Martin Jol's side clash with their north London rivals in the first leg of the League Cup semifinal on Wednesday knowing they face an uphill struggle to reach the final.

Arsenal will make the short journey to White Hart Lane buoyed by a dramatic victory against Manchester United on Sunday that extending their winning run to five matches.

In contrast, Tottenham, with just one win in six matches, needed a late goal to salvage a draw against 10-man Fulham.

As if that wasn't disheartening enough for Tottenham, they also have to cope with the psychological scar of failing to win any of their last 15 meetings against their old enemies.

It is not the first time these feuding neighbours have met in a semifinal and Arsenal will take heart from their recurring habit of getting one over on Spurs when the stakes are highest.

The Gunners have triumphed against Spurs in the last four of the League Cup in 1968 and 1987, as well as the FA Cup in 1993 and 2001. Tottenham's solitary semifinal success was a Paul Gascoigne-inspired 1991 FA Cup victory.

While the history books point to a win for the red half of north London, Tottenham can at least draw comfort from their superb record in cup competitions this season.

They are unbeaten in the FA, League and UEFA Cups, winning 10 of their 11 matches.

Jol is adamant his side can get revenge for their 3-0 Premiership drubbing at Arsenal in December and take a step closer to their first major trophy since they beat Leicester in the 1999 League Cup final.

"Arsenal probably had their worst home game ever but we still couldn't give them a good game," Jol said.

"I didn't say it after the match but one goal wasn't a penalty and their third was a handball. I think we were unfortunate but I couldn't say anything because we didn't play well so hopefully we can put that straight now."

However, Jol will be without Teemu Tainio after the Finnish midfielder suffered an ankle injury at Fulham.

Robin van Persie will be absent for Arsenal after the Dutch striker broke a bone in his foot while scoring his side's equaliser on Sunday.

The metatarsal injury is likely to keep van Persie out of action for at least two months, leaving Thierry Henry and Emmanuel Adebayor to shoulder the burden of leading the Gunners' attack.

Fortunately for manager Arsene Wenger both have proved adept at tormenting Tottenham.

Adebayor netted the first goal and produced a man-of-the-match display in that 3-0 win last month, while Henry has scored five times against Spurs during his time in England.

Arsenal captain Henry, who scored the winner against United, believes he is finally close to his peak form after an inconsistent start to the campaign partly caused by his involvement in France's run to the World Cup final.

"I am getting there," he said. Ten days of training at the start of the season to prepare is not enough.

"So what did I do with the staff and the fitness coach while I was out? I did a pre-season. I am starting to feel better and better now.

"I have played 15 games and scored nine goals. I was getting hammered by the critics. But that is not a bad ratio. When you don't do what you usually do, you get hammered. That is just the way it is.

"I just want to be fresh and help my team."