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Arsenal and Tottenham lock horns in a potentially explosive north London derby at Highbury on Saturday lunchtime.

The Gunners, buoyed by their narrow Champions League semi-final first leg victory against Villarreal on Wednesday, go into the match four points behind Martin Jol's fourth-placed side but with a game in hand.

A win for Arsene Wenger's team against their local rivals would put them in the driving-seat to clinch the final Champions League spot for next season despite enduring an inconsistent campaign.

Most of their domestic problems have come away from home where they have already lost nine times while at Highbury they have won 13 of their 17 matches.

They have won their last four Premiership home encounters but still struggle on their travels, taking only seven points from their seven games since the turn of the year.

Wenger may be tempted to rest several players before the second leg in Villarreal but has a tough balancing act to undertake as he needs to take all three points against Spurs to maintain his side's top-four hopes.

Sol Campbell is ruled out of the derby clash with a broken nose while Lauren (knee) and Pascal Cygan (hamstring) remain on the long-term injured list. Ashley Cole could be involved after playing for the reserves in midweek, while Gael Clichy is close to a return after finally recovering from a foot injury.

Spurs' top-four hopes have been dealt a major blow with the confirmation that Ledley King is unlikely to play again this season after suffering a fractured metatarsal, but Mido could return to action after missing the Easter programme with a groin problem.

Anthony Gardner is a doubt for the game with a leg injury

Match Report

Thierry Henry climbed off the bench to earn Arsenal a point in a tempestuous north London derby after Robbie Keane had given Spurs a controversial lead.

Tottenham finished with 10 men after Edgar Davids was sent off for a second bookable offence. But they will be happier with the result because they remain four points ahead of the Gunners as the race for fourth place reaches its climax.

Arsenal have a game in hand, but after this draw, they may have to win the European Cup to ensure Champions League football next season.

Arsene Wenger's dilemma was to balance the chase for fourth place with the need to preserve their 1-0 lead against Villarreal in the European Cup semi-final second leg on Tuesday.

He responded by naming Premiership top scorer Henry and midfield general Cesc Fabregas among the substitutes. Emmanuel Adebayor and Abou Diaby stood in. Alex Hleb, Dennis Bergkamp and Freddie Ljungberg were not even in the Gunners 16.

Tottenham set out to hustle in midfield and use Aaron Lennon to run at Arsenal's left flank.

It was a productive tactic as Arsenal struggled for fluency after their changes and the visitors should have led before half-time.

Lennon, cutting inside on to Keane's pass, skipped Philippe Senderos' challenge but shot beyond the far post.

Lennon spun away from Senderos again and found Jermaine Defoe who shot weakly at Jens Lehmann. Germany's number one then made a point blank 25th-minute save with his face from Defoe, after Michael Carrick's pass split the Arsenal defence.

Jose Antonio Reyes led a swift 29th-minute counter attack to find Robin van Persie, whose early low shot was grabbed by Paul Robinson. It was a rare excursion forward by the Gunners.

Teemu Tainio worked Lehmann again with a 38th-minute header at a corner. Then, seconds before the half ended, Carrick brilliantly skipped past Gilberto, Johan Djourou and Kolo Toure, but fired into the side-netting from a tight angle.

Senderos limped off with a jarred knee, another precaution with Villarreal in mind. He was replaced by Emmanuel Eboue, who injected fresh energy into the Gunners.

Van Persie, twisting on the right of the box, forced Robinson to tip his 55th-minute shot to safety. The Dutchman followed up by slipping the offside trap to reach Gilberto's pass, only to shoot wide as Robinson rushed out.

Henry and Fabregas entered the game after 62 minutes.

Three minutes later, Keane turned in Davids' deflected far post pass to put Spurs ahead. Arsenal were furious because Gilberto and Eboue had gone down after colliding with each other and they felt Tottenham should have put the ball out. Lehmann and Robert Pires angrily chased after Davids.

Arsenal, riled, piled forward. Robinson punched out Reyes' drive after Henry set up the chance and Fabregas twice blasted into a ruck of bodies at a corner and Adebayor headed weakly at Robinson.

Henry struck with six minutes left. Adebayor shrugged off Paul Stalteri's challenge and cut in. His pass found Henry, whose exquisite flick with the outside of the right foot left Robinson stranded. This time Spurs were furious, claiming Stalteri had been fouled.

Davids had already been booked for fouling Pires and when he was sent off two minutes later, for a lunge at Fabregas, the momentum was with Arsenal.

Wenger prowled the touchline in anticipation, but Robinson held two crosses under pressure and punched another yards clear as Spurs held on for their point.

A nightmare scenario remains for Tottenham, even if they do finish fourth.

They could still be denied a Champions League place if Arsenal win the final next month, but they are reportedly already preparing an appeal to UEFA if that happens.

Corners

Fouls

Goal attempts

Shots off target

Offsides