Magic of the FA Cup: Why Arsenal v Spurs is simply impossible to predict

Confusingly, the Capital One Cup seems to have been replaced by the FA Cup, suggesting that a mid-season change in sponsor has been carried out contrary to all expectations for continuity in brand awareness. Europa League-style, a lot of teams previously knocked out and have been let back into the competition in another third round. There is the chance that the FA Cup and Capital One Cup are simply different competitions, but nobody has the time for proper research anymore. Still, Arsenal take on Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday evening in the traditional, and best, North London derby. Sorry, Barnet.

Taste-phobic, fan of mild cheddar and electric blankets, Tim Sherwood, masterminded Spurs’ recent victory at Manchester United with a cunning ruse of several clever strategies. Aaron Lennon was used against Patrice Evra, who has never been able to defend well against him, or even look like a footballer. Emmanuel Adebayor was used in his traditional phase of trying to impress a new manager before giving up. Sherwood was also clever to play the Manchester United of 2013/14 rather than that of previous years, and so was able to come up against a side with Chris Smalling at right-back, and a midfield that simply wasn’t there. It is of course impressive to win against Manchester United, but less so when they are a mid-table team struggling for consistency.

Emmanuel Adebayor was sent off on his last visit to the Emirates Stadium

With Adebayor injured, he will not be, thankfully, subjected to the same shameful chants that he was against Manchester United. There is a slight chance he will recover for the match, and if he does, he might prove a tough opponent to the less-than-imposing Laurent Koscielny. If Spurs can use the speed of Jermain Defoe and Aaron Lennon against the lumbering Per Mertesacker, then they can create chances.

Arsenal, though, will be favourites. They should a determination to win against organised opposition in their late victory against Cardiff City on New Year’s Day. They struggled, however, with a lack of a focus point to their attacks with the recovered Lukas Podolski up front. He’s more suited to playing on the wing, so Nicklas Bendtner, or ideally Olivier Giroud, may return to play up front. Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil will also be missed in terms of creativity and goalscoring. Nacho Monreal proved an able deputy for Kieran Gibbs at left-back, so Wenger will be unconcerned, whoever he chooses to start.

Having said all this, Wenger might choose to rest half his side after a busy Christmas and with a genuine title challenge to focus on. Sherwood might do the same as his players are also in need of recovery time. He might also decide to go full strength in order to build momentum. It’s impossible to predict, so in a lot of ways this preview is moot. Thanks for reading.