Rivals geared up as Arsenal prepare for Tottenham challenge

Managers Arsene Wenger and Tim Sherwood agree that neither can really afford to lose this afternoon ... for very different reasons.

For Arsenal, success is crucial to keep them in touch in the Premier League title race, to clinch that coveted top four place and to lift morale after being dumped out of Europe by Bayern Munich.

For Spurs, similarly pasted by Benfica last week, it's a case of getting out of the "dark spell" they are suffering right now and trying to sneak back into the place that would give them another go in Europe next season.

On the face of it Arsenal would appear to have a better chance of getting what they want. But Wenger, who will be just one game away from 1,000 in charge of the Gooners, is under no illusions.

He said: "The next four games will decide if we are in there. Let us go step by step, keep in the top four and go for more after that. But the first step is to win at Tottenham.

"March is a very important month for us and how we deal with it will be decided by the way we handle Tottenham."

Wenger also revealed that Swedish midfielder Kim Kallstrom, a deadline day loan signing from Spartak Moscow, could also make his debut after recovering from injury and play a key role in Arsenal's quest for the honours and silverware that have eluded them for nearly nine years.

"He has been absolutely brilliant and can play an important part in the end of our season," said Wenger. "We are absolutely delighted to have him with us because on a daily basis he is spot on and a joy to watch.

"Now that Jack (Wilshere) Aaron (Ramsey), Theo (Walcott) and Mesut (Ozil) are out, he could end up having a major impact on our season."

And it is that sort of impact that Sherwood is looking for from his Spurs players after last week's dismal capitulation at Chelsea and then being on the end of a Europa League master class from Benfica just five days later.

The Spurs boss said: "It is a real dark spell for us at the moment. These last two games we've taken heavy defeats and this is a great opportunity for them to bounce back.

"This game is massive. There is nothing better than beating Arsenal, and if we can do that on Sunday it will give fans, players and everyone a lift."

Is it it a good time to play Arsenal without Ramsey, Wilshere and Ozil? Sherwood's response was emphatic.

"They've still got Santi Cazorla and Tomas Rosicky. They have a lot of talent and we just have to find a way to combat that. It's down to us and that's what we intend to do.

"When you when you win these games you feel as if you're never going to get beaten. That's the nature of the game.

"It's ups and downs and the boys realise that. It's about picking yourself up and soldiering on - and you don't need a north London derby to do that," he added.

Sherwood has had backing from an unlikely source – Wenger.

The Arsenal boss hopes the Spurs manager will get the time he needs to prove himself at White Hart Lane.

The 45-year-old has endured something of a rollercoaster ride since being appointed to his first senior role when taking over from Andre Villas-Boas in December.

Wenger believes every manager needs time – even if things do not always go to plan.

“I am always pleading for stability. Maybe you could say I’m pleading for myself. I always think technical stability is important,” said Wenger, who has seen 10 Spurs full-time managers come and go since his appointment in late September 1996.

“But it will become more and more difficult because in every single game there is a trial happening now on what has the manager done right and wrong. The stability will certainly be much more difficult.”

Wenger added: “I like the fact that Sherwood has learned his job and gets his chance.”