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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
1Liverpool16123137162139
2Chelsea17105237191835
3Arsenal1796234161833
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest179442319431
5Bournemouth178452721628
6Aston Villa178452626028
7Manchester CityMan City178362925427
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle177552721626
9Fulham176742422225
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton176742726125
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1772839251423
12Brentford177283232023
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd176472122-122
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham175572230-820
15Everton163761421-716
16Crystal Palace173771826-816
17Leicester CityLeicester173592137-1614
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1733112740-1312
19Ipswich TownIpswich172691632-1612
20Southampton1713131136-256


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