Local pride on the line

ARSENAL v TOTTENHAM

One of life’s great mysteries is the now-annual inclusion of Tottenham Hotspur in the title race.

While decent, and more than capable of beating anyone on their day, Tottenham have as much chance of lifting the Premier League trophy as West Ham. Mauricio Pochettino’s side must punch well above their weight to make it into this season’s top four.

So with a mini crisis ongoing, they enter tonight’s 176th North London Derby against a hit-and-miss Arsenal vulnerable to counter-attacks.

The craft and nimble footwork of Christian Eriksen, Nacer Chadli and Erik Lamela will be a potent weapon on the break. Ex-Arsenal star Emmanuel Adebayor would also love to silence the boo boys with his first away goal since February.

Going forward, Spurs can score goals, and I fancy them to end a five-hour-plus drought in this fixture, at the Emirates this evening.

It’s at the other end they have to worry. By naming injury-prone Younes Kaboul as captain, the normally shrewd Pochettino has backed himself into a corner. Current partner Vlad Chiriches has also looked decidedly leaky, with Jan Vertonghen and new signing Federico Fazio waiting on the bench.

Spurs are ponderous and sometimes rattled by players with pace and movement, and Arsenal’s lithe and unpredictable forward line might have caused sleepless nights this week on the white side of North London. None of their combinations are watertight, and they know it.

In front of his back four, Pochettino cannot make up his mind which combination is best. The strapping but slow Etienne Capoue appears first choice, but Moussa Dembele, Nabil Bentaleb and Paulinho have all failed to cement their spots. Ball-players yes, grafters, no.

Worryingly for Spurs, Arsene Wenger’s attack is sharp enough to take a scalpel right to the heart of their side. Mesut Ozil found form last weekend, Danny Welbeck registered his first goal in Arsenal colours, and Chilean Alexis Sanchez bent home a delicious free-kick in League Cup action on Tuesday to make it four goals for the Gunners already.

The chances of Arsenal drawing a blank at home to Tottenham in the Premier League for the first time since 1998 are remote, at best.

LIVERPOOL v EVERTON

Have Brendan Rodgers and Roberto Martinez been found out? I don’t think so. They remain two of European football’s brightest young coaches, even if the hysteria that proclaimed their “tactical genius” last season has withered in the autumn gloom.

Neither man can afford to lose today’s Merseyside derby though. While defeat wouldn’t spark speculation over their futures, it would be hard for either to claim they weren’t neck deep in the midst of a crisis should they fail to get a point.

The Toffees’ defence is going through a seriously sticky patch. With Tim Howard, Leighton Baines, Sylvain Distin and Phil Jagielka all out of form, and Seamus Coleman injury prone, they don’t have anyone else to turn to. All eyes are now on Martinez. Having been criticised for neglecting his dodgy rear-guard as Wigan boss, the Spaniard’s coaching skills are under scrutiny.

Liverpool are also a shadow of their former self. Replacing Luis Suarez, a guy who never stopped moving, with Mario Balotelli, who barely moves, always seemed an odd choice — and the by-product of that change has seen defenders dragged out of position far less often. It is hoped Daniel Sturridge’s return from injury will remedy that.

Rodgers must also decide the best way forward for Steven Gerrard. At 34, he looked an old man last weekend trying to contain an ebullient young West Ham midfield, and if that continues, the Liverpool boss must either change the system to provide his skipper with additional support, or rest him more often.

Liverpool dismantled Everton 4-0 at Anfield in January, a performance that instilled belief they could challenge for the title. But that scenario couldn’t be further from their thoughts. They need three points and it doesn’t matter how they get them.

Adrian Clarke is a former Arsenal midfielder who has played at every level of English football. Now an experienced sports journalist, he writes for publications around the world. Follow him on Twitter@adrianjclarke.