Tottenham Fact File:
Tottenham was discovered as a small village in the London Borough of Arsenal around 100 years ago. It was a London backwash with now infamous inhabitants such as Jack the Ripper, Sweeney Todd, Chas and Dave and other top level gypo's of ill repute. It was rife with disease like the Plague and such and such, and since then, things haven't really changed much, apart from Jack the Ripper is probably dead, and Sweeney Todd is now starring in his own films.

The rivalry between Arsenal and Spurs was begun at the start when they fell right out after a cockney row about something and no mistake. Arsenal were pitched up in Woolworths in London in a place called Dial Square, near Charlton and the Spurs were trying to make a name for themselves in Middlesex by getting themselves all relegated. It all kicked off and we've been rivals ever since, apart from a match in 1947 which was played across the road work trenches of the Seven Sisters Road while Paul McCartney played the Pipes of Peace on the banjo. Spurs amazingly went 2-0 up in 10 minutes, but eventually lost 3-2 to our Reserves like normal.

A man called Henry Norris saved the first division from losing its favourite London club Arsenal to relegation, but simply paying handsomely for us to remain in the top flight at the expense of Spurs, who stayed down in the Championship or the second Division as it was known then. The antics of Sir Henry Norris which deservedly earned him a knighthood are very similar to what Roman Abramovic is doing at the moment down Chelsea way in these modern times of ours.

Now Spurs, haven't always been (this) shit, there was a time back in the old days, what Spurs fans call the 'glory years' and that most other people call 1961. The late, great, now dead Bill Nicholson actually won the double for the Spurs, making them the first English club to win the League and FA Cup in the same season, hot on the heels of Preston and Aston Villa who had already done it before.

Then, following the glory year, Spurs went from strength to strength (relatively speaking) winning trophies like they were going out of fashion, an FA Cup in 1981, and 1991, and even a League Cup in 1998 under the guidance of on-loan Arsenal Manager George Graham. So, with amazing players and countless trophies, the strong, traditional values of the Spurs badge lives on, despite the minor pause between trophies and genuine success of nearly 50 years ago.

Will any 'normal' club ever taste the glory that is the Swaziland Trophy, bought home by the Spurs lads after an amazing tour of Africa, or the Norwich Hospital Cup (shared) bought home after an amazing draw with a Hospital in Norwich? I doubt it. It's sometimes said that Spurs are like a one-handed dog-walker, not being able to hold on to a lead, but lets see what happens this week. Could this be their day, they do say every one-handed dog-walker has one after all.

TEAM NEWS:
Sir Wenger has announced he may have to bring in some first teamers into the squad due to injuries. It's thought that he's going to play Robin van Persie (injured), Nacer Bizarre Inc (cold shoulder) and Vick Akers (kitman) to try and even up the sides. It's also thought Jens Lehmann will play in goal for Arsenal, possibly igniting his usual duel with Robbie Keane, a thinking man's fat Alan Smith but worse.

Whatever happens it promises to be another cracking derby, and we can only hope our unbeaten run continues against London's glory club of days gone by, quite a few days to be fair.

More tomorrow local derby fans...