Tottenham Hotspur welcome Arsenal to White Hart Lane on Sunday.
Mark Lawrenson with Garth Crooks
BBC Pundit Mark Lawrenson made his prediction for the hugely important North London Derby between Spurs and the Gunners on Sunday, when writing his regular prediction column for BBC Sport.
Tottenham head into the game as favourites, and currently sit four places and 14 points ahead of Arsenal, but in the heated atmosphere of a derby game, anything can happen.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men desperately need to win the game to keep the pressure up on league leaders Chelsea, whilst Arsene Wenger’s side require all three points just to keep within touching distance of the top four.
And Lawrenson delivered his verdict on Sunday’s huge clash, suggesting that he expects Arsenal to throw a spanner in the works at White Hart Lane, when writing his regular column for BBC Sport:
“Tottenham found a way to beat Crystal Palace on Wednesday night, despite not playing particularly well, and that was a great result for them. Spurs have now won eight league games on the spin but I just have a feeling that Arsenal will put a spanner in the works of their bid to catch Chelsea. The Gunners’ winning run in all competitions is much shorter, at three matches, but it included Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final. Arsene Wenger’s side will be full of confidence and have got a bit of momentum too. This is a game that I don’t see them losing.”
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
Lawro’s prediction: 1-1
Chelsea travel to Everton for the earlier kick-off on Sunday, so the Lilywhites could find themselves seven points adrift of the Blues by the time they kick-off against the Gunners.
They will be confident of beating Arsenal, however, after wining 15 and drawing two of their 17 Premier League games at White Hart Lane so far this season.
The Gunners, on the other hand, have won only seven of their 16 games on the road, and have lost four of their last five away trips.
Anything can happen in a North London Derby though, and the only real guarantee is that the atmosphere will be electric, in what will be the last ever match between the two sides played at White Hart Lane.
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino
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