Arsenal travel to Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday on the back of a two match losing run, after losses away at Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League and Chelsea in the Premier League. Spurs on the other hand are on a three match winning run, but they haven't faced the tough opposition that Arsenal have faced.
Its a derby game, so the tie will mean a lot to both sides. It is in the League Cup though, a competition that is seen as a second string competition. It is a competition that both teams may target though, with Arsenal aiming for a third trophy in as many years and Spurs aiming for a first trophy in 8 years.
Ahead of the match Arsenal VAVEL writer Luke Blackstock spoke to Spurs fan Daniel Fernandes, a regular sight on the terraces of White Hart Lane and writer for his self-styled Fernandes Football blog, about the match.
How are Spurs getting on?
Q: Spurs have had a bit of a mixed start to the season, but what do you think about your sides start to the season?
Daniel Fernandes: It hasn't exactly been the perfect start but it seems like we are improving with every game, we're on a three game winning run now. It can only get better.
Q: You've got three wins on the bounce now, beating Sunderland, Qarabag and Crystal Palace. Do you think that you're finally hitting top form?
DF: We were never playing badly, we were a bit unlucky to not score against Everton in my opinion. We have been playing well over the last few games and we hopefully it can carry on.
Q: You're coming up against big rivals Arsenal in this match, what do you think about their start to the season?
DF: They haven't had the best start and they have now lost their last two games, to Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League and to Chelsea in the Premier League, so that hopefully gives us an edge going into Wednesday.
Q: Even though Spurs seem to be entering a period of good form, would a win over Arsenal truly kick start your season?
DF: It's always good to win against big rivals Arsenal, whatever competition it's in, and I'm sure it would help us continue our run of good form.
Q: Spurs got to the League Cup final last year, losing 2-0 to Chelsea at Wembley. With it being nearly 8 years since you last won a trophy, how important is the League Cup for Spurs this season? How much of a priority is it?
DF: I think all three cup competitions, League Cup, FA Cup and Europa League, should be a priority for us as realistically we won't be getting top four so winning a trophy should be our main target as we haven't won a trophy in a long time. Also, winning the Europa League would get us an all important place in the Champions League.
Is the rivalry as strong as ever?
Q: How important is this game, is it just as important as if it were a League fixture or does the fact it's a League Cup fixture take some sting out of the tail?
DF: It's just as important as a league game. Cup nights at the Lane are great and Arsenal are our biggest rivals so whenever we play them it's important.
Q: Do you think the Arsenal-Spurs rivalry is as strong as it always has been, or do you think it's losing its significance?
DF: It's definitely still strong. We're about equal in the strength of our squads and we always have close games. It isn't losing significance at all.
Personnel
Q: Harry Kane scored twice last time Arsenal visited White Hart Lane, is he still your biggest attacking threat? If he isn't, who is?
DF: Even though he [Harry Kane] hasn't scored so far this season I think he can still be a threat. Last season Kane was pretty much our only threat, he scored more than 30 goals last season so of course he's a threat! This season we have Son (who's scored three goals in his last two appearances), Alli, Eriksen, and even Lamela, playing well at the moment. They'll all be big attacking threats on Wednesday.
Q: The League Cup is famous for being the competition where managers give young players a chance, are there any youngsters at Spurs who are doing well and could get a run out on Wednesday?
DF: We have a young starting 11 anyway but maybe we see Tom Carroll or our £10 million signing Clint (former Lyon striker Clinton N'Jie who's 22) given more of a chance with it being a cup game.
Q: Talking of rotation, should Pottetcino change the squad or remain with a first team?
DF: I think we should stick with our first team, but with Eriksen for Chadli. On the other hand, they played well on Sunday against Crystal Palace so changing it could be a mistake.
Q: Are there any Arsenal players that you think could really trouble Spurs?
DF: Alexis Sanchez is my main worry, even though like Kane he's not exactly in the best of form.
Q: Are there any areas that Arsenal can exploit in Wednesday?
DF: Possibly tiredness from playing on Thursday, Sunday and then the game on Wednesday.
Q: Finally, what's your prediction for the match?
DF: 2-1 (as most of our games tend to go.) Son and Alli scoring for Spurs.
You can follow Daniel on Twitter @sneeky_09 and you can read his blog at www.fernandesfootball.wordpress.com
