Arsenal vs Tottenham
Saturday Lunchtime Kick Off(Uk Time)
UEFA Cup knockout rounds draw
ROUND OF 32: Ties to be played February 13/14 and 21
Slavia Prague vs Tottenham
ROUND OF 16: Ties to be played March 6 and 12/13
Slavia Prague or Tottenham vs PSV Eindhoven or Helsingborg
Chimbonda on Carling Cup revenge mission
Tottenham defender Pascal Chimbonda plans to avenge last season's Carling Cup semi-final defeat to Arsenal when the rivals meet at the same stage this year.
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Spurs were in command of the first leg of the previous meeting in January but threw away a two-goal lead and eventually got knocked out by the Gunners' youngsters in extra-time.
Spurs defeated Manchester City earlier in the week to put themselves in the last four, and confidence is appearing to return at White Hart Lane after their disastrous start to the season.
'Everybody wants to win something and the League Cup is a great opportunity for us. We want to go one better than we did last year,' said Chimbonda.
'We know what we have to do.
'It hurt us a lot to lose to them last season. We were winning 2-0 at home in the first leg and they got it back to 2-2 and we ended up losing the second leg.
'But we have learned from what happened and it will be different this time. We can win the trophy this season. We can achieve anything when we perform like we did against Manchester City.'
Spurs became the first team to win at Eastlands when they recorded their 2-0 win on Tuesday, and Arsenal have also been impressive at home so far.
'We would love to be the first team to beat them at the Emirates this season,' said Chimbonda.
Chelsea defeated Liverpool to set up a semi-final against Everton, with the two-legged ties getting played next month.
The three quarter-finals held this week all featured red cards for reckless challenges.
After Tottenham's Didier Zokora and Arsenal midfielder Denilson were dismissed last night, Peter Crouch was given a straight red at Stamford Bridge for his lunge at Mikel John Obi tonight.
Carling Cup semi-final draw
Arsenal v Tottenham
Ajax block Spurs' £7m move for Emanuelson
Ajax left-back Urby Emanuelson has been told he can forget about a possible transfer to Tottenham in January.
Technical director Martin van Geel confirmed the Dutch giants had rejected an official approach from the Premier League club earlier this week.
He added: 'We don't have that many defenders this season so we will not agree to let a player like Emanuelson go in the winter break.'
It has been reported Tottenham would be prepared to pay around £7million for Emanuelson, who has played mainly in midfield under coach Adrie Koster.
Spanish side Valencia have also shown an interest in the 21-year-old, but have not made an official bid.
Arsenal v Tottenham: Preview
Juande Ramos believes he has won his first major battle as Tottenham manager by alleviating the 'despondency' he found on his arrival at White Hart Lane.
The Spaniard took charge of Spurs in October following the disastrous start to the season overseen by his predecessor Martin Jol.
And he admits he was faced with a depressed dressing room when he began his new job with the north Londoners.
'I was taking charge of a great club but there was a despondency and a tremendous lack of motivation,' Ramos told The Sun. 'There was no hope or ambition.
'There was so much self-doubt in the dressing room. That was the most critical thing we had to change.
'I noted an air of abandonment and resignation like it didn't really matter. It was a worrying situation as I realised my players were resigned to losing and to disaster.
'They got used to defeats and looked to be in a daze. This alarmed me enormously as we had to change it radically.'
Ramos appears to have succeeded in his bid to lift the players and they have lost just once under his leadership to sit comfortably in mid-table, while they will also face today's opponents Arsenal in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup.
But the former Sevilla boss has revealed his ambitions go far further and he insists that, given time, he can turn Tottenham into a competitive force at the highest level.
'Our club deserves to fight against the best and challenge for the Premier League and the Champions League. That's what I will try to do with all my energy and strength,' he added.
'We have the potential to do it. But it doesn't just depend on one person, it's not all about the coach. The manager has to have the collaboration and the support of the club.'
Meanwhile, Robin van Persie is determined to send Arsenal's fans into the festive season with victory over north London rivals Tottenham.
Van Persie is well aware that during Arsene Wenger's time at the helm, Spurs have registered just one win in 26 meetings between the two sides.
But local bragging rights still mean so much to Arsenal supporters and Van Persie is well aware of it.
He said: 'When I see the fans in the street, they tell me that the Tottenham game is the one they want us to win.
'It means so much for these people, whether they are at the training ground, or when I am out shopping. It doesn't matter where, everyone speaks about this game. It means a lot.
'You can sense there is a special atmosphere. It is similar to the games against Chelsea and Manchester United in terms of atmosphere and that's what I like the most.
'I just love to play those games when the fans are on top of it, they are loving it and every single piece of action in the game gets the fans involved. It's great to be a part of it.'
Van Persie has played in six derby clashes against Spurs but has yet to register a goal against them.
He added: 'I know it is a big game for the fans and it is for us as well. But there are big games every week - last weekend it was Chelsea and we were very happy because we played well. Spurs is massive but we have to win every game in the Premier League, not just against Spurs, if we want to be champions.'
Arsenal will go into the derby with just one major doubt - England's teenage winger Theo Walcott.
