By Paul Lipscombe

This weekend sees the first North London derby of the season as Tottenham travel to the Emirates to take on bitter rivals Arsenal.

The season has started slowly for both teams, although Arsenal remain unbeaten going into the game. Although they fielded a weakened side in midweek in their home League cup loss to Southampton,  a comfortable 3-0 win away to Aston Villa last weekend will give them confidence after a slow start. New deadline day signing Danny Welbeck found the net in that victory, which was his first in Arsenal colours.

Tottenham on the other hand have failed to win any of their last three league games, with a lacklustre home defeat to West Brom last weekend to a side who had previously been winless. Spurs have played better away from home in recent years away from their expectant White Hart Lane crowd.
The game itself should be an exciting one, with recent meetings bringing plenty of goals and drama. Arsenal had the better of the games last season, winning 1-0 home and away in two tight affairs. They also had the better of Spurs in the FA Cup winning comfortably 2-0 at the Emirates. Spurs’ last victory at the old enemy was in November 2010 when current captain Younes Kaboul scored a late winner as Spurs came from two goals down to win 3-2.

Arsenal still have Theo Walcott out injured along with both striker Olivier Giroud and full back Mathieu Debuchy out for the next few months. Spurs’ only notable absentee is Kyle Walker who is still out with a hip injury. Full back Benoit Assou-Ekotto is suspended for the game due to an outburst on Twitter.

Both sides were heavily changed during the week in their League Cup ties, with both teams to field their strongest possible eleven. For Mauricio Pochettino it will be his first taste of a North London derby, whilst for Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger it will be his 43rd  in which he has only lost six.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Spurs (That’s being kind to Spurs)

Last Five meetings in the Premier League.
Spurs 0-1 Arsenal (March 2014)
Arsenal 1-0 Spurs (September 2013)
Spurs 2-1 Arsenal (March 2013)
Arsenal 5-2 Spurs (November 2012)

Arsenal 5-2 Spurs (February 2012)