Arsenal icon Paul Merson gives four reasons Tottenham will lose north London derby

Arsenal legend Paul Merson has given his verdict on the North London Derby. It is a vital match for both sides as the Gunners chase the Premier League title and Tottenham Hotspur remain in the hunt for the top four.

The game comes at an intriguing time for both sides. Arsenal will be full of confidence from their 5-0 demolition of Chelsea in midweek, while Spurs have had a fortnight to stew on their humbling defeat to Newcastle United. The Gunners cannot afford many mistakes in the final weeks of the title race amid pressure from Manchester City and Liverpool.

Still, Tottenham will be eager to get back to winning ways as Ange Postecoglou’s side aim to narrow the gap to Aston Villa in the battle for Champions League football. There will be more than bragging rights at stake this weekend, but Paul Merson believes that Spurs’ tactics will play into Arsenal’s hands, while also insisting the Gunners have better players, a more cohesive team, and will not slip up in the title race.

"This has to be one of the biggest north London derbies for 20 years. This is a huge football match,” Merson told Sky Sports. "I expect Arsenal to win this game because Tottenham will play gung-ho football, almost saying you have a shot and then we have a shot.

That won't work against Arsenal - they've got better players than Tottenham. They're a better team, more of a unit and they'll win the football match,” he explained.

"Manchester City will have to stay perfect in their remaining games to win the Premier League title. When you look at the three remaining games, Arsenal would be devastated after responding the way they have to the Bayern Munich defeat if they couldn't get it over the line against Bournemouth, Manchester United and Everton.

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"I can't see anything but an Arsenal win knowing how Tottenham like to play. They just open the game up and say, 'We'll see who can score more goals'. That will be so hard to do against Arsenal, who are a far superior football team."