Arsenal-Spurs Preview: Player-by-Player Guide to the 162nd North London Derby

The following article is a preview to the upcoming North London Derby match.

The Arsenal and Tottenham community leaders talk about what they expect from one of the most exciting fixtures in the league this season.

Willie's perspective:

Spurs make the short journey to the Emirates this Saturday to take on Arsenal in the most eagerly awaited North London Derby in years, or at least since the last one. With both sides level on points and sitting third and fourth respectively, the game promises to an entertaining one.

Robbie Keane stoked the fires in the build up to the Halloween showdown when he intimated that Spurs have a better squad than the Gunners, and on paper it's easy to see where he's coming from.

Spurs' possess probably the greatest combined strike force in the Premiership, and it's hard to think of any other team in the EPL that has four international strikers on their books.

At the back, Spurs have a centre half partnership of Ledley King and Johnathan Woodgate, who on their day are as good as any defenders in the league.

In the middle, Spurs have Luca Modric, Aaron Lennon, and Wilson Palacios, who are all top class players in their positions and who would compliment any team.

But Spurs real strength is in their squad.

They boast two players for every single position, and the vast majority of them are of a very high level.

But the problem for Spurs is that games are not won on paper. And Arsenal have some of the best talent in the world in their starting XI. Players like Fabregas, Arshavin, Clichy, and van Persie spring straight to mind.

Man-to-man the starting XI's should be something like this.

GK) Mannone vs. Gomes

Gomes got off to the worst possible start as a Spurs player. He couldn't catch a cold. So much so that Harry brought Tony Parks back in as goalkeeping coach, and ever since then his form has improved dramatically.

Young Mannone is Arsenal's third choice keeper at the moment, but has kept three clean sheets in eight games. Fabianski is definitely out while Almunia seems to have lost Wenger's confidence so Vito will start.

His inexperience still shows though, and he is liable to make at least one mistake per game, so Arsenal's defenders have to be turned on all the time.

Advantage: Spurs

Full Backs) Clichy, Sagna v Corluka, Assou-Ekotto

Arsenal win this clash hands down. Their two full backs are amongst the best in Europe and Clichy is up there with the very best. For Spurs, both defenders are a little one paced and can be caught out by tricky players.

Advantage: Arsenal

Centre Halves) Gallas, Vermaelan vs King, Woodgate/Bassong.

If Woodgate partners King, Spurs have the advantage here. On their day, King and Woodgate are the best pairing in the league, but with both players being somewhat injury prone, that day doesn't happen all that often.

Vermaelan has been a revelation going forward, as has Gallas to a lesser extent, but they have struggled in certain situations this season.

Advantage: If Woodgate plays, Spurs. Otherwise Arsenal

Central Midfield) Fabregas, Song, Diaby v Palacios, Huddlestone.

This is where there is a large gulf. Fabregas is a far superior player to either of Spurs central midfielders, and Song is equally as good as Huddlestone, if not the same goal threat.

Diaby has been improving, but he is still a squad player and is only really filling in until Nasri and Denilson are back in the frame.

Palacios will have it all to do if he is to keep Fabregas quiet on Saturday, the Gunners' captain has been in inspired form so far, and is the early leader for player of the year.

Advantage: Arsenal

Wide Players) Arshavin, Eboue v Bentley, Krankjaer

The unbelievably skillful Arshavin almost signed for Spurs last year, and how they wish they had nabbed him. It might have even brought something from Pavlyuchenko...

The little Russian is a joy to watch, he can move any direction with the ball and can create something out of nothing. While Eboue is as hard-working as they get.

For Spurs, both Lennon and Modric will be badly missed, and despite being very good squad players, both Bentley and Krankjaer are less than what is needed to dominate the Gunners out wide.

Advantage: Arsenal

Forwards) Van Persie vs Crouch, Keane

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