Date - Saturday 20th November 2010
Event - Arsenal Vs Tottenham Hotspur
Venue - The Emirates Stadium
Buckle up everyone, Arsenal's season is ready to take off, with a win over North London rivals Spurs in Saturday's early kick off.
---------------------- Team News -----------------------
Arsenal centre-back Laurent Koscielny is available after serving a two-game ban for his red card against Newcastle.
The Gunners will monitor midfielder Jack Wilshere, who picked up a back problem at Everton last weekend.
Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe is back in training following ankle surgery, and could win a place on the bench.
The club will assess Aaron Lennon's hamstring problem, but fellow midfielder Tom Huddlestone is out for three months with an ankle injury.
---------------------- Match Facts ----------------------
• This is the 147th North London derby.
• Arsenal's 2-1 loss at White Hart Lane in April was their first defeat to Tottenham in 21 league games.
• Spurs have won only one Premier League game away to Arsenal, a 3-1 victory in May 1993. The Gunners have taken 29 points from a possible 33 in their last 11 league games against their north London rivals.
• Tottenham have kept one clean sheet in their last 23 Premier League matches against Arsenal.
• The Gunners have won five of their last six league games.
• Arsenal's next goal will be their 50th in all competitions this season. Saturday's game will be their 20th match of the campaign.
• Spurs have conceded 15 goals in their last seven league and cup games. They have not kept a Premier League clean sheet since holding Manchester City to a goalless draw on the opening day of the season.
• It is 68 league games since Tottenham last won away to one of the top flight's 'big four' of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. They have drawn 20 games and lost 48 since beating Liverpool 2-1 in August 1993.
• Jermaine Jenas has scored four goals in his last seven appearances against Arsenal in all competitions.
-------------------- Key battles ------------------------
Walcott Vs Assou-Ekotto - Theo may get a lot of joy against the vulnerable full back on the counter attack, with Bale pushing up, Arsenal should get space up the right wing
Song Vs Van Der Vaart - Can Arsenal's new 'Vieira' keep Spurs' dangerman quiet? We are hoping Song has a great game & stops VdV creating and scoring as he has done this term.
Crouch Vs our defence, can we handle the power and lankyness of this 18ft striker? May be a key battle in the contest. Djourou & Koscielny will have a tough afternoon.
---------------------- Prediction ----------------------
Im going for a 3-1 win to the mighty Arsenal!
--------------------------------------------------------
Follow me on twitter - @Footy_Gold
Nice new blog mate! To the point, good stats, totally biased - you're a true Gooner! Just one tiny thing though - I acknowledge the Gold essence of the theme but to be honest, the first thing I thought was that it's a bit Walves/Hull FC -ish and also reminds me of that Dried up cow-pat looking greyish/brown away shirt that the Spuds have worn away from home. I'd go for a Redcurrant/Oxblood/deep red type background with Goldy trimmings and bold white text with dashes of Arsenal Home shirt red thrown in. Just a suggestion. Otherwise, I shall spread the word and follow on with intrigue! Lovin the prediction too, I'm going for DJ Tayo's (of It's up for grabs now' podcast fame) 4-1 prediction. That sounds like a gorgeous number against the enemy in the NLD !! Cheers! The Arsenal Ranter.
ReplyDeleteHI m8, just a quick reply, im hoping for anything but a spurs win, a draw would be ideal but a ggoner win and city to get 1 over hughesy would do as well
ReplyDeleteCheers
Shrimmer
PS if we dont win the title (like as if ) i detest the salford buccaneers and Chelski started all this money motivation and now moaning so id prefer u guys to do it, cos u play with class, style and not big headed about it - deserves a round of applause