Arsenal v Spurs: Derby fixture crucial for AVB but injuries conspire against him

AVB could really do with a result at the Emirates

There's always plenty at stake when Arsenal meet Tottenham but, with both clubs' managers enduring tricky seasons so far, the Saturday lunchtime fixture looks bigger than ever. Spurs blogger Windy isn't sounding a positive note on the visitors' chances...  

It's fair to say that neither Arsenal nor Tottenham Hotspur are in particularly good shape as Saturday's North London Derby approaches; Arsenal have made their worst start to a Premier League season, whilst Spurs have recently been struggling for form and are badly missing key players.

With many of the players due to be involved having been on midweek international duty - noticeably key men Sandro (who travelled to New Jersey with Brazil) and Santi Cazorla (who went to Panama with Spain) - there is a chance that the usual frantic, open derby will be a slightly more lethargic, cagey affair (and for that reason correct score bets of 1-1 at 8.415/2, 1-0 at 12.011/1 and 0-1 at 20.019/1 look more tempting than they normally might have done). It is difficult to say which team a slower tempo would suit more as both sides have fast, direct wingers who are happy to be inactive for long periods, only to burst into life. It may become a battle, then, of who uses the ball better in midfield.

In Mikel Arteta, Jack Wilshere, and Cazorla, Arsenal have a midfield trio adept in possession football, capable of producing clever passes to unlock defences. Conversely, this is the area of the pitch where Spurs have struggled most in recent weeks - both defensively, and when in control of the ball.

Although Mousa Dembele only joined Spurs in the summer, he has already become a crucial figure - primarily because they have no other player quite like him in the squad. His mobility, drive, and dynamism have made him integral to the side's success, and it is fair to say that the midfield trio looks pedestrian without him. Sandro has arguably been Spurs' best and most consistent player so far this season, but he cannot do it alone. With Dembele absent, Tom Huddlestone and Clint Dempsey need to step up to the plate, raise their performance levels, and show higher intensity in all aspects of their performance.

Presuming the team is as per the Manchester City match, Dempsey should find it significantly easier to play off Emmanuel Adebayor than Defoe, as the team should generally enjoy more of the ball around the opposition box; Adebayor's ball retention, awareness of team mates, and intelligence being significantly better than Defoe's. However, without Defoe's 'shoot on sight' policy, and respectable strike rate thus far, there will be greater pressure on Dempsey (and the rest of the midfield) to deliver goals. We may, therefore, see him take on more shots from distance - his shooting having always been one of his major strengths.

With Andre Villas-Boas dividing opinion among Spurs fans so far, it would be fair to say that this game is vital to him. A victory against their most bitter rivals could go a long way towards convincing the support that he is the right man for the job, and prove a catalyst for the coming weeks - the Christmas period always being one of the vital phases of the season. And with Arsene Wenger feeling the pressure too, there is certainly a lot at stake.

You can follow Windy on Twitter @WindyCOYS