TOTTENHAM are going to pip rivals Arsenal to a place in the top four, according to Manchester United legend Gary Neville.
Spurs defeated the Gunners 3-0 on Thursday’s North London derby and are now fifth with just one point separating them from their local foes.
Tottenham defeated Arsenal decisively in the North London derbyCredit: ReutersGary Neville likes Tottenham’s top-four chances more than Arsenal’sCredit: Getty
Antonio Conte’s men are now set to face Burnley and Norwich in their last two Premier League games of the season, while Mikel Arteta’s side play against Newcastle and Everton.
Neville backs Tottenham to seal the last Champions League place after watching the way Arsenal “capitulated” last night.
The footballer-turned-pundit insist the difference in class was so obvious it was like “lightweight against the middleweight”.
Neville told the Gary Neville podcast: “Conte is the type of manager that he would have looked at Arteta tonight, and I think Arteta was right in that you don’t drop your principles.
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“He’s come out of the Pep Guardiola school of ‘we play our way’ and he’s not going to go back to own his box and defend with 10 outfield players behind the ball and say, ‘We’re just going to counter-attack’. They try and push up the pitch and at least keep the mid-line.
“Conte will ruthlessly go back to the edge of his own box. At the start of the game, and I think it was a tactic, to pass slowly along the back, almost trying to draw Arsenal out, knowing that would lead the space.
“It was a clever play by Conte, he’s a clever manager who knows the game inside-out. He’s methodical in his thinking and the patterns of play are there.
“Arsenal came out in that first five minutes almost like the lightweight against the middleweight whereby they were quicker and sharper, but then the powerhouse of Tottenham gradually started to come.
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“After 1-0, this crowd were all over the place – it was mayhem after the first goal. At that point, Arsenal did wilt. They capitulated in that part of the game.
“Once you create that carnival atmosphere in a ground like this, and I think calling it a hostile and fierce atmosphere is fair, it was testing tonight. I always felt like this would be a special game because of what’s on it, why it was cancelled earlier in the season and then what’s at stake.
“You’d want Tottenham’s games – Burnley at home and Norwich away. Newcastle away [for Arsenal] on Monday Night Football, that’s going to be really tough, especially if Spurs have won on the Sunday… Everton at home on the last day, if Everton need points, then they’ve got two really tough games.
“I think Tottenham will beat Burnley and Arsenal will have to win their last two matches – but I’m not sure they will. Tonight was a really big blow – I might be wrong and I’m neutral between these two clubs – but I do feel now if I had to put money on it, it would be on Tottenham.”
