Tottenham v Arsenal Preview

Posted Tuesday, September 21, 2010 by sportinglife.aol.co.uk

CARLING CUP: WHITE HART LANE, WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2010. KICK-OFF 1945 BST

This Carling Cup clash has been billed as Tottenham's Reserves against Arsenal's Reserves, as both teams are expected to rest their key players.

Rafael van der Vaart, Tottenham's new signing from Real Madrid, was told by fellow Dutchman Robin van Persie it is one of the biggest derbies in the world prior to signing for Spurs, yet both players will miss the game with Van Persie injured and Van der Vaart set to be rested.

Arsene Wenger has never disguised his intentions and will continue to use the competition as a vehicle to blood his youngsters, while Harry Redknapp, his Tottenham counterpart, needs to give his squad players a game.

It means the third-round tie at White Hart Lane will have the intensity of a north London derby without the best players from each club being on show.

They last met each other in the Carling Cup two years ago, the year Spurs won the trophy, and Juande Ramos' team thrashed their rivals 5-1 in the second leg of the semi-final in a match that went from bad to worse for Arsenal when Nicklas Bendtner and Emmanuel Adebayor turned on each other.

Key Match-up: Sandro v Craig Eastmond: Sandro stayed in Brazil and won the Copa Libertadores with Internacional before heading to Spurs. He is a defensive midfielder who has already been capped by Brazil, and he is in line to make his debut for the club. Eastmond, 19, made seven appearances last season. He too is a midfielder and will be expected to help the Gunners establish control of the central areas.

Form Guide: Spurs recorded their first home win in the league this season when they defeated Wolves at the weekend. Their form has been patchy as they juggle the Champions League. Arsenal started very well this season but suffered a blow at Sunderland on Saturday when they conceded a last-gasp equaliser.

Odds: Tottenham 13/10, Arsenal 21/10, Draw 23/10

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR:
Redknapp feels the Carling Cup is a very good opportunity for silverware but admits he needs to rest players after a busy start to the season.

"I can't kill off Gareth Bale," said the manager. "He had two games for his country, then ran a million miles in Germany (against Werder Bremen) down that left flank. He's still a boy. He's running on empty. I've got to protect him a bit.

"We've got lots of players who need to play who haven't featured recently. They are good quality players who need games under their belt and some of the players need a rest.

"I can't keep using the same players. I am going to protect some of them. There will be lots of changes. Arsene Wenger's done it over the years and played the youngsters even in cup semi-finals. You've got to do what's right for the team."

Sandro is guaranteed a start following his recent move. "We watched him four times and I spoke to Dunga (former Brazil manager) about him and we got good reports<" said Redknapp.

"I've been pleased with him. He's a good lad. He's in the Brazilian squad and you don't get too many bad players breaking into the Brazil national squad."

Strategy: Redknapp has been favouring playing an attacking midfielder behind a forward, which means Giovani dos Santos could assume the role Van der Vaart occupied at the weekend. Alan Hutton will be asked to raid down the right flank from full-back.

Injury update: Goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes is still injured, Vedran Corluka is struggling with a back problem and Younes Kaboul has a hamstring injury. David Bentley is back from an ankle problem.

ARSENAL:
Wenger has not won a trophy since 2005 but that is unlikely to persuade him to break with recent tradition and field a full strength team in this competition.

Arsenal are still recovering from weekend when they were furious with Darren Bent's equaliser coming after the fourth official's recommendation for injury time.

Goalkeeper Manuel Almunia, though, feels the squad is getting more experienced and is more capable of handling the challenges that lie ahead. "Each player is a bit older every year, and every year we are learning a bit more. Football gives you experience," the Spaniard said.

"We have had the same players for a few years, we know each other very well and play fantastic football - but still we have to get this point of maturity which will give us the step forwards."

Strategy: Wenger only knows one way to play - passing with plenty of pace. All of his teams play the same way, regardless of their age. and they are certain to test Croatia goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa on his debut for Spurs.

Injury update: Cesc Fabregas injured his hamstring at the weekend but would have been rested anyway. Key players such as Theo Walcott and Van Persie are injured, while Alex Song can serve his suspension after being dismissed at the weekend.