Iwobi Expected To Start His First NLD

Match Preview: Tottenham vs Arsenal 23.09.2014

North London Derbies are to be savoured and depending on your outlook this one couldn't have come at a better or worse time. This competition represents Spurs' best chance at a trophy so it would be utterly glorious to end their season before it's really even started. You know playing us is their cup final by the cringe-worthy videos they post like that horrendous affront to the musical talents of the late Amy Winehouse. If you haven't seen it I recommend you avoid it like the plague. The general theme is a young woman singing about her picking Tottenham over Arsenal, who her dad supports, because Spurs are so much better.... I know.

Let's be honest ourselves. We're off to a stuttering start - we are higher on the table than Chelsea but a loss in the Champions League and then losing to the aforementioned scumbags in controversial circumstances has probably rocked what little confidence we had and we're already suffering with injuries. Gabriel has had his red card rescinded so is available tonight and Diego Costa has received the ban he deserves but Chelsea have the three points and once again Arsenal were robbed of the opportunity to prove what they can do in a fair game. Chelsea fans are up in arms over the Costa ban and are crying of a campaign against Chelsea but I don't think you can call rightly reprimanding a total shithouse like Costa for his scummy antics because Mike Dean was far too concerned with being the star a "campaign". They should be counting their lucky stars because by rights Zouma also should have a ban for grabbing Gabriel by the throat.

Spurs didn't enjoy the best start to the season but have picked up form recently narrowly winning their last two league games and putting three past FC Plastic Bag. They are missing three midfielders for this match but Wenger will have to do without Coquelin who has a swollen knee - one suspects he would not have played this game even if he was fit so it's another chance for Arteta to prove some people right. I think we are all hoping he'll prove those who believe he can be an effective understudy to Francis right but fear he will offer further evidence he is finished at this level. Let's see.

Wenger has intimated he will play a relatively senior line-up whilst giving starts to young players like Alex Iwobi who looked a real prospect in the Emirates Cup. Per Mertesacker is available after illness so he is expected to start tonight, possibly with Chambers although that would really expose us to pace, especially with Arteta in front of them. Arsène has said he will rotate between Giroud and Theo on a game by game basis and you'd expect Giroud to start tonight having missed out to his younger team-mate for the majority of the season so far.

If anything, there's a warning to be heeded. Arsenal are likely to start with a relatively slow team right through the spine so they'll have to be extremely well-ordered in possession and that is a quality that has eluded Arsenal for large swathes of the season so far. We faced Spurs around this time last year needing a win and could only come away with a draw and Arsenal really can't afford extra-time right now.

LAST 3 Meetings

• Tottenham 2-1 Arsenal (07.02.2015)
• Arsenal 1-1 Tottenham (27.09.2014)
• Tottenham 0-1 Arsenal (16.03.2014)

FACTFILE

• There have been 12 meetings between these sides in this competition.
• The most recent League Cup meeting was in the third round in 2010/11 at White Hart Lane. Arsenal won the game 4-1 after extra time.
• Last season's third-round defeat to Southampton was Arsenal's earliest League Cup exit since November 2002, when they lost 3-2 to Sunderland at the same stage.
• The Gunners haven't been eliminated in an away third-round tie since 1991/92 winning their 11 away third-round ties since.

INJURIES

Coquelin (knee), Wilshere (fractured leg), Welbeck (knee), Rosicky (knee, unknown) and Cazorla (suspension) will miss the match. Reine-Adelaide is rumoured to be carrying an injury.

POSSIBLE STARTING XI

Opsina; Debuchy, Mertesacker, Chambers, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey; Ozil, Iwobi. Oxlade-Chamberlain, Giroud.

As always, expect a intense battle, but one that goes Arsenal's way.

GOONERSPHERE PREDICTION

Arsenal 1-0 Tottenham

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