Spurred On: Tottenham Hotspur (A)

For many, it's the game we all look to when the fixture list comes out. Though as laughable as it is how much the scummers fear us, truth be told and we're more worried about Man United or Chelsea than we are our sad North London rivals.

It's been the same old story for years now as Tottenham fans delude themselves pre-season after pre-season into believing "this is the year" they will topple us. Yet even in our most disastrous season of recent years, 2005-06, we still managed to pip our desperate foes to fourth whilst they were still busy grumbling over a dodgy lasagne.

This time round is no different with added spice as an incentive as former Gunner and now universal hate figure Emmanuel Adebayor faces off against us once more - and this time, in blistering form. The God of twitching, dodgy 'Arry, seems to have an obsession with Gunners rejects. First David Bentley, then William 'Le Sulk' Gallas. Now Ade-pay-me-more. And though he has a record of starting well at every club, I have no doubt his appaling attitude will lead to his downfall once more in North London.

Spurs go into this one at full strength will the likes of Bale, Modric, Van der Vaart and Lennon all back, though with Djourou, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Diaby, Ramsey and Wilshere all out, and Walcott & Gervinho facing late fitness tests, we will have to take extra care in ensuring our midfield is not over-ran on the day. It's a test Per Mertesacker is looking forward to, telling press:

"A lot of people have been telling me about it, how massive it is, and what a special experience it is and I am looking forward to it. It is an especially important game for Arsenal and for me. There is nothing similar to it in Germany. You cannot compare Bremen against Hamburg because they are not quite in the same city, so the London derby is bigger."

Probable Starting XI: Szcesczny, Sagna, Song, Mertesacker, Santos, Benayoun, Arteta, Rosicky, Walcott, Van Persie, Gervinho
Subs: Fabianski, Jenkinson, Gibbs, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arshavin, Park, Chamakh