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THEY may have lost 1-0 at West Ham on Wednesday on the night they could have gone top, but there was still a swagger about Tottenham yesterday.

Their first away defeat in the league since the opening day of the season might not have been the best preparation for the north London derby with Arsenal but you would not have known it. Spurs are certainly not lacking in confidence.

It is shaping up to be a magnificent conclusion to the Barclays Premier League season with five clubs still in the title race and 10 featuring in the scramble for Europe.

Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino insists Arsenal’s experience of winning three Premier League titles counts for nothing tomorrow.

‘If they have players that have the advantage to win the title, what happened against Manchester United or Swansea?’ questioned Pochettino, referring to Arsenal’s defeats in their last two games.

Despite drawing at home against West Bromwich on Tuesday, leaders Leicester appear to be the biggest winners from an amazing set of midweek results which saw the rest of the top four all lose. Manchester City were thrashed 3-0 at Liverpool and are only ahead of neighbours United on goal difference.

Hard on United’s heels are West Ham whose impressive recent form means they are ready to pounce if any of the top five falter.

The Hammers are joined in the battle for a Europa League place by Stoke, Liverpool, Southampton and even Chelsea whose improvement under Guus Hiddink has been remarkable.

Pochettino tried to play down the significance of the north London derby, saying: ‘It’s not a decisive game. It’s important for us and for them. But after Saturday there are nine games left.’

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes said he feels ‘conned’ by Arsenal this season and expects them to come up short.

‘They (Tottenham) can virtually put Arsenal away with a win,’ the former England international told BT Sport.

‘The question is — have Arsenal got the bottle to go there and win? I doubt whether they’ve got the bottle.

‘This season I think I was a little conned by Arsenal. I thought they’d added a bit of steel with Petr Cech, and Mesut Ozil was really coming into his own.

‘But once again, they always seem to lose their bottle and they can’t produce in big games.

‘And I think Wenger, if he gets to the end of the season and they haven’t won the league, has to be under big pressure.’

Pochettino summed up the extraordinary season so far when he said: ‘Football is not an ordinary business. Anything can happen.’