BBC Radio 5 live

Today we'd like to hear your predictions, opinions and expectations ahead of some of the afternoon's big games in the Premier League as Tottenham host Arsenal at 12:45 GMT before Chelsea travel to Aston Villa and QPR play Southampton at 15:00.

The games between Tottenham and Arsenal and Chelsea at Aston Villa are both on BBC Radio 5 live.

Daniel Stack: What's Fazio doing on the bench? Our record with Fazio and Vertonghen at the back together is exceptional.

Charlie Smith: Arsenal are collectively in ominous form. Collectively Spurs are not, but Kane and Eriksen are.

Kiriama16: I have always panicked ahead of visiting the Lane but am so calm today, total destruction I predict.

Send us in your thoughts and hopes using #bbcfootball, external on Twitter or text in on 81111 (UK only) and the best few will be read out as BBC Radio 5 live brings you coverage throughout the day.

David Pleat
Former Tottenham manager on BBC Radio 5 live:

"You would expect Tottenham, as the home side, to enjoy a lot of today's possession, but then Arsenal are so good on the counter-attack. The Gunners have a nice midfield triangle with lovely balance, and it working very well at the moment. But most interesting for me is that I think Arsene Wenger will play Welbeck right up front with Giroud. But Tottenham have nothing to fear, they have players full of skill, and we have a great game in prospect. There's a wonderful atmosphere here already. Tottenham versus Arsenal is always a great day."

BBC Radio 5 live

Image source, Getty Images

"Tottenham going with a classic back three of the Sausage Roll, Steak & Ale & Chicken Balti versus Arsenal..."

I'm not sure if the traffic problems which delayed the arrival of the Arsenal team have also impacted the two sets of supporters, because they are still streaming through the turnstiles. The atmosphere is pretty good now - plenty of 'bantz' between the two sets of fans.

Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey on coping with the intensity of today's game on BT Sport: "I think it is hard but it is something we need to be focused on doing and keeping all our men on the pitch.

"We cannot let the occasion get to us. We are focused on what we need to do today."

David Pleat
Former Tottenham manager on BBC Radio 5 live:

"It has been a remarkable fairytale story for Harry Kane. He is dragging Tottenham along at the moment, which is quite incredible when you consider Spurs are paying a lot of money to Adebayor, who is not involved today, and Soldado, who still hasn't established himself."

Adebayor is not in the Tottenham matchday 18 today.

BBC Radio 5 live

Today we'd like to hear your predictions, opinions and expectations ahead of some of the afternoon's big games in the Premier League as Tottenham host Arsenal at 12:45 GMT before Chelsea travel to Aston Villa and QPR play Southampton at 15:00.

The games between Tottenham and Arsenal and Chelsea at Aston Villa are both on BBC Radio 5 live.

Flair Fair: More scared of the Aston Villa fixture than facing Manchester City or Real Madrid. Teams in trouble thrashed last weekend are tricky.

Send us in your thoughts and hopes using #bbcfootball, external on Twitter or text in on 81111 (UK only) and the best few will be read out as BBC Radio 5 live brings you coverage throughout the day.

Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson
Football Focus

"Olivier Giroud gives something different that Arsenal don't have. He is much maligned but he does have a great record. It takes all sorts of different players to make a team, he holds the ball up, is good in the air, and Arsenal need a player like that with their midfield runners. I think he is really underrated."

Woody in High Wycombe: Hopefully they won't be partying on the streets of Woolwich tonight. Tense occasions, these North London derbies.

Send us in your thoughts and hopes using #bbcfootball, external on Twitter or text in on 81111 (UK only) and the best few will be read out as BBC Radio 5 live brings you coverage throughout the day.

Just joining us? What's your excuse? I hope it was a good night! Anyway, here's a reminder of the two teams:

Tottenham Hotspur: Lloris, Walker, Dier, Vertonghen, Rose, Bentaleb, Mason, Lamela, Dembele, Eriksen, Kane. Subs: Paulinho, Soldado, Vorm, Fazio, Chadli, Stambouli, Davies.

Arsenal: Ospina, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Ramsey, Welbeck, Cazorla, Ozil, Giroud. Subs: Szczesny, Gibbs, Gabriel, Rosicky, Walcott, Flamini, Akpom.

Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino on BT Sport: "I think it is a very intense and passionate game. But we are ready to compete.

"The derby is a special game and you need to play with your brain and your heart. Arsenal have good momentum, but so do we. It will not be easy. We need to be better on the ground to get the three points.

