Preview: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Arsenal

All eyes will be on Tottenham Hotspur star Gareth Bale during the North London derby against Arsenal at White Hart Lane this Sunday following the winger's headline-making week.

The Wales international has been compared to La Liga giants Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi following Monday night's 3-2 win over West Ham United for Spurs, in which Bale netted his 12th goal in 13 matches for the Premier League outfit.

The 23-year-old is expected to go up against Jack Wilshere, who has been a standout player for the Gunners during a tumultuous few weeks that has included their exit from the FA Cup and suffering a damaging 3-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the first leg of their round-of-16 Champions League tie.

Despite their recent woes, Arsenal managed to clinch a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa last weekend, placing them fifth in the table, four points adrift of Spurs, who leapfrogged Chelsea this week into third.

The Gunners will be without Bacary Sagna, who is sidelined with a knee injury, while Spurs will be unable to call on Jermain Defoe, which suggests that Emmanuel Adebayor will enter the fray.

Recent form

Tottenham: DDWWW

Arsenal: WDWWW

Possible starting lineups

Tottenham: Lloris; Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Assou-Ekotto; Parker, Dembele; Lennon, Bale, Holtby; Adebayor

Arsenal: Szczesny; Koscielny, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Jenkinson; Arteta, Wilshere; Walcott, Cazorla, Podolski; Giroud

Sports Mole says: 2-1