Ray Parlour on where north

TOMORROW the north London derby will mean so much more than when I was a player.

Of course, there were always the bragging rights at stake when I played, but Arsenal against Manchester United was always the biggest game. This fixture has become bigger each year, though, with both clubs eyeing up each other and it is important not just for the supporters going in to work on Monday morning, but for the league table itself. Realistically, sadly, Arsenal and Tottenham are not going to challenge for the title – that is going to be between Manchester City and Liverpool. But the race for those last two top-four positions is going to be a real battle.

Tottenham made a massive statement last weekend in beating Chelsea 3-1 and Arsenal are on their 18-match unbeaten run, which has been very good. It is going to be a tricky game to call.

But because this is a ‘must not lose’ game for both sides, a draw is the sensible bet if you are putting your money down.

Not a 0-0 though – 2-2, something like that.

It would be a good result for both teams.

ARSENAL DEFENCE v TOTTENHAM ATTACK

Unai Emery will change the system again and Arsenal will return to a flat back four. The problem he has is his fullbacks. They are great going forward but defensively, especially against Spurs, they are going to have to pair up and tuck in alongside their centre-halves. And Sead Kolasinac is simply not that sort of player.

Arsenal bought him as a wing-back, but he has got to learn how to defend a little bit better on the left side. Nacho Monreal is out at the moment – he would definitely slot back in otherwise at left-back, and he knows how to be a full-back.

So that is probably an area Tottenham will look to exploit. The Arsenal back four do give you chances.

TOTTENHAM DEFENCE v ARSENAL ATTACK

The big question is how fit Jan Vertonghen, above, is. The trouble is he has missed a bit of game time and the gamble is, do you throw him back in at the deep end quickly or gradually get him