Premier League: We have to put the rivalry aside, says Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta ahead of Spurs clash

The Premier League title race will have a decisive next couple of days as Arsenal play Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby on Sunday (April 28). With the Gunners sitting top of the Premier League and Spurs hunting for a place in the Champions League next season, the clash on Sunday will have too many things riding on it. However, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has insisted that they will have to keep their local rivalry aside and focus on the Premier League title race.

Arteta urges to keep rivalry aside

«I think it's an unbelievable atmosphere. We played there a few times already and it's a great place to play football. We have to put the rivalry aside and we have to live the game with passion and the intensity that it demands rather than anything special because the game has everything you need to enjoy it,” Arteta said in the pre-match press conference on Friday.

The clash will be the second meeting between the sides this season, with Spurs drawing 2-2 against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium back in September. Interestingly, it was the Spurs who were top of the league at that time. The fixture will be the first of the three for Spurs who face Chelsea and Liverpool in the consequent weeks.

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Race for the Premier League title

A win for Arsenal will see them remain top of the league at least until next week with Manchester City in action later that day against Nottingham Forest. Liverpool, also in the hunt for the Premier League will be in action Saturday.

As things stand, Arsenal with 77 points are top of the league while Man City are at 76 points with a game in hand. Liverpool are third with 74 points in 34 matches.

In the top four