The North London Derby will spark into life on Sunday as Arsenal travel the short distance to White Hart Lane to challenge bitter foes Tottenham Hotspur.
The two meet knowing that defeat in this match could have dire consequences for the remainder of the season, and could even end current Premier League ambitions. For Tottenham, a win is needed to maintain the charge for fourth place and a Champions League place, the requirement set out at the start of the season after a summer of big spending.
Arsenal currently holds fourth place, but the club´s and manager Arsene Wenger´s ambitions lie beyond merely qualifying for the Champions League, although that is the minimum requirement. The Gunners look strong favourites for that fourth place (six points ahead of Spurs with a game in hand) but the players will have their sights set on the title still.
That looks more of a long shot than it did a month ago. Then Arsenal sat atop the league, but since the team has endured frustrating league form that has seen them slip to fourth, seven points behind leaders Chelsea (albeit with this game in hand). Injuries to key men at important points of the season seem to have hampered a mentally improved Arsenal this season, and it does look as though the Premier League trophy is out of reach.
However, the outlook for the remainder of the campaign is surprisingly upbeat considering the club´s league attempt has faltered and they have been knocked out of the Champions League. The FA Cup is Arsenal´s to lose and the fighting way the team left Europe provided a much needed shot of confidence. It looks as though the 8 year trophy drought could end this season, and if the team can defeat Tottenham and all but secure 4th place, the rest of the season can be spent chasing the FA Cup and an unlikely Premier League title.
Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood laid into his highly paid stars last week and questioned their commitment to the cause. That was a brave or stupid move, depending on how you look at it, and all eyes will be on the Spurs players to see if they back their manager on the pitch. The pressure is all on the home side here, with the club needing a win against Arsenal. However, expect the Gunners once again to have too much class for their North London rivals.