Published: 30 August, 2013
by DAN CARRIER

SPURS boss Andre Villas Boas is putting his players through the final preparations for the north London derby on Sunday – and after resting a host of first team names for the Europa League drubbing of Georgian minnows Dinamo Tbilisi at White Hart Lane on Thursday, he was ready to turn his attentions to the trip to the Emirates.

“It is going to be a very difficult game at the Emirates,” he told the New Journal.

“It has been like this for us over the last couple of seasons there. But is is very unpredictable – last year, we were in control for the first 20 minutes until Adebayor was sent off.”

he added he was eager for the referee to blow his whistle for the kick off.

“There is a special feeling about it – it is unique in English football,” he said.

“We will set ourselves up properly and it is always exciting as both teams like to attack.”

He said he thought Arsene Wenger's team were 'very strong' – but so was his squad.

“The Arsenal team have had time playing together,” he said.

“They do not have new faces, and they all know exactly the Arsenal way of playing. We, on the other hand, have new faces to the team and have to build that understanding, but we have some real quality. Arsenal have the advantage that the know each other well from the past.”

AVB will have to chose two centre backs from Dawson, Kaboul and Vertonghen – and if Dawson and Kaboul get the go-ahead, Vertonghen could switch to left back in the place of Danny Rose.

The midfield issue revolves around fitting Sandro back into the side alongside with Paulinho and Capoue: with Lewis Holtby scoring on Thursday evening the face to fit the role behind Spanish forward Roberto Soldado has yet to be decided, with Holtby and Sigurdsson both vying to start.

It is expected that Andros Townsend will play on the right – relegating Aaron Lennon to a place on the bench – and Nacer Chadli will take up the his position on the left hand side.

He also praised Arsene Wenger's teams barnstorming spring that saw them draw in Tottenham and over take them to nick the fourth spot.

“The run Arsenal went on last season was incredible,” he says. He said of the opponents his team were likely to face, Tomas Rosicky was one he believed offered Wenger something different.

“Rosicky probably doesn't get the credit he deserves,” said the Spurs boss.

“He was excellent last year.”

But he added his own side would pose serious questions for Gunners.

“Anything can happen,” he added. “We have true quality and we go there and win. We will set ourselves up to win the game.”