Goal.com

Nisha Nair

It seems that this derby surely is going to be the tightest of all. Being a Gunner, I would love my team to thrash the opponents just the way they did last year but we know that Tottenham do play with a kind of swagger. With Bale and Lennon tormenting the flanks, I see no reason why they cannot upstage us. But on the other hand, the return of Oxlade-Chamberlain and Walcott has given us pace to use too. It will be an evenly matched contest which could be decided due to a mistake by either defence. I would go for a 3-2 win for Arsenal as the game is played at the Emirates.

Emotions kept aside, that Tottenham had an intimidating midfield consisting of Van der Vaart and Modric I would have still thought of Spurs giving us a tough time. The current midfield with Dembele out is toothless and so I'm not really expecting Spurs to avenge any defeat.

Tottenham have on paper a really quality squad. In fact taking into account the inadequacy Arsenal have shown in attack, I'll even say Tottenham might have an upper hand. But this game, as has been famously said, is not played on paper. If there is a team who we can expect to leave the odds and their poor start to the season behind and give a fierce fight to their rivals, it's Arsenal. They always rise to the occasion in a North London Derby. This game I feel will be tough to win for both the teams.

Arsenal's defense was a rock till the first international break, after which the old malaise of throwing away the hard earned leads has resurfaced. Olivier Giroud is coming into his own and Wilshere's return has no doubt lifted the spirits, but the Schalke and Fulham games have shown the chinks in our armour. Vermaelen is not in the same stead as last season. The less we speak about Santos the better. Koscielny has been patchy himself, scoring own goals at that, though one can't fault him too much for the one against Chelsea. Spurs have defeated United at Old Trafford, but haven't been consistent this season.

Well to be honest, I was gung ho by the way Arsenal started their campaign. A lot was written about the way defence was functioning and way Cazorla and Podolski mixed with the team. But the international break broke us apart. I don't see the same team that started the campaign. The way they are playing at the moment doesn't show confidence nor the passion which can excite any fan. It's time Wenger and the board quits or else the Gunners will find themselves in a similar situation like Liverpool with no berth in the Champions League. Coming to the derby, I would love if we win. But again it all depends on how our defence copes. In all the Premier League games, defensive lapses cost us points and I see it continuing in the coming games too. I reckon it will be a draw.