As for our good self, even with midfield injuries we still have a few options up Arsène’s sleeve. Many people have said that they expect Santi Cazorla to be moved back into the middle to replace Mesut Özil but I don’t see past our little bouncy haired Czech. Tomas Rosicky was a big reason as to why the team kicked on during that second half of last season to win game after game on route to our CL qualification spot. I expect us to go back to that same formula which would mean Lukas Podolski dropping down to the bench. I can see a lot of frowning faces out there but away from home in a game we must control seems about as good a time as any to have Rosicky

The last time we traveled to White Hart Lane on a Sunday in March funnily enough, we had to think about a midweek away trip to Bayern Munich only a few days later. Fast forward 12 months and we go back to the ground of the old enemy but this time we have already played the German champions away from home only a few days ago. Uncanny symmetry, even more uncanny when you consider that the fixtures and Champions League draws are all totally random and stuff.

Today we are in somewhat of a crossroads, we are stood on this footballing hill not quite knowing whether we are in a title race or if we are thrashing sticks behind us to prevent those beneath us from getting too close or Dennis forbid, overtake us.

As we saw yesterday with the shock Aston Villa result against Jose Mourinho’s crying Chelsea, we would be mugs to throw in the towel when we don’t know how the run in will unfold. On paper are fixtures are somewhat daunting but if we can grasp a little momentum then you know this squad (well half of it at present) are fully capable of winning anywhere.

Tottenham Hotspur are going through somewhat of a sticky patch and as much as I want to chuckle and make lame(la) jokes about them, I just cannot do that before a North London derby. As much as I want to avoid using annoying cliches like ‘form goes out of the window’ I am not quite sure how else to describe it without writing unnecessary additional sentences which I guess I am doing now.

It looks as if those lot have a few injury concerns of their own which kind of levels things up a little in that respect. As you know Ramsey is not back just yet, Mesut Özil will be out during a crucial part of the season while Jack remains sidelined.

Kyle Walker, Sandra and Emmanuel Adebayor are doubts although it would be typical for Adebayor to do all he can to be fit enough for this clash.

I am hoping that Tim Sherwood pulls another one of those 4-4-2s out for the day. The magic bullet formation that more often than not gets dominated by technical midfields that have a spare man. That was very much the case in the cup game at the Emirates earlier in the season. I cannot remember a time where Tottenham looked so poor against us.

It will be different at their ground for sure but having an extra player in the middle would give us a big advantage. But I don’t see Tottenham playing with two strikers this afternoon.

As for our good self, even with midfield injuries we still have a few options up Arsène’s sleeve. Many people have said that they expect Santi Cazorla to be moved back into the middle to replace Mesut Özil but I don’t see past our little bouncy haired Czech. Tomas Rosicky was a big reason as to why the team kicked on during that second half of last season to win game after game on route to our CL qualification spot. Why are we moving away from that?

I expect us to go back to that same formula which could mean Lukas Podolski dropping down to the bench. I can see a lot of frowning faces out there but away from home in a game we must control seems about as good a time as any to have Rosicky in the side over Podolski. That said, Lukas scored at Bayern and he is fresher than most so he is most certainly an option. Looking around the team I don’t see how we can drop anybody else.

Mean Lean’s Predicted Line Up:

The alternative Podolski line up is as follows:

I really couldn’t deal with those frowns any longer. We could have Kim Källström on the bench for the first time. It now doesn’t seem so crazy that we signed a crocked player on loan in the January window given that we are three down in that department. Kimmy, if you are reading this (you really should be) then a quick entry into the hearts of Gooners would be to come off the bench and bend in one of your trademark free kicks. We are pretty crap at them to be honest so you’ve got a niche angle there buddy. In fact to go down as a legend, I would recommend one of those every game from now until the end of the season. Not asking a great deal really.

We haven’t beaten this lot at WHL since 2007 so I think it is time. Let us do this and all starting believing in a title chase once more. Who knows, given the symmetry we could go on another string on victories as Mourinho and the like keep getting done by refereeing decisions and turn into a frothing rage. That would make for possibly the best title of all time. Seeing as my emotions cannot change the outcome of this season I think I am going with this until results prove otherwise. We need the three points today.

Right gotta go but will be back with confirmed line ups before the game. Check back roughly an hour after the game with another post match Q&A with some more great Gooners on Twitter.