Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira is set to miss the north London derby against Tottenham on Sunday with a groin injury.

Boss Arsene Wenger confirmed the injury is "not bad and it is a question of days rather than weeks", but although he will give Vieira a fitness test on Saturday, he does not want to risk further problems if there are still any doubts.

Ray Parlour is therefore on standby to replace the Frenchman, who came off during the midweek draw against Valencia, for his first start since September after a knee injury, although Wenger could turn to Edu or Giovanni van Bronckhorst instead.

Martin Keown could also return at the expense of Pascal Cygan, while Wenger, who was still without Francis Jeffers (ankle) and Rami Shaaban (thigh) in midweek, must decide whether to rest Robert Pires.

Wenger again confirmed that he would not be entering the transfer market during the January window, scotching reports of an impending bid for Leeds defender Danny Mills.

Despite his team having suffered seven defeats in 14 games, he continues to believe as firmly in their chances of winning the title as he does in Sol Campbell's ability to handle Sunday's return to White Hart Lane.

With the Champions League having shut down until mid-February, Wenger believes now is the time to underline those title credentials, starting at Tottenham on Sunday.

"We had a disappointing result at Manchester United but we're top of the Premiership and top of our Champions League group," he declared.

"We have every reason to believe in our potential. I accept we've had a few blips due to a lack of concentration.

"But we had a good response against Valencia and now we want to focus on the championship for two months as there are no Champions League ties and no internationals until February.

"We know the situation is very tight at the top of the table and we want to stay at the top of the group of four clubs. It is a vital period for us."

During the next two months, Arsenal face not only Spurs but also Middlesbrough, West Brom, Liverpool - twice - Chelsea, Birmingham, West Ham, Fulham and Newcastle in the league.

They could still be knocked back into second place if Chelsea win at Boro tomorrow, but despite United's recent advances, the Gunners would still regain top spot by winning at White Hart Lane.

"The truth of the table will be at the end of the season and we will fight to be up there. All credit to Manchester United as they have come back into the race," added Wenger.

"But it's a long way to go and I believe we have the potential and desire to win it.

"There are four potential winners in there. Are we favourites? We are among the four favourites. I still believe in my team and that it will be us."

Other managers may be tempted to move into the transfer market in January to strengthen their squad, but not Wenger.

"We will not be involved. Not even in Mills, whom I rate as a very good right-back, but we have Lauren and Oleg Luzhny, so we will not be involved at all," he stressed.

"If the transfer window vanished tomorrow, I'd be happy."

Glenn Hoddle insists he would be prepared to see his Tottenham team trounced twice in a season by fierce rivals Arsenal if it was also guaranteed that Spurs finished fourth in the Premiership and earned a Champions League place.

And the White Hart Lane boss claims that the Sol Campbell issue will have no real effect on Sunday's North London derby when Arsenal make the short trip from N5 to N17 just a month after beating their neighbours 3-0 at Highbury.

It is quite likely that Hoddle would get a considerable argument on both those points from a significant section of Spurs supporters, though.

Although it can be argued that the import of so many overseas players into the two rival teams has diluted the traditional derby fervour from what it was, say 20 years ago, passions still run high.

Campbell's controversial freedom of contract move 18 months ago still inspires bitterness among those supporters who are already heartily sick of living in the shadow of champions Arsenal for more than a decade.

When Campbell made his first appearance back at White Hart Lane in an Arsenal shirt last season the Gunners' team bus was pelted with missiles and inside the ground at least two bottles were aimed his way from the crowd while he ran the gauntlet of fierce and obscene verbal abuse.

But Hoddle, who could not keep the England centre back at Tottenham when his contract expired and opened the way to fame and fortune elsewhere, said: "I just don't want to talk up this rivalry thing, including the Campbell situation. He's been back once and the more we talk about it again the more they ....

"I want our supporters to come here and enjoy the game, to get behind the team. That's what we want and I'm sure that's what they will do. The three points should be everybody's main priority."

Hoddle is convinced there will be no hostility, either, to Campbell form his former team-mates even though there were unconfirmed reports of the player being involved in a tunnel bust-up with a Spurs rival immediately after the match at Highbury.

And last week Spurs were quick to publish a disclaimer on their own website for "quotes" from striker Teddy Sheringham in which he was reported to have said he "hates" Arsenal.

"As professionals you have to try to cut away from things like that (hostility over Campbell). It is an in-born thing that makes you do that. Otherwise you can't perform.

"Sol made his decision to go and would expect a few jeers at his former club although, obviously, we could do with out the bottles this time."

Hoddle, a veteran of dozens of Spurs-Arsenal clashes as a player has yet to win one as a manager but is confident this will be his moment.

He says: "I'm basing that on our good home form this season although we will still need at least an eight out of 10, maybe nine out of 10, performance to beat a great team like Arsenal.

"Whoever it is, though, you still only get three points for a win. Neither side will get an extra point for winning.

"For me it is not about showing that we are getting closer to Arsenal. I'm looking to just continue our good run and get consistency. That's what you need.

"I would ask our fans if we lost twice to Arsenal and still finished fourth in the table what would they prefer. I think you know what my answer would be.

"There is obviously a lot of passion and atmosphere about a derby but there has to be realism as well. If it means losing a battle to win a war I would take that, but I don't think that will happen.

"We will be going into the game in a very positive frame of mind because at home we've won games even when we've played indifferently.

"It is strange but we did exceptionally well for 60 minutes against Arsenal the last time they were here but ended up needing a last-minute equaliser to save the game.

"It is well known that form often goes out of the window in derby games but it is impossible to be doubly motivated for them. What do you do, take double motivation-pills?"

Hoddle stopped short of blaming the recent 3-0 defeat at Highbury on Spurs' winger Simon Davies' dubious dismissal after just 27 minutes.

But he points out that Tottenham were already trailing to a stunning solo goal by Thierry Henry and could not set up siege camp in their own half.

"We would have played it differently, perhaps, had it been nil-nil or one-one when Simon was sent off for doing what was practically nothing. But having to chase the game gave us no option. Arsenal are an excellent side as I saw again in their game with Valencia in the Champions League in midweek.

"They will up for the game on Sunday and would have been even if they had beaten Valencia 3-0, but I'm sure their priority, like ours, will be the three points."

Hoddle has to decide whether to recall battling German midfielder Steffen Freund who was dropped for last week's slightly fortunate 3-1 home win over West Bromwich Albion when ex-England pair Darren Anderton and Jamie Redknapp appeared in partnership for the first time for Spurs.

Goran Bunjevcevic is also available again after suspension and, with Chris Perry ably standing in last week, Ledley King's place may be under threat following his jaded performance in that game which came just three weeks after his return from a long-term hip injury.

Matthew Etherington and Anthony Gardner are still the only members of the first-team squad on the injured list and Scotland goalkeeper Neil Sullivan could return on the bench after recovering from a broken thumb sustained in August.

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