152nd London Derby - Up Spurs!

Arsenal v Tottenham

Emirates StadiumSaturday, 2 DecemberKick-off: 1245 GMTCoverage on the BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Five Live & highlights on MOTD

Arsenal captain Thierry Henry has been ruled out of the north London derby with a neck injury.
Defender Philippe Senderos is banned, but Freddie Ljungberg, Gael Clichy and Cesc Fabregas should return.
Tottenham skipper Ledley King is expected to be fit despite a virus, while Jermaine Jenas is in contention after recovering from a calf injury.
Paul Stalteri (knee), Mido (groin) and Anthony Gardner (knee) are all injured, and Hossam Ghaly is suspended.
Arsenal (from): Lehmann, Eboue, Toure, Djourou, Clichy, Ljungberg, Fabregas, Gilberto, Hleb, van Persie, Henry, Almunia, Walcott, Adebayor, Rosicky, Baptista, Hoyte, Song, Flamini.
Tottenham (from): Robinson, Cerny, Chimbonda, Dawson, Lee, King, Assou-Ekotto, Davenport, Davids, Huddlestone, Jenas, Ziegler, Murphy, Malbranque, Tainio, Zokora, Lennon, Defoe, Keane, Berbatov.
606 DEBATE: Give your thoughts on this match
BIG-MATCH FACTS
ARSENAL and Tottenham go head-to-head in the 152nd north London derby and the first ever at the Emirates Stadium. Spurs are targeting a 50th competitive victory over their arch rivals from this Saturday lunchtime fixture, and are aiming to become the first visiting club to win at the Gunners' new home.
The Gunners return to the Emirates after a torrid time on the road. A 3-1 defeat at Bolton was followed by a 2-1 reverse to Fulham at Craven Cottage on Wednesday night. It leaves Arsene Wenger's side virtually out of the title race, 16 points off the pace, 13 points short of an automatic Champions League spot and two points shy of the top four. They've not lost three on the bounce since last December, and worryingly, defeat at Bolton was the first in that sequence.
The Gunners are unbeaten in 13 Premiership meetings with Spurs, and in 14 games in all competitions. Both last season's League clashes were 1-1 draws. Edgar Davids was sent off in a controversial final derby at Highbury in April. Robbie Keane had earlier given the visitors a deserved lead, and Thierry Henry came off the bench to equalise.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR meet their near neighbours for the 139th time in the League, looking to break the Gunners' unbeaten home Premiership record, with their first away win of this top flight campaign. Victory would see them level on points.
Martin Jol's side are coming off last Sunday's 3-1 home win over Wigan, and are endeavouring to complete back-to-back victories for the first time in 18 Premiership outings. They are fourth in the "Last Six Current Form" table with 11 points from the possible 18. Arsenal have five points from the last six games and are fifth bottom in that table.
Spurs, who've not lost to London opposition this season (two wins, one draw), have drawn six and lost seven of the last 13 League trips to Arsenal. They last claimed maximum points at Highbury on 11 May 1993 when a Teddy Sheringham goal and a brace from John Hendry contributed to a 1-3 end-of-season victory.

SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM
ARSENAL
Club stats
Fixtures 6th 22 pointsHighest achievable after Saturday's matches: 3rdLowest could realistically fall: 9th
1. Last lost three successive Premiership matches between 3 and 18 December, against Bolton (a), Newcastle (a) and Chelsea (h).
2. The 3-0 victory over Liverpool at the Emirates on 12 November is Arsenal's only win in six League outings.
3. Hold 100% Premiership records when scoring first (won five of five) and when keeping clean sheets (won five of five).
4. Gained seven Premiership points from losing positions - as have Manchester United and Spurs. No club has gained more. The Gunners showed their resilience by trailing then winning at Charlton and drawing home to Aston Villa, Middlesbrough, Everton and Newcastle.
5. Won all three League games in which leading at half time, against Watford (h), Reading (a) and Liverpool (h).
6. Won 13 and drawn eight of the last 21 League and Cup matches staged at home.
7. Won eight and drawn six of 14 home top tier games, since West Ham won 2-3 at Highbury on 1 February.
8. Claimed 13 points out of 21 at home this season.
9. Another big London derby awaits Arsenal with next weekend's visit to Chelsea, following the crucial midweek Champions League fixture away to Porto. It could be a defining week in the Gunners' season.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Club stats
Fixtures 11th 19 pointsHighest realistically achievable after Saturday's matches: 7thLowest could fall: 13th
1. Not won successive Premiership matches since defeating Manchester City (h) and Everton (a) on 8 and 15 April 2006.
2. Victory will bring Tottenham's all-time tally of Premier League points to exactly 750.
3. Hold a 100% record when ahead at half time, winning four out of four, all at home, against Sheffield United, Portsmouth, West Ham and Wigan.
4. Like Arsenal, picked up seven points from losing positions this season by virtue of home wins over Chelsea and Wigan and an away draw with Blackburn.
4. Without an away League victory in nine.
5. Picked up just three points from a possible 21 on the road this season, and four from the last available 27 away from home since the 0-1 win at Everton on 15 April.
6. Not scored more than a single goal in any of the last 11 away League games. The 0-2 victory at Birmingham on 18 March is the only occasion Spurs have netted in excess of one goal in 16 Premiership matches away from White Hart Lane.
7. Drawn three of the last four League games on the road.
8. Failed to score in four of the last seven on their Premiership travels.
9. Back to back home matches against Middlesbrough and Charlton follow this.
KEY PLAYER NOTES/POTENTIAL MILESTONES
ARSENAL
Squad profiles
Thierry HENRY and Robin VAN PERSIE are Arsenal's joint top scorers with seven goals each. Henry leads the way for the club in the Premiership with six goals.
If involved, Henry will be making his 250th Premiership appearance. He'll become the seventh foreign player and the second Frenchman to reach such a milestone. The other also wore an Arsenal shirt, Patrick Vieira.
Kolo TOURE is the only remaining player to have been on the pitch for every minute of Arsenal's Premiership matches this season.
Suspended: Phillippe SENDEROS
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Squad profiles
Jermain DEFOE and Dimitar BERBATOV are Tottenham's joint top scorers with six goals each. Defoe is Spurs' leading Premiership marksman with three goals.
Benoit ASSOU-EKOTTO and goalkeeper Paul ROBINSON are the only remaining players to have been on the field for every minute of Tottenham's Premiership matches this term.
LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME
Arsenal 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur22 April 2006 - Ref: Steve BennettArsenal scorer: Henry 84Spurs scorer: Keane 66Sent Off: Davids (Spurs) 85
HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
Home and awayLeague: Arsenal 56 wins, Spurs 45, Draws 37Prem: Arsenal 10 wins, Spurs 5, Draws 13
at Arsenal onlyLeague: Arsenal 34 wins, Spurs 17, Draws 18Prem: Arsenal 7 wins, Spurs 1, Draws 6