The north London derby that could turn the tide

For years now, Tottenham Hotspur fans have been made to live in the shadow of Arsenal. While the Gunners may not have picked up a trophy in eight years, their continuous success on the pitch and regular Champions League participation has seen those at White Hart Lane glance envious eyes down Seven Sisters road at their north London counterparts.

However, heading into Sunday's north London derby, Spurs are currently lying in four points ahead of the Gunners in third place following the 3-2 win over West Ham United. Gareth Bale has been the lynchpin in their current run of form, which has seen them lose just once in the Premier League since the 5-2 humbling at the hands of Arsenal back in November.

Arsenal, in the same period, have succumbed to defeat three times, with many a fan sweating over the possibility of failure to land Champions League football once again. Yet, could a win for Spurs on Sunday see the pendulum finally swing in the favour of the white half of north London?

Ask any Spurs fan and they'll tell you the amount of false dawns they've had to overcome when talked up as the season being the one they finally leapfrog Arsenal in the league. The closest they came last year was finishing a solitary point behind the Gunners, despite having a 13 point cushion between themselves and Arsene Wenger's side.

Capitulation aside, a win for Spurs will see them move seven points clear of their heated rivals and with 10 games to go following the weekend fixture, it could finally be the year the Lilywhites overcome Arsenal for the first time in almost 20 years.  

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