It is a fixture that has become famous for remarkable recoveries over the past few seasons, but this would possibly lift it to a new level. Arsène Wenger certainly wasn't shy about raising the prospect.

The Arsenal manager, in fact, spoke as if he always knew it was going to pan out this way. On Sunday, just six weeks after Kim Kallstrom's loan signing caused all manner of embarrassing headlines, the Swedish midfielder is finally set to make his debut in the white heat of a White Hart Lane derby.

The added twist is he is now badly needed. While Kallstrom has fully recovered from the back injury farcically discovered during his medical, a spate of other knocks leave Arsenal badly stretched in midfield.

On making the signing, Wenger admitted it would not have happened had it been any other time than 5pm on deadline day, but he added: "There's a possibility he will not play, but also a possibility he will score a vital winning goal." When those words were put to the Arsenal manager on Friday, he only smiled. Wenger did reveal, however, that Kallstrom has also brought smiles to the squad.

Tottenham v Arsenal: Memorable moments from past North London derbies 17 show all Tottenham v Arsenal: Memorable moments from past North London derbies 1/17 Paying the Penalty Spurs defender Pascal Chimbonda fouls Tomas Rosicky of Arsenal to give away the first penalty kick during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium on December 2 2006 2/17 Lunge Time Arsenal's Jose Antonio Reyes is challenged by Sean Davies of Tottenham during their Premier League match at Highbury in 25 April 2005. 3/17 Bragging Rights Arsenal's Jose Antonio Reyes, Robert Pires ,Ashley Cole, Edu and Thierry Henry celebrate winning the 2003/2004 Premier League after drawing 2-2 with Tottenham in their Premier League clash at White Hart Lane. 4/17 Safe Hands David Seaman of Arsenal in action during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at White Hart Lane, London on December 15, 2002. 5/17 Jeepers Keeper 31 Mar 2001: Neil Sullivan of Tottenham Hotspur can only watch as Arsenal open the scoring of the match at Highbury. Arsenal won match 2-0. 6/17 Ive Scored Steffen Iversen of Tottenham Hotspur scores against Arsenal in the Premier League match at White Hart Lane in 1999. Spurs won 2-1. 7/17 Finest Hour Paul Gascoigne celebrates his 35 yard goal during the FA Cup Semi-Final against Arsenal at Wembley Stadium in 1991. 8/17 Miller Time Paul Miller of Tottenham Hotspur tackles Paul Davis of Arsenal during a match at White Hart Lane in London in 1983. 9/17 Making his Mark Spurs goalkeeper Mark Kendall making a save from Arsenal's Frank Stapleton during a match at White Hart Lane in 1978. 10/17 Mutual Respect Terry Mancini of Arsenal embraces Phil Beal of Tottenham Hotspur as the two walk off the pitch in April 1978 11/17 White Hart Gains Tottenham Hotspur 0 v Arsenal 1 - Arsenal supporters celebrate on the White Hart Lane pitch after their team had won the First Division title in May 1971 12/17 Head of the Class Tottenham Hotspur winger Jimmy Robertson heads the ball goalwards during a match against Arsenal at White Hart Lane in January 1968 13/17 Battle Lines Referee E.Crawford gets between Tottenham's Tony Marchi and Arsenal's Frank McLintock in October 1964, 14/17 Full Stretch Spurs goalkeeper Ted Ditchburn makes a dramatic save at full stretch from an Arsenal shot as Tottenham Hotspur play Arsenal in a London derby match at White Hart Lane 15/17 Highbury Snow Arsenal 2 v Tottenham Hotspur 3 - Spurs striker Cliff Jones guides the ball past Arsenal goalkeeper Jack McClelland on a snow-covered Highbury pitch 16/17 Crowd Crush Paramedics tend to supporters injured by the 68,828-strong bumper Highbury crowd in January 1934. Tottenham went on to win the game 3-1. 17/17 Arsenal Revenge Arsenal win 3-2 in the first competitive north London derby to be held at Highbury since their controversial move from south of the river in 1913. Just one week earlier Tottenham recorded a narrow victory at White Hart Lane. 1/17 Paying the Penalty Spurs defender Pascal Chimbonda fouls Tomas Rosicky of Arsenal to give away the first penalty kick during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium on December 2 2006 2/17 Lunge Time Arsenal's Jose Antonio Reyes is challenged by Sean Davies of Tottenham during their Premier League match at Highbury in 25 April 2005. 3/17 Bragging Rights Arsenal's Jose Antonio Reyes, Robert Pires ,Ashley Cole, Edu and Thierry Henry celebrate winning the 2003/2004 Premier League after drawing 2-2 with Tottenham in their Premier League clash at White Hart Lane. 4/17 Safe Hands David Seaman of Arsenal in action during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at White Hart Lane, London on December 15, 2002. 5/17 Jeepers Keeper 31 Mar 2001: Neil Sullivan of Tottenham Hotspur can only watch as Arsenal open the scoring of the match at Highbury. Arsenal won match 2-0. 6/17 Ive Scored Steffen Iversen of Tottenham Hotspur scores against Arsenal in the Premier League match at White Hart Lane in 1999. Spurs won 2-1. 7/17 Finest Hour Paul Gascoigne celebrates his 35 yard goal during the FA Cup Semi-Final against Arsenal at Wembley Stadium in 1991. 8/17 Miller Time Paul Miller of Tottenham Hotspur tackles Paul Davis of Arsenal during a match at White Hart Lane in London in 1983. 9/17 Making his Mark Spurs goalkeeper Mark Kendall making a save from Arsenal's Frank Stapleton during a match at White Hart Lane in 1978. 10/17 Mutual Respect Terry Mancini of Arsenal embraces Phil Beal of Tottenham Hotspur as the two walk off the pitch in April 1978 11/17 White Hart Gains Tottenham Hotspur 0 v Arsenal 1 - Arsenal supporters celebrate on the White Hart Lane pitch after their team had won the First Division title in May 1971 12/17 Head of the Class Tottenham Hotspur winger Jimmy Robertson heads the ball goalwards during a match against Arsenal at White Hart Lane in January 1968 13/17 Battle Lines Referee E.Crawford gets between Tottenham's Tony Marchi and Arsenal's Frank McLintock in October 1964, 14/17 Full Stretch Spurs goalkeeper Ted Ditchburn makes a dramatic save at full stretch from an Arsenal shot as Tottenham Hotspur play Arsenal in a London derby match at White Hart Lane 15/17 Highbury Snow Arsenal 2 v Tottenham Hotspur 3 - Spurs striker Cliff Jones guides the ball past Arsenal goalkeeper Jack McClelland on a snow-covered Highbury pitch 16/17 Crowd Crush Paramedics tend to supporters injured by the 68,828-strong bumper Highbury crowd in January 1934. Tottenham went on to win the game 3-1. 17/17 Arsenal Revenge Arsenal win 3-2 in the first competitive north London derby to be held at Highbury since their controversial move from south of the river in 1913. Just one week earlier Tottenham recorded a narrow victory at White Hart Lane.

