ARSENAL are hoping to win away at Tottenham in the Premier League for the first time in nine years on Sunday.
The Gunners go into the crunch North London derby 11 points clear of their arch-rivals and top of the table.
But they have a wretched record away at Spurs in the league, drawing two and losing six of their last trips down the Seven Sisters Road.
However, in March 2014, the Gunners recorded a 1-0 win at White Hart Lane which kept their title dreams alive.
Tomas Rosicky’s excellent second-minute finish proved the difference for Arsene Wenger’s side.
Rosicky started in the base of midfield with now-manager Mikel Arteta.
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In front of them was an attacking trio of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Santi Cazorla and Lukas Podolski, with the Ox setting up the Czech ace’s winner.
Olivier Giroud led the line while at the other end of the pitch, Wojciech Szczesny kept a clean sheet in goal for Arsenal.
The Poland stopper was protected by a back four of Bacary Sagna, captain Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny and Kieran Gibbs.
Thomas Vermaelen, Nacho Monreal and Mathieu Flamini all came on in the second half to help see out the win with Mesut Ozil, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey all ruled out.
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Lukasz Fabianski, Carl Jenkinson, Serge Gnabry and Yaya Sanogo were unused subs.
Tim Sherwood, meanwhile, opted to Arsenal hero-turn-villain Emmanuel Adebayor as Tottenham’s lone striker.
The Togo forward was supported by Andros Townsend, Nabil Bentaleb, Sandro, Christian Eriksen and Nacer Chadli in midfield.
Kyle Naughton and Danny Rose were the Tottenham full-backs either side of Jan Vertonghen and Younes Kaboul.
Hugo Lloris is the only surviving starter of the 22 to still be with their club nine years on.
Although unused sub Harry Kane was snubbed as Sherwood turned to Roberto Soldado, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Paulinho in the hope of finding an equaliser.
Brad Friedel, Aaron Lennon and Kyle Walker remained on the bench with Kane throughout.
But there is no chance Kane will be left to watch from the sidelines on Sunday as Spurs desperately seek a win to bolster their own top-four hopes – and dent Arsenal’s Premier League title ambitions.
The England captain has 14 goals in 16 Prem North London derbies, including six in his first five and three in his last two.
Kane can equal Jimmy Greaves’ club record of 266 goals if he finds the net this weekend – and a second strike would take his tally to 200 in the Premier League.
Chris Sutton, though, reckons he will come up short against the Gunners.
He said: “I know Harry Kane loves playing against Arsenal.
“I also know he can break Greaves’ record this weekend, but he won’t.
“He won’t score, and Tottenham won’t score.
“Arsenal are going to wipe the floor with them.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
