Keeper set for Arsenal return

Posted Saturday, October 31, 2009 by PA

Manuel Almunia could be set for a recall to Arsenal's starting XI for the derby with Tottenham Hotspur.

Arsene Wenger is likely to make several changes from the side which beat Liverpool in the Carling Cup in midweek but Lukas Fabianski (thigh), Tomas Rosicky and Theo Walcott (both knee) miss out.

Samir Nasri made his first appearance of the season against Liverpool after recovering from a broken leg and is likely to be on the bench.

Wenger insists his preparations for the game will not be affected by Emmanuel Adebayor's claims that Cesc Fabregas could leave Arsenal.

Former Arsenal striker Adebayor ha said he believes Fabregas could leave if the Gunners fail to secure Champions League football next term.

The Arsenal captain has long been linked with a return to Barcelona, where he began his career.

Adebayor left the Gunners to join Manchester City in a #25million deal this summer and infuriated Arsenal fans by running the length of the pitch to celebrate scoring against them last month.

Wenger says he does not have time for Adebayor and insists his comments will not prove a distraction ahead of the clash with Tottenham.

"Frankly, I'm not really bothered about what he says," Wenger said. "Why should I react to quotes that may not even be accurate?

"What is important for me is that we play well. For the rest, we have to live with what people say but it is not really important.

"Nobody knows what's happening next week so why should you speculate or worry about statements of that calibre? They are not anything realistic, it's just talk."

Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe serves the final part of his three-match suspension.

Aaron Lennon (ankle), Giovani dos Santos (ankle) and Luka Modric (fractured leg) will also miss the clash but Peter Crouch has recovered from a groin problem.

Goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini (knee) and centre-backs Jonathan Woodgate (head) and Ledley King (illness) should be available and Niko Kranjcar is back after being cup-tied.

Tottenham striker Crouch wants to target any weaknesses in Arsenal's defence.

Arsene Wenger's side conceded late goals against AZ Alkmaar and West Ham before defeating Liverpool in the Carling Cup this week.

"You saw at the start of the (West Ham) game when they went 2-0 up that they play great football, as they always do," Crouch said. "Hopefully we can keep that to a minimum and, as West Ham proved, you can come back and you can score goals against them. Hopefully we'll be tight at the back and get a good result."

Crouch is relishing Spurs' role as potential top-four gatecrashers, although he feels Arsenal are showing resilience to stay in the hunt after being written off by critics following the departures of Adebayor and Kolo Toure to Manchester City in the summer.

"I think at the start of the season a lot of people wrote off Arsenal," Crouch told the Tottenham Journal. "They've got a young squad but they seem to have shown everyone that they can still play.

"But I think we've also surprised a few people by the way we've started. We're in the top four at the minute and we want to stay there as long as we possibly can."