Arsenal vs Tottenham Spurs

Arsenal - Tottenham Preview: Visitors looking to complete first Premier League double over Gunners in 19 years In, arguably, Arsene Wenger's toughest derby in his entire reign at the club, Spurs will be looking to complete a league double over their rivals for the first time since 1993. First XI ARSENAL Szczesny Sagna, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Gibbs Walcott, Arteta, Song, Gervinho Ramsey Van Persie TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR FriedelWalker, Kaboul, King, Assou-Ekotto Lennon, Parker, Modric, Bale Van der VaartAdebayor   One side have recently been knocked out of two cups and look likely yet again to finish the season without silverware. The other are flying high in the Premier League, still in with a shout of the title, and looking to advance into the quarter-finals of a cup competition. You could be forgiven for thinking that Arsenal were the form team heading into this fixture, and based on many a season gone by you would be right. Not this season though. This season it is Tottenham’s turn to shine. The rivalry between the two sides has rarely been fiercer, and Sunday’s north London derby could cement the long speculated ‘turning of the tide’ in the Lilywhites’ favour. After going 20 games without a victory against theire neighbours, Spurs have won three and drawn once in their last four Premier League games against Arsenal. Harry Redknapp’s men go into a game at the Emirates Stadium as favourites for the first time and confidence will be high. If they play the same way they did in the 5-0 victory over Newcastle, this could well turn out to be a harder pill for Wenger to swallow than the humiliating 4-0 defeat away to AC Milan 11 days previously. The Frenchman must raise a team bereft of confidence, otherwise he will taste the bitterness of a Spurs double over Arsenal for the first time in his managerial career, the Gunners having not suffered such a fate since 1993 - three years before Wenger arrived at Highbury. Speculation over Wenger's continued hold on the Gunners' reins has never been more intense, but he can look towards star striker Robin van Persie to save the day. With 22 Premier League goals already this campaign, the 28-year-old has been the sole shining light in an otherwise dark and dingy season for his side. Without the impact of the league's leading goalscorer, Arsenal would find themselves, amazingly, in a relegation scrap. But if the Dutchman is on song, then he has the ability to drag his team to victory and, potentially, save his side's season with Champions League qualification. Gunners’ defenders Laurent Koscielny (knee) and Kieran Gibbs (groin) and midfielder Aaron Ramsey (ankle) all face fitness tests ahead of the game, but are expected to pull through. Francis Coquelin (hamstring) and Sebastien Squillaci (groin) are, however, sidelined. Defender Carl Jenkinson recently returned for the reserve team, but is not ready for first-team action, while centre-back Per Mertesacker (ankle) joins the ever-expanding list of long-term absentees after being ruled out for the remainder of the season. Harry Redknapp confirmed on Friday that Spurs striker Emmanuel Adebayor (knee) and Rafael van der Vaart (calf) are expected to be fit after training during the week, along with Benoit Assou-Ekotto (groin) and Luka Modric (ill).