Bacary Sagna out injured, much of the attention has been on Gareth Bale coming up against Carl Jenkinson but I do not see that being the case, unless Villas-Boas, purposefully switches Bale to the left because in recent matches he has adopted a central role which has all

Today’s fixture is one of the most nervy and highly anticipated fixtures at the best of times, so when you throw in the league position along with the remaining fixtures, it only intensifies an already crucial fixture.

Both teams are in good league form but the pressure is sat slightly heavier on our shoulders I would say. A defeat at the hands of our nearest and not so dearest rivals would see us drop seven points behind, last season will tell you that a gap like that is far from insurmountable but it would need a run of victories from us that we just have not seen so far this season.

The gap is currently at four points so I would snatch that draw right out of your hands if you gave me that option. I think we are more than good enough to go to White Hart Lane and play them off the pitch, I just worry that we do not have the right belief to do that at this moment in time.

Had this fixture appeared after the Sunderland match and before our two cup competitions I think I would be incredibly optimistic pre match but it hasn’t and we saw the nerves against Aston Villa at home when we really should have smashed them out of sight after Cazorla had settled the nerves with an early strike.

Tottenham may have caught us at a good time but I think it depends on who controls the game early on. If Cazorla, Wilshere and company fly out of the traps and monopolize the football then we may just get that confidence in our game immediately, if Tottenham pin us back in the opening exchanges then I will be a little concerned.

With Bacary Sagna out injured, much of the attention has been on Gareth Bale coming up against Carl Jenkinson but I do not see that being the case, unless Villas-Boas, purposefully switches Bale to the left because in recent matches he has adopted a central role which has allowed him to score his goals. I was watching Bale in their recent match at West Ham and where I think he could cause us problems is in that number 10 position, picking the ball up about 50 yards out, driving towards the edge of the penalty box with his dribbling.

Mikel Arteta and whoever partners him will have to make sure they do not leave large gaps between the midfield and our center backs whoever they may be. I know the Koscielny/Vermaelen partnership hasn’t always worked but I would like to see those two partnered today for two reasons. Firstly if Adebayor or Bale get a run through then Mertesacker will struggle to keep pace. Secondly if we are to deny that space I alluded to earlier then our back four can squeeze further up the pitch restricting the space for Bale to get the ball and run towards our goal with the knowledge that we have enough pace all across the back four to catch forwards if need be.

There have been rumours that Jermaine Defoe may start ahead of Emmanuel Adebayor which wouldn’t be such a surprise even considering the England man is short of football in recent weeks due to injury. Perhaps Villas-Boas would rather have 11 men on the pitch, I wouldn’t mind a helping hand from them as long as we do not suffer from injury.

The team pretty much picks itself but Arsene has a couple of decisions to make. One would be the spot alongside Mikel Arteta and then further up the pitch, to the left of Giroud I would imagine. Being away from home, I can imagine Arsene wanting to have some extra possession based security so Santi Cazorla left with perhaps Aaron Ramsey in the middle is a strong possibility but it would mean once again leaving out Lukas Podolski.

Mean Lean Predicted Line Up:

Szczesny

Jenkinson Mertesacker Vermaelen Monreal

Areta Ramsey

Wilshere

Walcott Giroud Cazorla

Needless to say, I would rather have Rosicky in that side, rotating with Cazorla. As I said above, I would also rather have Laurent Koscielny in place of Per Mertesacker but I expect to see both players amongst the Arsenal substitutes.

With the Everton match being rearranged, we have some time off to rest tired legs so I wonder if we will see a raised first half tempo. We might as well use said recovery time and work our Arsenal’s off from the get go.

I think I am cacking myself too much to give a prediction, I just hope we do not lose the game whatever the circumstances. It’s a big one people, let us hope we do ourselves proud.

Come on you mighty reds.