· Full record of this fixture
· Last Year's Game - Spurs lost 3-0
· This week - last year
· What happened in the Premiership in Match 12 2002-3

Arsenal

Man Utd    0  0   Arsenal
Arsenal    3  2   Newcastle
Liverpool  1  2   Arsenal
Arsenal    2  1   Chelsea
Charlton   1  1   Arsenal
Leeds      1  4   Arsenal

Spurs

Spurs      1  3   S'hampton
Man City   0  0   Spurs
Spurs      3  0   Everton
L'cester   1  2   Spurs
Spurs      0  0   Middlesbrough
Spurs      0  1   Bolton

Pos          P   W  D  L  F-A   GD  Pts
 1 Arsenal   11  8  3  0 23-9   14  27
12 Spurs     11  3  3  5 10-14  -4  12

Let's face it, no Spurs fan looks forward to this fixture these days. Not me, anyway. The last time we beat the Gooners at their place was at the end of the 92-93 season, when they played a weakened side as they had an FA Cup Final to look forward to. In fairness, we also played some youngsters, and it was John Hendry who score 2 of Spurs 3 goals that day, the other coming from Edward Sheringham. You then have to go back to January 1985 for a Spurs win, by 2 goals to 1.(Goals by Garth Crooks and Mark Falco).

Overall though, despite the chasm in class (and Yes, we have to be honest about this), our Premiership record stands up pretty well, going to prove that when it comes to this Derby game, like any other Derby game, form can often be discarded.

Having said that, last year's game at "The Library" was poor fare for the die-hard Spurs contingent, who saw Simon Davies get sent off mid-way through the first half, to end all hope of a competitive match. One of Davies' bookings was later rescinded but that was no good to us then. Davies is unavailable again, and is pictured above with Patrick Vieira, who will also miss the game. However, the mass bans of several Arsenal players do not take effect until after the International break, so Spurs will face a pretty full strength side.

Arsenal will of course include their main source of goals - the incredible Thierry Henry. Yes, Spurs fans, I know it hurts to admit genius in that horrible red and white outfit, but it was there for us all to see with his 60 yard run and wonder goal against us last year BEFORE Davies was sent off. Henry's run back to our end to gloat in front of us was not welcomed, and the atmosphere will of course be hot.

The Gooners are top of the league and unbeaten, having played Man Utd and Liverpool away, and the Chelsea all-stars at home. Only Man Utd got a point, and that of course was Arsenal's latest day of shame, which has led to the fines and suspensions of the likes of Lauren and Keown in two week's time.

You can get odds of 13/2 on Spurs being the first team to beat Arsenal, but a better bet might be Birmingham, who Arsenal face on November 22nd, without 4 banned players. In a two horse race, Spurs are incredible value if you care to look at the odds, but it's just a case of how many we'll lose by, isn't it?

I'll be optimistic and predict only 2-1 to Arsenal, but wouldn't it be really embarrassing if Spurs got a draw....or better?

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