If tomorrow’s clash does indeed turn out to be the last north London derby at Tottenham Hotspur’s historic White Hart Lane stadium, the stakes could hardly be higher for the protagonists.

Tottenham, who are expected to announce this week that they will definitely move to Wembley next season while their new stadium is completed, will finish above Arsenal for the first time in 22 years with victory over Arsene Wenger’s Gunners.

Mauricio Pochettino’s vibrant young side have grander ambitions though, and first and foremost in their minds will be keeping alive their hopes of a first English league title since the club’s glory days in 1961.

Should Chelsea fail to win at Everton in tomorrow’s earlier match, Tottenham could conceivably be top of the table before Chelsea play again if they beat Arsenal and follow that with victory at West Ham United next Friday.

“The possibility of finishing above Arsenal is not a motivation or a distraction,” Pochettino said.

“We are just focusing on trying to beat Arsenal. What happens at the end of the season. We have five games ahead, a very exciting period, and an exciting weekend ahead.”

While Arsenal would dearly love to scupper Tottenham’s title bid, they too have more pressing concerns, namely trying to qualify for a 20th consecutive Champions League campaign.

Wenger’s sixth-placed side secured a late 1-0 win over Leicester City on Wednesday to move five points behind fourth-placed Manchester City and four behind Manchester United.

Like Pochettino, Wenger said bragging rights were secondary.

“We play for us. In life you work for your own achievements, not for others,” Wenger said. “What is most important is that we go there, try to win the game and focus on our performance.”

Recent history suggests both sides might fall short of their ambitions tomorrow.

The last three north London derbies have ended in draws, including last season’s clash at the Lane in March, when a late Alexis Sanchez equaliser earned 10-man Arsenal a 2-2 draw which prevented Tottenham going top of the table.

Tottenham have won their last eight league matches though – a club record in the Premier League and their best sequence since 1960 – and have been unstoppable at the ground that will soon be bulldozed to make way for the 61,000-seater arena sprouting up around it.

They have also scored in their last 17 home league matches so Arsenal’s task is a formidable one, especially with central defender Laurent Koscielny doubtful after suffering a knee injury late on against Leicester.

Tottenham will also monitor the fitness of Mousa Dembele, who was substituted at half-time at Palace with a sprained ankle.

Before Tottenham and Arsenal kick off, Chelsea face the toughest of their final five fixtures against an Everton side who have won their last eight home matches.

Everton beat Chelsea twice at Goodison last season in the Premier League and FA Cup quarter-final, but were thumped 5-0 at Stamford Bridge when the teams met in November.

“Chelsea are a difficult team to beat but we are a match to anyone at home,” Everton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, who played under Pochettino at Southampton, said.

“It will be hard for them on Sunday and we won’t let them breathe, or have any space on the pitch.”

At the bottom of the table, Sunderland will go down if they lose to Bournemouth and Hull avoid defeat at Southampton.

UK football fixtures

Premier League

Playing today
Southampton vs Hull City    
Stoke vs West Ham    
Sunderland vs Bournemouth    
West Brom vs Leicester    
C. Palace vs Burnley - 18.30

Tomorrow
Man. United vs Swansea - 13.00
Everton vs Chelsea - 15.05
M’Boro vs Man. City - 15.05
Tottenham vs Arsenal - 17.30

Monday
Watford vs Liverpool - 21.00

Standings: Chelsea 78; Tottenham 74; Liverpool 66; Man. City 65; Man. United 64; Arsenal 60; Everton 58; WBA 44; Southampton, Watford 40; Stoke 39; C. Palace, B’mouth, West Ham 38; Leicester 37; Burnley 36; Hull 33; Swansea 31; M’Boro 27; Sunderland 21.

Championship

Today
Barnsley vs Burton Albion    
Birmingham vs Huddersfield    
Blackburn vs Aston Villa    
Brighton vs Bristol C. - 18.30
Derby vs Wolves    
Fulham vs Brentford    
Ipswich vs Sheff. Wed.    
Leeds vs Norwich    
Preston vs Rotherham    
QPR vs Nottm Forest    
Reading vs Wigan

Leading standings: Brighton 92; Newcastle 88; Huddersfield 81; Reading 79; Sheffield Wed. 78; Fulham 76; Leeds 73.

Scottish Premier

Today
Rangers vs Celtic - 13.00
Aberdeen vs St Johnstone    
Hamilton vs Kilmarnock    
Hearts vs Partick    
Motherwell vs Dundee

Leading standings: Celtic 91; Aberdeen 67; Rangers 58; St Johnstone 49; Hearts 45; Partick 41.

Championship

Today
Ayr United vs Hibernian    
Dunfermline vs G. Morton    
Falkirk vs Queen of South    
St Mirren vs Raith Rovers    
Dundee Utd vs Dumbarton - 18.15

Note: Kick-offs at 16.00 unless stated

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