Walcott has not trained after suffering from a flu virus but otherwise Arsenal have a clean bill of health ahead of the lunchtime clash.
Wenger said: 'The injury news is quite good compared to last week. The only one who is problematic is Theo Walcott. He is not fit to practice. He has had flu and has not recovered completely. Everybody else is available.'
Tottenham striker Robbie Keane returns from suspension but midfielder Didier Zokora starts a three-match ban.
Darren Bent (hip), Ricardo Rocha (thigh), Michael Dawson (migraine) and Jermaine Jenas (ankle) require late checks.
Ledley King has a picked up a thigh strain while recovering from knee surgery and Anthony Gardner (ankle), Gareth Bale (foot) and Benoit Assou-Ekotto (knee) remain sidelined.
Spurs agree '£2m' deal for Cardiff's Gunter
Tottenham have confirmed they will complete the signing of Wales defender Chris Gunter from Cardiff when the transfer window opens in January.
The 18-year-old full-back has made 33 first-team appearances and won three Wales caps since breaking into the Bluebirds first team in August last year.
The two clubs reached agreement over what is reported to be a £2million deal last week and the player underwent a medical over the weekend.
Tottenham 5
Robbie Keane (27)
Tom Huddlestone (45)
Robbie Keane (62)
Tom Huddlestone (71)
Jermain Defoe (90)
Fulham 1
Dempsey (60)
Tottenham 6
Dimitar Berbatov (7)
Dimitar Berbatov (63)
Dimitar Berbatov (73)
Steed Malbranque (76)
Jermain Defoe (79)
Dimitar Berbatov (83)
Reading 4
Cisse (16)
Ingimarsson (53)
Kitson (69)
Kitson (74)
English FA Cup: Round 3
Tottenham 2
Dimitar Berbatov 28'
Dimitar Berbatov 50'(pen)
Reading 2
Hunt 25', 78'
Red Card : Tom Huddlestone 83'
English Carling Cup: Semifinals - 1st Leg
Arsenal 1
Walcott (79)
Tottenham 1
Jermaine Jenas (37)
Tottenham drops Robinson for this match
Real, Man City and Spurs battle for Elmander
Tottenham and Manchester City look set to face competition from Real Madrid if they pursue Toulouse forward Johan Elmander.
The Sweden international's club claim there is interest for the 26-year-old, who helped the French side qualify for a Champions League qualifier this season.
'Besides Real Madrid, Premier League clubs Manchester City and Tottenham have already expressed interest,' a Toulouse spokesperson told Swedish newspaper Expressen.
Spurs have ended their interest Rangers full-back Alan Hutton, while Ajax defender Urby Emanuelson is set to stay in Holland.
There are still expected to be some new faces at White Hart Lane in January, the first transfer window for new head coach Juande Ramos, and Jermain Defoe has been told he can go.
Ramos has been linked with a move for Espanyol defender Daniel Jarque as he looks to tighten up Spurs at the back, with Chris Gunter already signed from Cardiff.
So far, Ramos' changes has been mainly behind the scenes, with an emphasis on fitness and the diets of players.
'We saw in the first week that the meals were not right,' said fitness coach Marcos Alvarez in the London Evening Standard.
'It was mostly English food and it wasn't healthy. We needed to change the diet because food is very important, it is the fuel for the players.
'To eat healthy means there is no fried food, fatty food, no sauce on the dishes. Spanish people can eat the same kind of food, too, but if you a sportsman you have to take care of yourself better.
'Now there are salads and fruit, while fish and meat is grilled rather than fried.'
Spurs defender Chimbonda keen on Villa switch
Tottenham's out-of-favour defender Pascal Chimbonda has admitted he would welcome a move to Aston Villa - according to his agent Willie McKay.
Chimbonda has been told he is surplus to requirements at White Hart Lane, along with another Martin O'Neill target, striker Jermain Defoe.
O'Neill is looking to acquire a specialist right-back after being forced to use centre-back Olof Mellberg in the role for most of the campaign.
He also expressed an interest in Arsenal's Justin Hoyte but Arsene Wenger wants him to remain at the Emirates Stadium.
McKay told PA Sport: 'Would Pascal welcome a move to Aston Villa? Of course he would. He is looking to leave Tottenham and Villa are a big club with great potential.'
Former Wigan defender Chimbonda is slipping down the pecking order under Juande Ramos who has signed Welsh international Chris Gunter and is also interested in Rangers full-back Alan Hutton.
O'Neill ended last season with three right-backs in Aaron Hughes, Mark Delaney and on-loan Phil Bardsley.
But Hughes moved to Fulham, Delaney was forced to retire because of persistent knee problems and Bardsley returned to Manchester United.
Midfielder Craig Gardner started the season at right-back but O'Neill quickly switched Mellberg into the role after four games and he has been there ever since.
With Mellberg's future still in doubt - he has yet to agree a new contract - O'Neill recognises the need to fill the role with an experienced player, and Chimbonda would fit the bill.
Chelsea 2
Belletti (19)
Wright-Phillips (80)
Tottenham 0
