Tottenham vs. Arsenal: Key Storylines Ahead of the North London Derby

In what has come to represent one of the seminal moments of the Arsenal season, the North London derby is once more upon us.

We've seen the Gunners at their self-destructive worst—4-4 at the Emirates in the autumn of '08, 3-3 at White Hart Lane last April, when Arsenal coughed up two leads (1-0, 3-1).

We've seen them at their firing-on-all-pistons best, with the 4-1 romp in '09 mirrored by the 4-1 Carling Cup thrashing from a season ago.

It's a showdown that brings out the very best in the stars on display, who each understand perfectly the importance of the rivalry for the two sides.

Cesc Fabregas set North London alight with his dynamic run through the entire Spurs defense in '09. They could do no more than watch the Catalan with mouths agape as he swashbuckled his way to a wonderful goal off a kickoff.

Rafael van der Vaart pulled his side back from the brink in that April match by tying up a rollicking 3-3 encounter.

Newcomers mixed in with the old hands—Danny Rose thrust himself onto the promenade of English football with his thumping volleyed goal in 2010's Spurs win, and Henri Lansbury wrote himself into Arsenal folklore with his opener against Tottenham in that iconic Carling Cup win.

With Spurs manager Harry Redknapp posturing his belief that his side can finally overtake Arsenal in the final Premiership standings for the first time since 1994-95, the derby has only become hotter, particularly given Spurs' impressive form after a thoroughly lackluster start to the season.

New Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker has expressed his delight at being included in a fixture of this magnitude. It is precisely the sort of mindset one wants—and expects—from a first XI man, and it was a savvy ploy for the German to show he feels no trepidation in regards to Sunday's match.

Rather, he is eager to go.

It will be another meeting for Arsenal versus the erstwhile Gunner, Emmanuel Adebayor, who most notably drew the ire of Gunners fans worldwide during a disgusting display at Eastlands two seasons ago (2009-10).

The then-Manchester City striker embarked upon a full-field scamper to celebrate his goal against his former club. This after stomping on Robin van Persie's leg earlier in the encounter.

Catharsis took on new meaning that day, as Adebayor seemed intent on exacting revenge on the supporters who had labeled him "Greedybayor" due to his contractual wrangling before eventually demanding a move away from Ashburton Grove.

To his credit, he was a much calmer presence in the return leg at the Emirates that season, and has since toned down his rhetoric when speaking about the Gunners.

From an Arsenal perspective, Theo Walcott and Gervinho will be late decisions for the match, as both face fitness tests after missing the Champions League tie against Olympiakos midweek.

Regardless of their status, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, on cloud nine after an excellent performance against the Greeks that saw him score in his European debut and thoroughly convince with his play on the wing, looks certain to see playing time.

Andrei Arshavin, so muted in recent months, was kick-started into life in the second half against Olympiakos. One never knows what sort of mindset the Russian will carry, but when on form, he possesses the quality to blow open a match of this importance.

The midfield battle will certainly be one to watch, as Spurs summer signing Scott Parker (himself the subject of a rumored move to Arsenal in May) will attempt to break up the Gunners' vaunted passing movement.

Mikel Arteta will need to be at his distributive best—the Spaniard is coming off a superb performance midweek, where his cool, calm demeanor in the center of the park allayed qualms. He's enjoyed a good start to his career in North London and would forever endear himself to the fans if he netted his second goal for Arsenal against their hated rivals (his first was against Blackburn two weekends ago).

Fellow new signing Yossi Benayoun, who strained a stomach muscle in the Carling Cup tie against Shrewsbury Town just over a week ago, could make his comeback Sunday. Experience never hurts in a crunching derby tie, and the Israeli international has bags of it from his years with Liverpool, where Merseyside rivals Everton were a frequent thorn in the Anfield side.

Arsenal's defensive woes this season have been well-documented, and Mertesacker will need to be at his physical peak to deal with the Adebayor menace. The new Spurs front man has already found the net for Tottenham this season and threatens to embark upon one of his searing goal-scoring runs of form.

Another former Gunner, William Gallas, will miss out due to a calf injury which has kept the Frenchman on the sidelines so far this campaign.

Laurent Koscielny, frustratingly inconsistent with Arsenal so far this season, will be another late decision, but after seeing Wenger gamble with a makeshift central defense against Olympiakos that included defensive midfielder Alex Song, it would seem the French skipper will do all he can to usher out a more conventional starting back four on Sunday.

Ignasi Miquel, a promising young center back, may get the nod (he already earned time against Liverpool), but Wenger may opt for experience here once more. Should Koscielny fail to meet the deadline, Song may have to slot back into that role alongside the tall German, Mertesacker.

That would hand a successive start in central midfield to Emmanuel Frimpong, who will be challenged for that spot by young Frenchman Francois Coquelin, who was very impressive against Shrewsbury Town and is another Gunners talent making a case for regular first-team action.

The Spurs' creative midfield duo of van der Vaart and Luka Modric, the latter back at his peak after a rocky summer concerning a potential move to Chelsea, will put the Gunners' back line under pressure.

That searing drive against Liverpool two weekends past still hasn't left my memory.

Arsenal looked much better in the second half against Olympiakos but were cut apart with frightening ease in a first half that saw the Greeks pinball passes together in the attacking third. The back four, which will likely see Kieran Gibbs supplant Andre Santos at left-back, will need to be on top form.

Wojciech Szczesny, architect of two massive saves in two games' time (his point-blank reaction against Bolton in the third minute saved a certain goal, and he was once again at his best against the Greeks on Wednesday) will be met by ageless American Brad Friedel, who has supplanted Brazilian Heurelho Gomes as the Spurs' No. 1.

Not to be outdone in importance, the ever-present threat of wunderkind winger Gareth Bale will (hopefully) bring out the best in Frenchman Bacary Sagna, who has been one of Arsenal's most consistent players over the past few seasons at right back.

Sagna will need to deliver a strong performance and deny the Welshman the capacity to get behind the left flank, which Bale tends to do with such incredible ease.

The in-form Arsenal talisman, Robin van Persie, will be slotted in at central forward once again.

He has looked dangerous in front of goal this season, continuing his spellbinding goal-scoring run since the beginning of 2011 (he's scored 25 goals this year for Arsenal, all competitions combined).

Aaron Ramsey and Arteta will need to provide him with adequate service.

The Dutchman enjoys creating on his own and will look to put Tottenham's central defensive pairing of Younes Kaboul and Ledley King on the back heel with his wile and guile.