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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
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea16104237191834
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City168352823527
6Bournemouth167452421325
7Aston Villa167452425-125
8Fulham166642422224
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton166642625124
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1672736191723
11Brentford167273230223
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd166462119222
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham165472129-819
15Crystal Palace163761721-416
16Everton153661421-715
17Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1612131136-255


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