Redknapp makes two changes for first London derby

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp made two changes for the Barclays Premier League clash against rivals Arsenal in his first starting XI since his appointment at the weekend.

Reserve-team coach Clive Allen had picked the side for the win over Bolton, and Redknapp had Gareth Bale back from suspension to replace Jamie O’Hara.

Ledley King could not make it three games in a week, so Jonathan Woodgate was in his place in the heart of defence.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger had problems of his own at centre-back, with Kolo Toure staying on the bench as he was at the weekend against West Ham.

Wenger’s programme notes suggested Toure and skipper William Gallas were struggling to play together.

“You know how much I rate Kolo Toure but at the back it is about partnerships, it’s about positioning and it’s about current form as well,” he wrote.

Emmanuel Adebayor, Denilson and Bacary Sagna came in for Nicklas Bendtner, Alex Song and Emmanuel Eboue.

Arsenal Teamnews: Almunia, Sagna, Silvestre, Gallas, Clichy, Walcott, Fabregas, Denilson, Nasri, Van Persie, Adebayor. Subs: Fabianski, Diaby, Toure, Vela, Song Billong, Bendtner, Eboue.

Tottenham Teamnews: Gomes, Hutton, Corluka, Woodgate, Assou-Ekotto, Bentley, Modric, Jenas, Huddlestone, Bale, Pavlyuchenko. Subs: Cesar, Zokora, Lennon, Bent, Gunter, Campbell, O’Hara.

Referee: Martin Atkinson