*** ARSENAL v SPURS *** Official Match Thread

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[SIZE=-2](thanks to Evolution for the banner)[/SIZE]​

So here it is the first NLD of the season and if you had asked me this time last week I couldn't see us getting much out of this game but it appears the winds of change have swept through the corridors of Spurs Lodge and there is a fresh optimism amongst fans and players alike. Hopefully Harry can work a little of his magic to provide us with a result that means that the toilet bowl erm I mean Emirates will hear the loudest chanting and cheering in it's short and unwanted history. Anyway that's more than enough from me. COYS!!!


The Official Site Team News:

The club appear to not want to let us know what the team news is. If they release some info then I will post it when it arrives.

BBC Team News:

Arsenal midfielder Denilson returns for the visit of Tottenham after recovering from a back injury.

Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor are pushing for recalls after starting on the bench in the 2-0 win at West Ham.

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp will welcome back Gareth Bale from a one-match ban for the trip to the Emirates.

Captain Ledley King is a doubt having played twice in a week, while fellow defender Jonathan Woodgate has been struggling with a groin injury.

BBC Match Squads (take with a pinch of salt):

Tottenham Squad (from): Gomes, Cesar, Hutton, Bale, Gilberto, Stalteri, Gunter, Corluka, King, Assou-Ekotto, Woodgate, Zokora, Bentley, Huddlestone, Lennon, Jenas, Modric, Ghaly, Taarabt, Boateng, O'Hara, Pavlyuchenko, Bent, Giovani, Campbell.

Arsenal Squad (from): Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Toure, Clichy, Walcott, Fabregas, Song, Nasri, Adebayor, van Persie, Fabianski, Denilson, Ramsey, Djourou, Silvestre, Diaby, Bendtner.

Interesting Stats:

Having inspired Tottenham to their first league win of the season, Harry Redknapp takes his new charges to their nearest neighbours, looking the 1,500th league victory of their 126-year history. It would also wrap up back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time in 2008.

Redknapp is also hoping to become the first of six Spurs managers to win the north London derby. David Pleat, Glenn Hoddle, Jacques Santini, Martin Jol and Juande Ramos all failed to mastermind a victory against their fierce rivals.

Arsenal, four points off the pace, are chasing a fourth straight win in all competitions.

The 143rd North London league derby and 160th competitive meeting of Arsenal and Tottenham is taking place on a Wednesday night for the first time in nine years.

Under Juande Ramos Tottenham made their worst ever start to a league campaign. Such is the paradox, that a win here will give them eight points, one more than was accrued after the first 10 games last season.

Spurs beat Arsenal 5-1 when they last met in the Carling Cup in January, but Arsenal completed the double over them in the league. The Gunners hold a 17-match unbeaten sequence against Spurs (10 wins, seven draws).

Spurs' only away victory came in the initial season of Premier League football; a 1-3 success against a weakened Arsenal team at Highbury on 11 May 1993, which also completed Tottenham's only Premier League double over the Gunners.

Tottenham haven't taken all three points off their arch enemies since Doug Livermore and Ray Clemence' side won 2-1 at White Hart Lane on 7 November 1999.

Distance between the clubs: 4.5 miles (7 kilometres).

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Right, that's enough fuel for this fixture, don't forget to check [thread=38386]Geez's Media Coverage Thread[/thread] for watching and listening options.

COME ON YOU SPURS!

[SIZE=-4]Lots of information courtesy of the BBC.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=-4]Don't forget to head over to SC's live chat during the game. For more info click the links below.[/SIZE]

http://www.spurscommunity.co.uk/index.php?page=sc_chat

http://embed.mibbit.com/?server=irc...ity&settings=8f877fda3b59f0190c39e4e1e0db2551

​

 

[JamesTheYiddo]

Come On You Spurs

 

[guy]

Come On Tottenham!

Same team please Harry:beer:

 

[PT]

4.5 miles and the smell is still overwhelming. Dirty filthy Gooners.

 

[nldnboi]

COYS!!!

I have a feeling we may see a Bentley or Modric special tonight. Really hoping for 3 points tonight, although not really realistic, if you look at the table atm that's all that is acceptable if we want to get out of the bottom 3.

 

[WHITEHART80]

Livermore and Clemence in charge for our last league win in 1999, me thinks not.

It was the mug in the mack.

 

[Shanks]

Rednapp could go down as a spurs legend if we win tonight.
Although highly unlikely, and I am expecting us to get beaten well, however, with this new found upbeatness about Spurs, I keep imagining how sweet its going to be if we did get all 3 points, and how I'd feel tomorrow ;-)

COYS

 

[nedley]

COYS!!!

I have a feeling we may see a Bentley or Modric special tonight. Really hoping for 3 points tonight, although not really realistic, if you look at the table atm that's all that is acceptable if we want to get out of the bottom 3.

yep! can see a Bentley freekick winning the game! Spurs 2-1!

Ever the optimist me!

 

[DEFchenkOE]

Can't believe we've had 9 managers since Wenger took over. Simply crazy.

Hoping for a point tonight but that would be a bonus imo. Hopefully we can play well there.

 

[degoose]

im hoping we have king fit still and that we have an unchanged team to the last game. Maybe bent instead of pav if injured. Modric in a free role is good stuff for me.

 

[Hoowl]

I'm hoping Bentley has the game of his life.

 

[thetallaghttiger]

I'd be shocked if we don't see a bit of a backlash over the 5-1

But in the lead up. Harry's talked a good game.

We have to keep possession of the ball, and when we don't have it, get in their faces and get stuck in.

With a bit of luck and hopefully some Gomes heroics, we can get a point.

Gomes
Hutton (2 of Woody/Corluka/King) Bale
Bentley Jenas Hudd Lennon
Modric
Pav

 

[THOWIG]

I just hope we don't get battered. Think they will win 2 or 3 nil

 

[tRiKS]

In current states of confidence and ability them lot would be truely shit if they don't beat us tonight. A complete and utter failure if they don't win and to be honest they would look a tad silly if it was less than 3 clear goals.

Just to clarify if they win by 3 or less goals you ARE still allowed to say 5-1 to them. Technically it's a bigger win margin and therefore better.

 

[robbiesavagehasbreasts]

Really nice banner.

 

[gibbs131]

I think the new players could work in our favor as they won't be overawed because it is our rivals. For Modric, Pav etc it will be just another game so they may not get the heebie jeebies.

 

[Fordy]

just been offered a ticket in the Arsenal end. fuck that.

 

[gibbs131]

Redknapp away to Arsenal under Wenger

Arsenal 4 v 0 West Ham (L)
Arsenal 1 v 0 West Ham (L)
Arsenal 2 v 1 West Ham (L)
Arsenal 3 v 0 West Ham (L)
Arsenal 1 v 1 Portsmouth (D)
Arsenal 4 v 0 Portsmouth (L)
Arsenal 2 v 2 Portsmouth (D)
Arsenal 3 v 1 Portsmouth (L)

 

[gibbs131]

Redknapp’s first away result at each of his clubs
Brentford 1 v 1 Bournemouth (D)
Manchester City 3 v 0 West Ham (L)
Preston North End 2 v 0 Portsmouth (L)
Tottenham 5 v 1 Southampton (L)
Tottenham 3 v 1 Portsmouth (L)

 

[gibbs131]

Spurs/Redknapp against the best
Last time Tottenham won away to Arsenal - 1992-93
Last time Spurs won away to a Big Four club - 1993-94
Last time Redknapp won away to Arsenal - 1994-95
Last time Redknapp won away to a Big Four club - 1998-99