Messages

I hope you have fun!

Nope, lost me there...

Didn't your man in the beard there write the Mountains of Pomeroy as well as spent a year hiding in a student house in the Holylands.

Can't believe it's not on mainstream TV tonight. ITVbloody4.

Congrats to the best team in the country. Donaghy was the final piece in the jigsaw after 2005. 12-13 players at their peak. Those opening 15 minutes of a second half are Kerry's forte now.

Kerry champions.

Almost felt sorry for Spurs.

Almost.

Amazing the difference Henry's departure has made. Players who had the talent all along are now showing it, because of the freedom his absence has created. Fabregas oozes class, frightening for a lad of that age. Great to see the Gunners score unArsenal-like goals (Cesc's screamer and Adebayor's have-a-go.

Always great to bate the Spuds.

I think we're hoping Ireland simply couldn't get the France and Argentina matches out of their heads and that was the reason for the poor fare we've witnessed til now. Ireland have looked remarkably heavy-legged, lethargic and static although it could be fair to say that all of the 6-nations have so far. In Ireland's case it looks like the players think they're better than what they are and are not putting in the work to get there.

Putting all our eggs into the one basket is the road to disaster. France will tear into us next Friday, however I expect the Irish backs to see much more of the ball given the opposition.

If the World Cup had been 12 months ago.....

http://www.d1g.com/video/show/?id=1381824   - Adebayor 3-1. Another clinker.

http://www.d1g.com/video/show/1381750   - Fabregas stormer

http://www.d1g.com/video/show/1381693   -  Adebayor goal

Pat Spillane's brothers
Charlie Redmond
Olcan McFettridge

BIG-MATCH FACTS

This is the 141st north London league derby between Tottenham and Arsenal, and their 31st clash in the Premier League.

Tottenham are looking for a 50th victory in the 156th competitive meeting with their near neighbours.

Arsenal have won three of their four Premier League matches this season; Tottenham have lost three of their five.

The Gunners have drawn their last four away league games; including the 2-2 stalemate at White Hart Lane on 21 April, the only occasion Arsenal have scored more than a single goal in eight Premier League outings on the road.

Spurs have not beaten Arsenal this century, nor in 18 League and Cup matches with their fierce rivals, since George Graham's side achieved a 2-1 home Premier League victory on 7 November 1999, when Steffen Iversen and Tim Sherwood were on target, and Arsenal's Martin Keown and Freddie Ljungberg were both sent off. That was Tottenham's only maximum in 23 north London League derbies.

David Pleat, Glenn Hoddle and Jacques Santini never got the better of Arsene Wenger as Tottenham managers. Now Martin Jol will make his ninth attempt to do so (in league and cup).

CLUB FORM

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Club stats
Fixtures

1. Won one of five Premier League matches this season; 4-0, home to Derby on 18 August.

2. Managed only three clean sheets in 33 league matches.

3. Kept fewer clean sheets than any other club in the Premier League last season (six).

4. Four points after the first five outings is on a par with last season.

5. Scored eight league goals and conceded eight so far this season.

6. Lost one of the last eight home Premier League matches; 1-3, against Everton on 18 August.

7. The 4-0 victory over Derby in the last home game was their second clean sheet in 16 league outings at the Lane.

8. Completed 33 games since a Premier League no score draw; the most recent being away to Watford on 28 October.

9. Holding the highest number of different scorers in the Premier League (seven).

10. This match precedes the Uefa Cup first round first leg tie home to Anorthosis Famagusta of Cyprus next Thursday.

ARSENAL
Club stats
Fixtures

1. Won the last three in all competitions; 1-0, home to Manchester City (PL), 3-0 home to Sparta Prague (CL) and 3-1, home to Portsmouth (PL).

2. Unbeaten in 11 Premier League games; won six and drawn five since losing 0-1, home to West Ham on 7 April.

3. One of four clubs still holding an unbeaten Premier League record. The others are Blackburn, Liverpool and Newcastle.

4. Dropped just two points. Only Liverpool have also dropped so few.

5. Holding the joint highest Premier League points-per-game average of 2.5, equal with Liverpool.

6. Awarded and scored more penalties than any other club in the Premier League last season; converted 10 of 12. Already awarded three spot kicks in four outings, and converted two of them.

7. Without an away league victory in six; drawn four and lost two since beating Aston Villa 0-1 on 14 March - their only victory in eight on the road.

8. This match precedes the Champions League Group H tie, home to Sevilla of Spain on Wednesday.

KEY PLAYER NOTES

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Steed MALBRANQUE is Tottenham's top scorer with two Premier League goals.

If he plays:-

Jermaine JENAS will be making his 200th career league appearance (Nottingham Forest, Newcastle and Tottenham).

Jermain DEFOE will be making his 200th career Premier League appearance (West Ham and Tottenham).

ARSENAL

Cesc FABREGAS is the joint top scoring Premier League player with Nicolas ANELKA of Bolton. Both have netted four goals. All four of ANELKA's goals were in the Premier League, whereas only half of FABREGAS' total were league goals.

Arsenal's joint top Premier League scorers are FABREGAS and last season's leading marksman, Robin VAN PERSIE. They have netted two each.

If he plays:-

Gilberto SILVA will be making his 150th Premier League appearance - all for the Gunners.

If on the field from the outset:-

Gael CLICHY will be making his 50th Premier League start in an Arsenal shirt.

Justin HOYTE will be making his 50th career league start.

Suspended:-

Phillipe SENDEROS (one match)

HEAD TO HEAD

Arsenal have won one and drawn six of the last seven Premier League visits to White Hart Lane.

Tottenham have managed victory in only one of the last 11 home league matches against their north London rivals.

Home and away
League (inc PL): Spurs 45 wins, Arsenal 57, Draws 38
Prem: Spurs 5 wins, Arsenal 11, Draws 14

at Spurs only
League (inc PL): Spurs 28 wins, Arsenal 22, Draws 20
Prem: Spurs 4 wins, Arsenal 3, Draws 8

LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME

Tottenham Hotspur 2-2 Arsenal
21 April 2007 - Ref: Mike Dean
Spurs scorers: Keane 30, Jenas 90
Arsenal scorers: Toure 64, Adebayor 78

REFEREE

Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)

Agreed. I feel it's looking like the All-Ulster final in 03  - 12-9.

How can Cork have enough, but it's still a mistake?

At that time hardstation they threatened to pull their players out of the county squad if they got relegated from the football. Lo and behold they finished bottom the leagues were then restructured and no one got relegated.

Anyway I don't have anything personal against them but there are a few instances like this which I feel have finally came back to haunt them.

Surely there's more to it than that. Were they not relegated the next year?

Yellow. If that was Ireland, I'd be ashamed.