Spoiler

Five reasons for Spurs fans to feel good about tomorrow

(left to right) Arsenal legend, Anelka. Spurs legend, Campbell

As previously mentioned, North London is going to be fraying at the edges throughout tomorrow. What starts with a few friendly shouts across streets will soon morph into Apocolypse Now scenes of helicopters, children punching one another in the face, and old men in rival tops playing Russian Roulette in an allotment shed.

Anyway, in the spirit of open debate, our pals at Betfair Football have put a case together for the slight underdogs…

Arsenal are ranked 1.67 favourites to win the north London derby and our top tipster Andy Gray has backed the Gunners to come out on top, so are Tottenham destined to lose at the Emirates for the fourth time in five Premier League visits? Perhaps, but here’s the case for the underdog…

Harry’s a derby hero
“It’s not that we do nothing – but it’s close to that,” said Rafael van der Vaart of Harry Redknapp’s tactical preparations. Yet while his tactical nous might not measure up to Europe’s top bosses, ‘Arry is certainly skilled at motivating his team for the derby, having lost just one of his five in 90 minutes.

Arsenal are at home
Arsene Wenger’s men rarely lost in their first four seasons at the Emirates, however it’s gradually becoming clearer and clearer that it’s no fortress. Promoted Newcastle and West Brom have won there already, while bottom three sides Birmingham and West Ham were seen off by only one goal.

Tottenham love a derby
The Lilywhites picked up more points than any of their neighbours in London derbies in 2008-09 and were second only to Chelsea last term. They’ve lost only four of their last 20 Premier League capital collisions, winning ten. By contrast, Arsenal have been defeated in a whopping seven, winning eight.

Van Persie is unlikely to start
Dutch striker Robin van Persie played a half for his country in midweek, though it’s remains unclear whether Wenger will risk him from the start on Saturday. He should, as Arsenal are unbeaten in the last three north London derbies he has started, while they’ve won none of the last three he hasn’t.

Spurs are very confident
You’d expect a club that haven’t triumphed away against Big Four opponents to downplay their chances but not Spurs, who are talking up the prospect of taking all three points. Jermaine Jenas has “every confidence we can get a result against Arsenal” and Gareth Bale goes even further, saying “hopefully we’ll get the win” and adding “I believe we’re good enough to beat anyone”.

Fancy Spurs to avoid defeat? The Arsenal victory is 1.68 to lay on Betfair…

• Arsenal
• North London Derby
• Spurs