Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal

Arsenal face a big test of their Premier League title credentials on Sunday when they make the short trip to arch-rivals Tottenham.

Mikel Arteta’s Gunners, seeking their first league title since 2004, start the weekend five points clear of second-placed Manchester City.

Fifth-played Spurs are vying to win four consecutive home league matches against Arsenal for the first time.

“I think the players are in a good emotional state,” said Arteta.

“They are excited, they are enjoying playing together and obviously we are in a good position. We have to now improve a lot of things and maintain a lot of the good things that have taken us this far.”

However, Arteta did admit they might have to change their “behaviour” after the club were charged with failing to control their players. That was for their angry reaction to not getting a penalty in Monday’s FA Cup win over Oxford United.

“I prefer not to comment on that [charge],” he said. “Anything we can do to improve we will always have a conversation with our players, the staff, as a club as well to see what we can do better, if we have to change any behaviour.”

Spurs boss Antonio Conte has called on both sets of players to respect referee Craig Pawson this weekend.

“You have to show respect in every situation and especially also with the referee because I know very well the difficulty to be a referee, to take decisions,” the Italian said.

“I think to intimidate or to create a bad atmosphere is not fair. I don’t like this. I hate the people that try to do it. Don’t forget that we are talking always about a game of football.”

Arsenal are on an 11-game unbeaten run in the Premier League, while Spurs have lost five of their last 11, including October’s 3-1 loss at Emirates Stadium.

‘Arsenal have to show they can face favourites tag’

Arsenal went into the weekend with a five-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.

Pep Guardiola’s side lost 2-1 at Manchester United on Saturday, meaning Arteta’s side could finish the weekend eight points clear.

Speaking on Friday, Conte said: “When you are at the top of the league the perception of your opponents change totally.

“You are in that moment the best team in the league. For this reason, everybody wants to try to beat you.

“For sure, Arsenal has to face this situation of being favourites to win the league at this moment because they are top of the table. They have to show they are good to face this type of situation.

“In the last 10 years it was always the same, between [Manchester] City, Chelsea and Liverpool. Maybe Leicester.

“Now Arsenal have a great opportunity. They are working for many years in a project. They are doing very well. They sent away a lot of players, and bring in many players and they spend money to do it.

“Now they have to show they can stay there until the end of the season because I’m sure Manchester City doesn’t agree and will feel the real possibility to win [the title] again.”

“I think it is a battle between Arsenal and Manchester City.”

TEAM NEWS

Tottenham winger Dejan Kulusevski is expected to be fit after missing the past three matches with a muscle issue.

Forward Richarlison and midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur face fitness tests, while Lucas Moura remains out with a tendon injury.

Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka was forced off at Oxford in the FA Cup on Monday, but he is likely to be available.

Forwards Gabriel Jesus and Reiss Nelson are still sidelined with respective knee and thigh problems.