Fourth place like a trophy to Gunners, Spurs

ARSENAL are in the driving seat for a fourth-place finish at the moment but, with four games to go, we all know what will decide whether they make it - or Tottenham do.

Both teams have another game to play before they meet at Spurs’ stadium on 12 May but you just can’t ignore how much next week’s north London derby matters when you talk about the race for the top four.

It’s absolutely huge, for all sorts of reasons. Like a lot of people, I think whoever wins that game will end up in the Champions League places — but good luck trying to predict who that will be.

I don’t think it matters who has their noses ahead in the table going into the derby, either. Because of what is at stake, both teams will throw everything they have got at each other.

I played in this game for Spurs a few times and they don’t even need to have anything riding on them to be special occasions because of what you always get from both sets of fans.

This time, though, everything depends on it. It will feel like a cup final, because fourth place is like a trophy now for Arsenal and Tottenham, with what being back in the Champions League next season would mean for both clubs.

Whoever makes it will have had a successful campaign but it is what happens next that is really important. Quite simply, offering Champions League football makes the difference between being able to sign certain players, or not.

I wouldn’t say I’ve been convinced by either side this season, which is why they’re in the position they are in. Tottenham have been given their ‘‘Spursy’’ tag because of their inconsistency and how they have a habit of putting themselves in a strong position, but then letting things slide away. You could say the same about every team who has been chasing fourth place this season, though, including Arsenal.

And at least these two teams are still in the race. It feels like Manchester United turn in a ‘United’ performance most weeks now — and by that I mean a very disappointing one.

You look at where United finished last season, in second place, and who they signed last summer — Cristiano Ronaldo, Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho — but somehow they are much worse off.

Arsenal and Spurs both have their issues and have dropped some silly points in the last few weeks but things are not anywhere near as bad as they are at Old Trafford, and they both showed with their wins on Sunday that they are ready for what lies ahead.

Tottenham took a bit of time to find their rhythm against Leicester but, as soon as Harry Kane put them in front, they were on top.

Son Heung-min got his goals too and together he and Kane showed again what we already knew — those two players can always dig them out of trouble, no matter what. They have done it all season, and the last few years too.