Tottenham and Arsenal lock horns tonight in what is being correctly billed as the biggest north London derby for years.
The captivating battle for Champions League qualification between the two fierce rivals could be decided in a mammoth clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Arsenal head into the game sitting fourth after a resurgent run of four straight victories, with a four-point buffer to Spurs in fifth.
Mikel Arteta’s side will know that a famous win on enemy territory would rubber-stamp their return to Europe’s elite club competition for the first time since 2016-17, while victory for Antonio Conte’s Tottenham would blow the race wide open once more with only two matches left to play this season.
Here, Standard Sport’s chief football correspondent Dan Kilpatrick looks at three key battles that could decide tonight’s huge showdown...
Elneny vs Kane
Mohamed Elneny has emerged as an unlikely star of Arsenal's Champions League push, and he and Granit Xhaka will have the considerable challenge of trying to stop Harry Kane tonight. The England captain is the laundpad for Spurs' quick breaks, dropping into the No10 space and usually looking for Heung-min Son.
Liverpool midfielder Fabinho did a good job of smothering Kane at Anfield on Saturday but he still made Spurs' goal, demonstrating that he is hard to keep down indefinitely.
Saka vs Emerson
If Arteta matches Conte's 3-4-3 system, Arsenal talisman Bukayo Saka could line-up at left wing-back, where he would face off against Emerson Royal. The Brazilian was long perceived to be a weak link in Conte's side but he rose to the occasion against Liverpool on Saturday and was voted man of the match by Spurs fans. Saka's directness and creativity are among Arsenal's biggest strengths, so Emerson potentially faces another huge test tonight.
Nketiah vs Romero
Eddie Nketiah is likely to find Tottenham's back three less accommodating than Leeds’ defence at the weekend, and he will face a tough examination against Cristian Romero, who is sure to try and rough up the young forward. This is a night for cool heads, though, and Romero's natural aggression could prove both a strength and a weakness.
