (left to right): Bale, Modric, Parker, van der Vaart, Lennon.Compared to Arsenal: Arshavin, Arteta, Song, Ramsey, Walcott. Apart from Walcott on his day, none of the Arsenal players would get into that midfield. So first problem for Arsenal is how will they dominate that midfield area?

Defensively both teams are not sound. Though Arsenal would be more worried that they were opened up easily by weak opposition, especially from set pieces. Arsenal full backs are going to have be on top of their game to keep Bale and Lennon quiet and Arsenal's new giant, Mertersacker must win the aerial battle against Adebayor. Yet this leaves a problem for Arsenal's defensive line. For instance, they can keep a high line and thus, press the Spurs players, giving them little time to maneuver in a compressed midfield. Plus it will negate the long ball threat to Adebayor since he is so far back from the goal. However 1) this will be exhausting 2) If Arsenal don't press in unison, they will be huge, non-patrolled gaps in the middle of the park 3) If the ball is played over the top, and Bale and Lennon beat the offside trap, there will be a lot of space for them to run into and cause havoc since no Arsenal player will have the pace to recover. But if they were to defend from the 18 yard line, the threat in behind would not exist yet Arsenal will be inviting Spurs to attack and put the defense under even more pressure, especially if Adebayor get the knock downs onto midfield runner of Van der Vaart and Modric. But Arsenal are no team sit back. So, either way, it really depends upon on the Arsenal defenders.

Fear not Arsenal fans, you have a world class player in Van Persie who can 'turn any match on its head'- scoring 21 goals in last 23 premier league games. In addition, Walcott's pace and Arshavin's trickery, there will be enough of a threat to stretch Spurs shaky full backs. 

With all that in mind, it surely points to a Spurs victory . A win for them, would signal them as favourites for fourth place. Yet football is never predictable and despite all the criticism of Arsenal, perhaps Wenger and his team will pull out something from the hat.Whatever the result, it will no doubt be feisty encounter with interesting repercussions.