"You need to play with emotion and passion. This is football. This is how we understand this job. We need to be clever."

Image source, Getty Images

Another week, and another Arsenal player has been caught smoking. This time it's Jack Wilshere...again.

Having been reprimanded by his manager Arsene Wenger twice before for being photographed smoking, a picture emerged on social media of the midfielder holding a shisha pipe.

But Wenger says: "One second of your life does not define who you are.

"He is not a smoker. He is sorry about what happened but he has to master his own life."

Former Everton, Sunderland and West Brom winger Kevin Kilbane
Football Focus

"Christian Eriksen is outstanding, and his stats speak for themselves. We know he has ability from free-kicks, and he's probably the best dead-ball specialist in the Premier League at the moment. His overall ability, the positions he takes up, are so hard to defend against."

It might have gone slightly under the radar this week, after that big deadline day move involving Keith Andrews, Bolton Wanderers and MK Dons, but Arsenal fans must be pretty chuffed with the news that Francis Coquelin has signed a new contract at the club.

The Frenchman has been a real positive in the last few weeks - offering an assured shield in front of the back four - and he says it was a no-brainer to stay at the Emirates.

"This is what is magic about football: one day you are unknown and the next day you are a bit bigger," Coquelin said. "I'm really pleased, I've been here since 2008 so it feels like a second home for me.

"It wasn't really a tough decision, I have been here long enough and I know everyone here."

Football Focus
BBC Sport

If you switch your TV screens to BBC One, Football Focus should come into view. Or you can watch at the top of this live page.

That will be followed by Final Score, which gets under way at 14:30 online and on the Red Button, before joining BBC Two at 16:30, except for viewers in Scotland, who can watch Sportscene.

Later Match of the Day will bring you highlights and analysis from 22:30 on BBC One, but viewers in Scotland can watch from 23:30 following the conclusion of Sportscene.

And finally the Football League Show will be on BBC One at 00:00, except for viewers in Scotland, who can watch from 00:55.

So, where does the north London derby rank against other top rivalries? How does it stack up against the Manchester derby? The Old Firm? El Clasico? Exeter v Plymouth?

Former Spurs winger Gareth Bale is preparing for the Madrid derby this evening, and he says Arsenal against Tottenham is every bit as good as Real versus Atletico.

"I think they are both equal to be honest," said Bale. "They are both amazing derbies to play in, both sets of fans are both feisty enough for the game as well as the team.

"They are both very big derbies in the of football and I've obviously lucky enough to play in both of them."

No police escort for Arsenal? Was the policeman Arsene asked for a favour a Tottenham fan?

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger on BT Sport: "You have to have the intensity from the start and to keep it going as long as you can. But you need to contribute that with being lucid and not losing your nerve.

On his team's difficulties getting to White Hart Lane: "We were blocked by police because the road was closed by an accident. The police refused to give us support for a while. So we left late and could not speed up to get here. It is not a problem, though. We have time to prepare.

On selecting Danny Welbeck: "Welbeck is I think suited to the kind of game we want to play today. Theo is getting sharper so it was a difficult choice.

Is it any coincidence that Arsenal seem to have hit top form now Theo Walcott is back in the team after a long injury lay-off? The England forward is making his 200th Premier League appearance this afternoon, and he'll do so with words of praise ringing in his ears.

"Theo's first quality is the quality of his reception," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger., external "The timing of his runs, and the area of where he gets the ball.

"The timing and the movement is absolutely exceptional - one of the best in the world, with the timing of his movement and where he goes. When I say quality of receptions, it's the area where he will get the ball.

"In that, he is certainly top, top, top, because he has the pace behind it as well. I think he is not completely there yet. It's normal because he's been out for a year but you can see week after week, he gets better."

BBC Radio 5 live

Today we'd like to hear your predictions, opinions and expectations ahead of some of the afternoon's big games in the Premier League as Tottenham host Arsenal at 12:45 GMT before Chelsea travel to Aston Villa and QPR play Southampton at 15:00.

The games between Tottenham and Arsenal and Chelsea at Aston Villa are both on BBC Radio 5 live.

Hugo Viner, Balham: Big chance for Ozil today to prove he can deliver in the important games. Walcott will also hopefully make an impact coming off the bench.

Dani Riley: I thought Emmanuel Petit had made a return when I saw the golden retriever (see 11:55).

Send us in your thoughts and hopes using #bbcfootball, external on Twitter or text in on 81111 (UK only) and the best few will be read out as BBC Radio 5 live brings you coverage throughout the day.