Preview: Tottenham Hotspur v. Arsenal, Line-Up Updated

Cartoon via Studs Up.

White Hart Lane, London

Wednesday, April 14

20:00 BST, 3:00 p.m. EDT

• Referee: Mark Clattenburg
• This Match, Last Year: Tottenham 0 - 0 Arsenal
• All-Time in All Competitions: 68 Arsenal wins, 50 Tottenham wins, 44 draws
• Arsenal's Recent Form: W-W-W-W-D-W
• Tottenham's Recent Form: W-W-W-W-W-L

Predicted Line-Up

guesses italicized

Almunia

Sagna - Campbell - Vermaelen - Clichy

Rosicky - Denilson - Diaby

  Nasri - Bendtner - Walcott

Subs from: Fabianski, Silvestre, Traore, Eboue, Vela, Eduardo, Van Persie

Out: Song (knee) Fabregas (leg), Arshavin (calf), Gallas (calf), Ramsey (leg), Gibbs (foot), Djourou (knee)

Arsenal News and Notes

• Arsenal have had a week off following their crash out of Europe last Tuesday.
• Even with the long layoff, Arsenal's injuries are generally so long term that the only potentially expected return to the line-up for this match would be Alex Song, who is still dealing with inflamed cartilege in his knee, suffered against Wolves.
• However, Robin van Persie may return to the bench Wednesday, if Arsene Wenger deems him fit enough after training tomorrow.
• Should Sol Campbell feature, it'll be his first game at White Hart Lane since 2005. Campbell left Spurs for Arsenal on a free transfer in 2001.
• Arsenal are unbeaten in their last eight Premier League matches.
• If Arsenal wins all five of their remaining games, they will finish no worse than 2nd in the Premier League, after Manchester United's 0-0 draw at Blackburn yesterday.
• A win for the Gunners makes it St. Totteringham's Day. With a win, Arsenal will be assured of a better record than Tottenham at season's end.

Tottenham News and Notes

• Perennially injured Spurs captain Ledley King is confident he could return to the line-up Wednesday. He has not played since February with a thigh injury; he's battled knee problems throughout his career.
• Niko Kranjcar suffered an ankle injury on Sunday and will not feature in the derby.
• Aaron Lennon is back in training after sititng out with a groin injury, but is also not expected to play.
• Wilson Palacios is serving the first of a two match ban for accumulation.
• Spurs are four points adrift of Manchester City in fourth (the final Champions League qualification spot) with a game in hand (which is this game.)
• Tottenham have lost two straight across all competitions; falling 3-1 to Sunderland then 2-0 to Portsmouth in the FA Cup Semi-Final.
• Prior to this, Spurs had won five straight in the league and had gone unbeaten in nine across the league and FA Cup. 

Match Facts

• We hate Tottenham and we hate Tottenham.
• We hate Tottenham and we hate Tottenham.
• We hate Tottenham and we hate Tottenham.
• We are the Tottenham haters.
• Tottenham Hotspur have not beaten Arsenal in the Premier League since a 2-1 win at White Hart Lane on November 7, 1999. Arsenal have won 11 times since, 9 matches were drawn.
• Arsenal won the first meeting between the two teams this year on Halloween, 3-0 at the Emirates. Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas scored in quick succession just before halftime (the goals were separated by 11 seconds of actual playing time.)
• The referee is Mark Clattenburg. This year he officiated the first meeting between Arsenal and Spurs, in addition to Arsenal's 4-2 loss at Manchester City, their 2-0 win over Stoke City, and their 2-1 FA Cup win over West Ham. He was the only official to grant Arsenal a penalty kick during the "Eduardo embargo" which went on for 36 matches after the Croatian was accused of simulation against Celtic in the Champions League playoff.