Arsenal held on to beat battling local rivals Tottenham 3-2 and move four points clear at the top of the Premier League after an emphatic first-half display and a nervous second period in an electric derby atmosphere on Sunday.
An own goal by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and efforts from Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz put the Gunners in control at half-time and, although Spurs fought back through Cristian Romero's strike and a Heung-min Son penalty, the visitors claimed the three points.
The victory moved Mikel Arteta's Gunners further ahead of second-placed champions Manchester City, who have two games in hand. Liverpool are in third spot a point behind City but like Arsenal having played 35 matches.
Tottenham's defeat hit their hopes of playing Champions League football next season as they stand seven points off fourth-placed Aston Villa, albeit still with two games in hand.
Tottenham vs Arsenal highlights
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Head-to-head record
Spurs have won just one of the last six derbies, losing four.
Tottenham wins: 67
Draw: 55
Arsenal wins: 86
Spurs are in the house
Smart attire for the hosts today with Richarlison, Brennan Johnson and James Maddison among those spotted heading into the stadium.
Key derby factors: Thomas Partey pushing to start
Thomas Partey started only a second game this year in the thrashing of Chelsea, and his progressive passing and dynamism helped Arsenal to a five-goal stroll.
His performance leaves Arteta with a decision to make, with Jorginho Arsenal’s other option to partner Declan Rice in midfield.
The Italian is an experienced head who helps Arsenal to control big games, but he may not be suited to a chaotic end-to-end derby.
It is unclear if Partey is ready to start another game so quickly following his hamstring injury.
North London derby: Countdown to kick-off
We are now only two hours away from Tottenham and Arsenal facing off!
Team news is due at 1pm BST.
Arsenal warned Tottenham are their only hope
The Premier League title race increasingly appears to be a straight showdown between Arsenal and Manchester City, but it is Tottenham who will have a decisive say, according to Jamie Redknapp.
Pep Guardiola’s side have a game in hand, which is a potentially tricky test away to Tottenham in the final week of the season.
“Tottenham have a massive part to play don’t they?” Redknapp said.
“They’ve obviously going to play Arsenal on Sunday which is going to be a huge game. We’ve only got to look at [Liverpool’s defeat to Everton]… with derby matches anything is possible.”
Key derby factors: Dejan Kulusevski or Brennan Johnson?
Mikel Arteta’s decision at left-back is made even harder because it is not clear who Ange Postecoglou will start on the right of Spurs’ front three.
Brennan Johnson has started the last three games after turning the tide against Luton last month, but Spurs looked desperately short of guile and a player capable of holding up the ball in the 4-0 defeat at Newcastle.
Dejan Kulusevski could therefore return to the XI on Sunday, which would leave Johnson as a potentially dangerous impact sub.
Postecoglou also faces a decision over whether to recall Richarlison if he is fit enough and move Heung-min Son to the left.
Tottenham ponder new plan to stop Bukayo Saka
By the time Tottenham host Arsenal in Sunday’s crunch north London derby, Mikel Arteta’s side will have played four times since their rivals’ last fixture — the 4-0 defeat at Newcastle on April 13.
So there is a certain irony that Spurs have still managed to pick up more injuries than Arsenal in the past fortnight, after news over the weekend that Destiny Udogie will miss the rest of the season following surgery on his left quadriceps.
Udogie will be a real miss against an Arsenal side who tend to funnel their attacks down the right, through Ben White and Bukayo Saka.
Udogie was outstanding in the reverse fixture in September, maturely handling Saka as Arsenal twice threw away leads to draw 2-2.
When Udogie was booked after just 15 minutes for a shove on the England winger, it looked like he could face a torrid afternoon, but he barely put another foot wrong, showing Saka down the line at every opportunity and helping to frustrate Arsenal’s most dangerous player.
Nihal Arthanayake column
TV and radio presenter, and Spurs fan, Nihal Arthanayake has penned his latest Standard Sport column ahead of the north London derby.
He discusses just how important it would be to Tottenham supporters if they can upset Arsenal’s title chances.
Key derby factors: Arsenal’s left-back worry
Left-back has quickly become Arsenal’s Achilles heel.
Jakub Kiwior’s limitations in the role were exposed in Bayern Munich’s 2-2 draw in London, when he was hooked at half-time. Oleksandr Zinchenko can invert into midfield but did not fare much better than Kiwior in the home defeat by Aston Villa.
Takehiro Tomiyasu is Mikel Arteta’s steadiest option, but the question is whether he is fit enough to start twice in a week after Tuesday’s demolition of Chelsea?
Latest odds
Tottenham: 17/5
Draw: 16/5
Arsenal: 8/11
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).