ARSENAL VS TOTTENHAM- CARLING CUP NEWS AND PREDICTIONS

Tottenham play host to fellow North London club Arsenal tomorrow, in what is shaping up to be a riveting Carling Cup third round match for both teams.
In what is by far the most high profile game being played this week, there will be no extra motivation needed for these clubs, with both Arsenal and Tottenham harbouring an equal disdain for one another.
Interestingly, Tottenham head into this clash as favourites boasting a side coming off back-to-back wins last week in both Europe, as well as the Premiership.
Arsene Wenger, who usually chooses to blood his young stars in a competition such as this, may very well reassessing this strategy in order to avenge the 5-1 semi-final defeat in 2007/8, that saw Spurs humiliate his side at White Hart Lane.
On the Tottenham team news front- there seems to be some serious issues in defence .  The Whites head out without defenders Vedran Corluka, William Gallas, Younes Kaboul and Ledley King.
Harry Redknapp has also stated that Niko Kranjcar, Wilson Palacios, Roman Pavyluchenko and new signing Sandro will all start.
With a Premier League encounter against West Ham on Saturday, followed by midweek action in the Champions League, Redknapp insists that he cannot afford to play his full-strength side in a competition Tottenham won only two years ago.
For Arsenal, Goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski, Johan Djourou, Emmanuel Eboue and Kieran Gibbs are all set to run out, having been unused substitutes at Sunderland over the weekend
Youngsters Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Benik Afobe, Chuks Aneke and Henri Lansbury are also likely to be feature heavily.
These two rivals are a lot more used to meeting each other in the latter stages of a tournament, meaning that this game will very much be a highly charged event.
However, with Wenger maintaining that he will continue with his young blood strategy, the Whites head into this showdown as slight favourites
William Hill has Spurs at 1.67 to Arsenal's 2.1
From a scoreline prediction aspect many feel that regardless of the team makes up there will be an attacking strategy, and there will be goals.
A Spurs win at 1-0 will see odds of 9.5, with a 2-1 win more likely at 9.0.
A 1-1 draw seems to be the favoured result overall at a conservative 7.5, with a 1-0 win in favour of the Gunners at 11.0
Striker wise- this game provides for some serious entertainment
In the Arsenal camp, French-Moroccan Marouane Chamakh tops the list at 2.75.  For me another class bet would be the in-from Cesc Fabregas at 3.0, and at 8.0 to open proceedings. Considering the form this kid is in now, one must confidently feel that he has it in him to keep going.
Spurs are no slouch in front of goal with Peter 'The Robot' Crouch set at 2.5 to score at anytime. Roman Pavlluchenko comes in at 2.5- also great bet considering the form he has shown in front of goal in the apst.
Another eagerly anticipated event will be that of former Gunner William Gallas running out against his old club. He can count himself lucky the game is being played at White Hart Lane, where surely the 'away' camp will be drowned out by chants of 'Oh when the Whites...go marching on'
All in all this clash should be tight, both both clubs possessing the talent necessary for a classic.
One feels that Spurs having home ground advantage might be the swinging factor, however as shown in the past...Wenger provides this opportunity to youngsters keen to underline their intent to play for the starting XI- an opportunity that regularly showcases some unseen and unexpected attacking talent
Against the bookies I am calling this one a 3-1 win to Arsenal.