Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has now shared his prediction for the North London Derby on Sunday.
Tottenham Hotspur will see their local rivals Arsenal travel to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the weekend.
A lot is on the line for both sides on Sunday with Spurs battling for European qualification and the Gunners going for the title.
Ange Postecoglou could now be leading Tottenham straight back into Europe after last season’s disappointment under Antonio Conte.
But, as all fans will know, in a derby there is a lot more at stake than just three points with bragging rights a big part of the fixture.
Spurs will also be desperate to put a dent in Arsenal’s bid for the title and have already shown this season they are capable of holding their rivals to a point.
With the game now just days away, Neville has shared what he expects from the North London Derby.
And he has admitted what he’s been told by Tottenham fans in recent weeks leading up to the game in north London.
How Gary Neville thinks the North London Derby will play out
Spurs could well go into the game with a nine point deficit to Aston Villa in fourth spot as they play on Saturday.
The Lilywhites will have three games in hand on Villa by then, but it is a huge gap to make up considering how difficult Tottenham’s fixtures are.
Europa League football would mark solid improvement from Tottenham on last season and could offer them with a serious opportunity to win a major trophy.
But Sunday’s North London Derby could offer a real surprise for either side with Arsenal having broken their N17 drought last season.
The North London Derby is a fixture which always offers drama and Neville is expecting Sunday’s game to be no different.
Penalties and red cards are now just part and parcel of a game between these two sides and Neville has said on Sky Sports that it could lead to a real feisty opening 20 minutes with the Spurs fans hoping to see Arsenal’s title dream shattered.
“Arsenal cannot be shocked on Sunday. It’s going to be potentially almost like a bloodbath in the first 15/20 minutes,” he said.
“The Tottenham fans don’t want Arsenal to win the league. I’ve just been in London so much in the last few weeks. I go in the black cabs all the time and if you bump into a Tottenham fan they’ll say, ‘who do you think will win the league?’ And I’ll go, ‘sorry, I hope Arsenal probably win it because you know, City and Liverpool.’ And they’ll go, ‘I hope not!’ Like that type of feeling exists.”
Last six North London Derbies do not make for good viewing for Tottenham
Spurs have enjoyed playing at home in the North London Derby over the last decade, but last season did see Arsenal claim their first win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
And the last six results do not reflect too positively on Tottenham who are going into the game against the form book in this fixture.
Going into the game, Tottenham have been handed two injury boosts ahead of the clash having already sustained a real blow in losing Destiny Udogie.
A lot is in the line on Sunday and it seems Neville feels Spurs need to keep their heads in the first 20 minutes.