North London Derby: Spurs must win to keep champions league hopes alive

North London Derby: Tottenham Hotspur must beat Arsenal to keep champions league hopes alive - Premier League

The North London Derby is upon us! The key battle between Harry Kane and the returning Ben White will answer lots of the questions in the air. (Photo credit: Premierleague.com)

 Tottenham vs Arsenal

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

7:45 PM

The North London Derby is here and this time, it carries more weight than ever! The two sides have it all to play for, this is beyond three points and, anyone that wins this instalment of this ageless rivalry would earn more than three points.

For the hosts, if they win this, they close the gap between them and Arsenal to a solitary point and anything can happen in the other two games remaining. 

Spurs would take the momentum to the remaining fixtures and champions league football might just return to their side of the city.

Arsenal wins this and it is game over, it is champions league football for the first time since the season before Arsene Wenger left the Emirates stadium.

It is legendary status in the making for Mikel Arteta and his young cubs, it will be a different feeling.

A draw leaves Arsenal with the advantage as they will only need to match Spurs’ result in the other two games remaining, it will also alter the status quo in recent times as the home side always grab the spotlight in this derby, it would be fun.

Arsenal made a good case for their strong finish with another win over Leeds United at the Emirates, boosted by two early goals and Luke Ayling’s indiscretions against Gabriel Martinelli that earned him a sending off, it is four in a row since the unfortunate back to back losses of early April.

Tottenham stayed in the race with a hard-fought draw at Anfield against Liverpool, it is still four points between them and their local rivals but it is not impossible with nine points to play for. 

If the Spurs can see off the Gunners and close the gap to one point, they can believe in the other games.

Spurs will depend on Harry Kane and Heung Min Son, both have good records in the derby but form and history fly out the window under this context, they need this more so they have to earn it but they cannot afford to leave spaces in behind for Arsenal to optimize.

This is a game for Martinelli and Bukayo Saka, the duo of Pierre Emile Hoibjerg and Rodrigo Bentacur must be at their best to close the gaps to avoid Martin Odegaard exploiting little spaces; defensively it will be key but who will grab their chances?

The first leg ended 3-1 in favour of the Gunners at the Emirates; Tottenham will look to return the favor at the Tottenham stadium on Thursday night but anything short of victory will take the champions league dream out of their reach.

Verdict: Spurs to win