Tottenham and Arsenal will lock horns in the penultimate week of the season for a pivotal North London derby which could determine the race for Champions League qualification, according to reports.
The two local rivals had been due to meet on 16 January before the Premier League chose to postpone the fixture after the Gunners were struck by coronavirus and injuries. Top-flight chiefs are yet to confirm a new date for the derby, which is one of nine games still to be rescheduled.
However, they are understood to have earmarked the week commencing 9 May for Spurs to welcome the Gunners to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. This would leave just two rounds of fixtures to be played after the derby concludes, with Arsenal facing Newcastle and Everton while Tottenham take on Burnley and Norwich.
As reported by the Daily Mail, broadcasters hope the two North London clubs will still be battling it out for a top-four finish by the time early May rolls around. This would allow them to bill the derby as a potential Champions League decider, upping the stakes of an already emotionally-charged affair. Sky Sports had been due to show the fixture in mid-January and they are expected to retain the broadcasting rights.
There are no European fixtures scheduled for the second midweek of May, so the attention of viewers in England and further afield will be firmly fixed on the blockbuster clash. While many fans are concerned about the power broadcasters have to influence the schedule, the report adds that industry bosses believe they are taking a risk as the game may have little influence on the top-four race by the time it is played.
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However, a glance at the table strongly suggests the North London derby will have a say in the fierce contest to reach the Champions League. The Gunners have the edge with a three-point lead and a game in hand over Spurs ahead of what is shaping up to be a run-in for the ages. Neither Tottenham nor Arsenal remain in any cup competitions, so the top-four race - and therefore the derby - could define their seasons.
Adding to the drama ahead of the fixture, Spurs manager Antonio Conte was keen to remind opposite number Mikel Arteta of the controversial circumstances under which the original date was postponed. Rival clubs accused the Premier League of favouritism as the Gunners only had one coronavirus case at the time and Conte has warned his counterpart that he "doesn't forget".
