Tottenham Hotspur-Arsenal Preview

Oct 29, 2009 - 2:39 PM NEIL RICHARDS STATS European Football Writer=

LONDOJN (SE) - Tottenham have the chance to prove they belong among English football's elite by claiming a rare North London derby victory over arch-rivals Arsenal in the Premier League's early kick-off on Saturday.

The clash at the Emirates Stadium never lacks for drama, but with Arsenal in third and Spurs just a place below them there is even more to play for. In fact, this is the first time in EPL history that both sides have been in the top four when they have come face to face for their first meeting of the season.

Spurs have developed something of an inferiority complex against their neighbours in recent years, having failed to win any of their last 19 league matches against the Gunners since a 2-1 win at White Hart Lane on Nov. 7, 1999.

They have also not won at Arsenal in their last 16 tries (nine defeats and seven draws) but still have nothing to fear this time round, according to captain Robbie Keane.

"You look at the two squads and we're definitely on a par," the Republic of Ireland striker said. "In the last four or five years Arsenal always managed to get ahead of us but if you look now it is even.

"It will be judged at the end of the season but if you look at the bench we have, it is probably a bit stronger than their bench.

"The mentality around the club in previous seasons was that we would be happy to finish fifth or qualify for the UEFA Cup, but there is a different feeling now. The players have the feeling that we want to get to the Champions League."

There could have been the added incentive of top spot on the line had both these sides not slipped up last weekend. Arsenal were held to a 2-2 draw at struggling West Ham after throwing away a two-goal lead late on while Spurs suffered a shock 1-0 home defeat by Stoke after dominating the match and doing everything but score.

Something has certainly got to give with Arsenal going into the match with a 100 per cent home record, while Spurs have picked up more points (10) on the road than any other side in the top flight.

Both sides are potentially just four matches away from their first trophy of the season after reaching the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup with home victories over Merseyside opposition in midweek, Arsenal's youngsters beating Liverpool 2-1 and Spurs seeing off Everton 2-0.

Arsenal gave an outing to goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski in that match with the Pole having recovered from knee surgery he underwent in August.

With previous first-choice Manuel Almunia having been unable to regain his place in the starting line-up despite recovering from a virus, manager Arsene Wenger confessed he has something of a selection dilemma, particularly as current No 1 Vito Mannone made a costly mistake in last week's match at West Ham which cost Arsenal a goal.

"Fabianski is available and he has done very well," Wenger said. "Almunia is back to his normal level, and I would have no worries about playing him - but at the moment, I do not know what I will do on Saturday."

Midfielder Samir Nasri made his long-awaited return after breaking his leg on the club's pre-season training trip to Austria and will be added to the squad if he suffers no adverse reaction to Wednesday night's outing.

There was nothing to separate the sides last season, with the Gunners holding on for a goalless draw at White Hart Lane after the first-half dismissal of Emmanuel Eboue. The first meeting at the Emirates Stadium produced one of the most thrilling clashes in this fixture's history. Spurs went in front but eventually needed two goals in the dying minutes from Jermaine Jenas and Aaron Lennon to salvage a point from a pulsating 4-4 draw.

David Bentley, who gave Spurs the lead in that game with one of the goals of the season, has a chance to figure with Aaron Lennon likely to be ruled out by an ankle injury. Keane (ankle), Peter Crouch (groin), Ledley King (illness) and Jonathan Woodgate (head) should all be available for selection. Jermain Defoe, though, is serving the final game of a three-match ban for his sending-off at former club Portsmouth.

Another Spurs striker, Roman Pavlyuchenko, may look for a move away from White Hart Lane according to the Russian's agent.

Oleg Artemov told The Sun: "His poor performance recently is not due to a lack of match practice but psychological problems.

"But Roman is much more affected by the feeling that the manager doesn't trust him and prefers to use other forwards."

Artemov added: "The World Cup is next summer, to waste another half a year on the bench may be very bad for his international career."