Arsenal vs. Tottenham: 5 Players Who Owe the Gunners a Big Derby Performance

As bad as things are for Arsenal right now, there is no better way to get the season back on track than by winning the North London derby. 

For five members of the Arsenal team in particular, this derby represents the ideal chance to make up for the kind of shabby performances which contributed to the defeats against AC Milan and Sunderland.

The likes of Thomas Vermaelen, Wojciech Szczesny and Alex Song each owe Arsenal a big performance in the derby.

But Tottenham Hotspur shouldn't be counted on to make things easy. The men from White Hart Lane would likely love nothing more than to heap yet more misery on Arsene Wenger and his team.

The Gunners will need big performances from their core players if they are going to record their first win over Spurs since October 2010.

5. Thomas Vermaelen

Thomas Vermaelen found himself brutally exposed during the 4-0 thrashing in the San Siro. In his first game back in his natural central position, Vermaelen struggled to cope with the pace and movement offered by Milan.

The Belgian stopper was slow to react to movement off the ball and was rash in his decision-making whenever he was called into action. The Milan defeat confirmed the suspicion that Vermaelen is a player who relies more on enthusiasm and determination, rather than elite talent and skill.

Against Spurs, Vermaelen will need to be more assured and decisive attempting to subdue a forward line featuring the likes of Rafael van der Vaart, Louis Saha and Emmanuel Adebayor. Vermaelen must use his familiar brand of aggression and quickness to beat Tottenham's attackers to the ball.

If he once again is caught waiting to react instead of taking decisive action, Vermaelen will contribute to another defensive horror show from the Gunners.

4. Alex Song

Alex Song still needs to refine his technique and add more discipline to his overall game. In Arsenal's ill-conceived tactical structure, Song is charged with being the team's chief midfield anchor.

Although this author has never really believed that Song is best suited to this kind of defensive role, Arsenal are too often exposed when Song fails to shield the back four.

If this is Song's position, then he must not eliminate altogether, but at least temper, his desire to go forward.

When he does find himself in defensive areas, Song needs to be more sure and precise in his tackling. He was brushed aside too easily by Milan and was caught out of position against Sunderland.

In fairness, the injuries that forced Song into defense at times during these games did not help him deliver a well-rounded midfield performance.

But the Cameroon star will need to display more consistency and awareness if he is going to have a chance of disrupting the flow of Tottenham's midfield.

3. Wojciech Szczesny

For a player who once seemed like an easy choice for best young goalkeeper in the Premier League, Wojciech Szczesny has begun to show an alarming propensity for conceding poor goals.

The cocky young Pole was at fault in Arsenal's 2-1 defeat at Fulham which began a disastrous 2012. He seems far too casual at critical times during games, confident in the false belief that he can comfortably make it in time to turn away any shot.

Milan's third goal, scored by Robinho, was the latest example of Szczesny reacting badly and showing poor anticipation between the sticks. Szczesny has the ability to produce significantly better form than what he is delivering at the moment.

After his poor attempts to reach Kyle Walker's speculative long drive in this season's first meeting against Tottenham, Szczesny owes Arsenal a commanding display on Sunday.

He can count on being busy against a Spurs team with plenty of options in attacking areas. If Szczesny falters again, the Gunners can expect to suffer another defeat to their local rivals.

2. Theo Walcott

This author is getting tired of calling for Theo Walcott to play more actively, produce better effort and finally deliver the form of which he is capable. The ex-Southampton prodigy has the pace and finishing ability to terrorise any defense.

But instead, Walcott persists in staying out wide with a rigidity that almost implies he is bolted to the touchline. Arguments about the wing being his best position, and claims that he is fulfilling his tactical duty, are irrelevant.

Wenger has never asked his wide players to consign themselves so strictly to the wings. His style of play demands fluid, flexible movement and clever runs from his players. Freddie Ljunberg, Robert Pires and Marc Overmars all exemplified these crucial traits.

Walcott should offer the same threat that Overmars did. But until he starts regularly making the runs inside the full-back and central defender and moving into central areas with well-timed movement to match the pattern of Arsenal's passing, watching Walcott play will remain an exercise in frustration.

1. Bacary Sagna

Bacary Sagna's return from injury was supposed to solidify the right side of Arsenal's defense. But instead, the French fullback has been guilty of some appalling lapses in concentration and one or two deeply disturbing examples of just giving up.

It's sad to see Sagna trailing at half speed behind an opposition counter attack, or regularly throwing his arms up in frustration at officials and teammates. Sagna's actions in coming to a standing stop and allowing Zlatan Ibrahimovic to waltz into the box and put in the cross for Milan's second goal, were pitiful.

Sagan used to be the one player in the Arsenal squad who could be relied upon for a solid and dependable performance. He must retain his composure, tenacity and accomplished style of defending in time to face fleet-footed Spurs star Gareth Bale.

The State of the Team and the Manager's Future Can Wait, the Derby Comes First

Questions and debate about the state of Arsenal and the future of Arsene Wenger are as numerous and intense as they have ever been. But these questions must wait while the North London derby comes first.

Pundits and Harry Redknapp sycophants are happy to laud Tottenham as a footballing side on a par with Brazil 1970. But it should be noted that Arsenal matched Spurs for effort and skill at White Hart Lane back in October 2011.

When motivated and on form, Arsenal can still match anybody for quality football, and the route back to winning ways lies in rediscovering the passing touch and taking the attack to their neighbours.

Beating Spurs on Sunday would be about more than mere local pride. Victory would silence the critics, albeit briefly, and cement Arsenal's status as the prime candidates to finish in that lucrative fourth spot.