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Preview: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Arsenal

Preview: Tottenham vs. Arsenal
© PA Photos
Sports Mole looks ahead to the fierce North London derby between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at White Hart Lane.

All eyes will be on Tottenham Hotspur star Gareth Bale during the North London derby against Arsenal at White Hart Lane this Sunday following the winger's headline-making week.

The Wales international has been compared to La Liga giants Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi following Monday night's 3-2 win over West Ham United for Spurs, in which Bale netted his 12th goal in 13 matches for the Premier League outfit.

The 23-year-old is expected to go up against Jack Wilshere, who has been a standout player for the Gunners during a tumultuous few weeks that has included their exit from the FA Cup and suffering a damaging 3-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the first leg of their round-of-16 Champions League tie.

Despite their recent woes, Arsenal managed to clinch a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa last weekend, placing them fifth in the table, four points adrift of Spurs, who leapfrogged Chelsea this week into third.

The Gunners will be without Bacary Sagna, who is sidelined with a knee injury, while Spurs will be unable to call on Jermain Defoe, which suggests that Emmanuel Adebayor will enter the fray.

Recent form

Tottenham: DDWWW

Arsenal: WDWWW

Possible starting lineups

Tottenham: Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Assou-Ekotto; Parker, Dembele; Lennon, Bale, Holtby; Adebayor

Arsenal: Szczesny; Koscielny, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Jenkinson; Arteta, Wilshere; Walcott, Cazorla, Podolski; Giroud

Sports Mole says: 2-1


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Written by
Danielle Joynson

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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool18143145172845
2Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest1911442619737
3Arsenal18106235161936
4Chelsea19105438231535
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle1995532211132
6Manchester CityMan City199463226631
7Bournemouth198652923630
8Fulham197842825329
9Aston Villa198562831-329
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton196942928127
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1973941281324
12Brentford187383232024
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham196582335-1223
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd196492126-522
15Crystal Palace194872027-720
16Everton183871524-917
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1944113142-1116
18Ipswich TownIpswich1936101833-1515
19Leicester CityLeicester1935112242-2014
20Southampton1913151239-276


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