"He is a fantastic guy. Motivation, attitude – spot on. Readiness to put the effort in – spot on. And I think he can play an important part in the end of our season. We are all absolutely happy to have him with us because, on a daily basis, he's a joy to watch."

Wenger said embarrassment was the main emotion he felt with news of the injury Kallstrom suffered playing beach football just before signing. "Yes, but, as I explained, we found a good agreement with [Spartak] Moscow. At the end of the day, it was a question of signing him or signing nobody. Now that Jack [Wilshere] is injured and [Aaron] Ramsey out we are happy to have him. He can have a major impact on the season."

If that starts on Sunday, it could continue the trend of the second derby of the season having a major impact on the rest of it. In 2010, a 2-1 victory saw Tottenham take command of fourth place. In 2012, Arsenal came back from 2-0 down to win 5-2, serving as a distinct turning point in the entire campaign, and last year a 2-1 Spurs win proved Arsenal's last defeat of the season.

For such a volatile match, it has developed a habit of providing clarity. Arsenal need a win to keep pace in the title race; Spurs need a win to keep their season alive. As such, it is difficult to say who needs it more. Wenger offered Spurs the back-handed compliment of stating they are having a "good season", while Tim Sherwood attempted to shift the pressure back on to Arsenal.

The Tottenham manager was asked about the derby meaning more to his club. "Not this year," he shot back. "They're looking upwards and if they want to progress they can't lose."

There can be little disputing, however, that Spurs have lost any sense of progress they had. The initial impetus under Sherwood has given way to an impotent confusion. It is very difficult to tell where or what they are as a team. If Arsenal have a greater objective in chasing the title, Spurs have a greater need to knit the squad back together. The negatives of the last week have only emphasised that, with Sherwood pointing to the reduced time to recover after Thursday's Europa League game against Benfica.

"It is a disadvantage," he said. "We have players who are carrying injuries and they need extra time to get fit. Unfortunately, our record hasn't been fantastic after the Europa League games. Everything is against us to win this game. It is a real dark spell for us at the moment. These last two games [against Chelsea and Benfica] we've taken heavy defeats and this is a great opportunity for them bounce back."