Arsenal v Tottenham
Barclays Premier League
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Date: Saturday, 20 November Kick-off: 1245 GMT
Coverage: Watch live on Sky Sports 2 and highlights on Match of the Day; listen on BBC Radio 5 live and local radio; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles
TEAM NEWS
Arsenal centre-back Laurent Koscielny is available after serving a two-game ban for his red card against Newcastle.
The Gunners will monitor midfielder Jack Wilshere, who picked up a back problem at Everton last weekend.
Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe is back in training following ankle surgery, and could win a place on the bench.
The club will assess Aaron Lennon's hamstring problem, but fellow midfielder Tom Huddlestone is out for three months with an ankle injury.
Arsenal
Doubtful: Wilshere (back), Rosicky (hamstring)
Injured: Almunia (elbow), Diaby (ankle), Frimpong (knee), Ramsey (broken leg/fitness), Vermaelen (Achilles)
Tottenham
Doubtful: Defoe (ankle), Lennon (hamstring)
Injured: Dawson (knee & ankle), Huddlestone & Keane (both ankle), Dos Santos, King & Woodgate (all groin), O'Hara (back)
MATCH PREVIEW
The Manchester derby may have disappointed but it is hard to imagine a bore draw in the 147th league meeting of these north London rivals. The last six encounters in league and cup have produced a total of 25 goals, including a memorable 4-4 draw at the Emirates two years ago.
We're a lot closer to them than we have been for a long time, and against the best we seem to raise our game
Tottenham striker Peter Crouch
Arsenal know a win will take them top of the table for the first time since March, increasing the pressure on Chelsea when they kick-off against Birmingham. Tottenham have not won on Gunners soil since 1993 but they did end a decade-long wait for a league win against Arsene Wenger's men when the sides met in April.
Both sides looks defensively vulnerable. Arsenal remain without Thomas Vermaelen, while injuries to Ledley King and Michael Dawson have robbed Spurs of their first-choice centre-backs. Their continued absence has meant William Gallas has played a key role - he was released by Arsenal this summer after the club claimed his contract demands were "extravagant", but his experience could prove invaluable for the visitors.
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp appears to have decided attack is the best form of defence judging by his line-up against Blackburn last weekend, when two orthodox strikers (Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko) were supported by an attack-minded midfield of Rafael van der Vaart, Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and Jermaine Jenas.
While Redknapp will be wary of Arsenal's counter-attacking threat, he could be emboldened by Newcastle's victory at the Emirates a fortnight ago, when the Magpies surprised many by starting with two up front.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• Arsenal's 2-1 loss at White Hart Lane in April was their first defeat to Tottenham in 21 league games.
• Spurs have won only one Premier League game away to Arsenal, a 3-1 victory in May 1993. The Gunners have taken 29 points from a possible 33 in their last 11 league games against their north London rivals.
• Tottenham have kept one clean sheet in their last 23 Premier League matches against Arsenal.
STATS
Arsenal
• The Gunners have won five of their last six league games.
• Arsenal have not lost back-to-back home league games for 13 years. The Gunners suffered successive defeats to Liverpool and Blackburn at Highbury in November and December 1997.
• Arsenal's next goal will be their 50th in all competitions this season. Saturday's game will be their 20th match of the campaign.
Tottenham
• Spurs have conceded 15 goals in their last seven league and cup games. They have not kept a Premier League clean sheet since holding Manchester City to a goalless draw on the opening day of the season.
• It is 68 league games since Tottenham last won away to one of the top flight's 'big four' of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. They have drawn 20 games and lost 48 since beating Liverpool 2-1 in August 1993.
• Jermaine Jenas has scored four goals in his last seven appearances against Arsenal in all competitions.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
Arsenal
Chamakh: 8 goals (5 league)
Nasri & Walcott: 7 goals (4 league)
Tottenham
Bale & Pavyluchenko: 8 goals (4 league)
Van der Vaart: 7 goals (5 league)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Phil Dowd
Assistant referees: Darren Cann & Simon Long
Fourth official: Andre Marriner
LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Arsenal (W2-1 v Everton, a): Fabianski, Sagna, Djourou, Squillaci, Clichy, Nasri, Song, Wilshere (Denilson 46), Arshavin (Rosicky 66), Fabregas, Chamakh (Eboue 89). Subs not used: Szczesny, Van Persie, Walcott, Gibbs.
Tottenham (W4-2 v Blackburn, h): Gomes; Hutton, Kaboul, Gallas, Assou-Ekotto, Van der Vaart (Palacios 85), Jenas, Modric, Bale, Pavlyuchenko (Sandro 89), Crouch. Subs not used: Cudicini, Bentley, Bassong, Kranjcar, Corluka.
What do you think the score will be?
