Under-21s: Tottenham v Arsenal - Preview

Arsenal Under-21s will be looking to kick on from Monday's morale-boosting victory over West Ham when they make the short trip to White Hart Lane to play Tottenham on Friday night.

The 5-3 win against the Hammers was their first in the league this year as they began a run of four games in 10 days, with trips to Bolton and Everton on the horizon.

But first there's the small matter of a north London derby in N17 to contend with and Steve Gatting's side have the chance to leapfrog their neighbours into the top half of the league.

Due to their cup commitments, the Gunners have suffered a stop-start league campaign but, with just the FA Youth Cup left, which some of the players will be too old to take part in, their focus can shift solely on making a late push for a play-off place.

Arsenal will be without Monday's hat-trick hero Chuba Akpom due to injury, but with Zak Ansah marking his own return with a goal and Jon Toral impressing again, Gatting's attacking options look healthy.

"I am pleased for Zak," Gatting told Arsenal.com. "He’s had a couple of long-term injuries and that is the first 20 minutes he has played this year. He came on and scored the goal, and took it very well. He really showed his class going forward.

"I am generally happy. It has been a long time since we have won in the league and I was very pleased with the attacking side of our game. The defensive side needs a bit more work on."

Tottenham have also suffered from inconsistency this season but victory tonight will give them an outside chance of finishing in the top four.

Spurs got the better of Arsenal in both of last season's league meetings but Arsenal will have good memories of the last time the academy played at White Hart Lane when a Rhys Murphy strike sealed the Premier Academy League title.

We will have live tweets on the @Arsenal account from 6.55pm from White Hart Lane.