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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Matt Verri

Tottenham to face Arsenal on May 12 in rescheduled north London derby that could decide Champions League spots

Tottenham will host Arsenal on Thursday May 12 in a rescheduled north London derby that could go a long way to deciding the top-four places.

The match had initially been due to take place on January 16, but was postponed following a request from the Gunners due to a shortage of first-team players.

It will now take place just ten days before the end of the season in what could turn out to be a Champions League play-off of sorts.

Tottenham went above Arsenal on goal difference with victory Newcastle, but the Gunners have two games in hand. They are in action on Monday night against Crystal Palace.

Speaking before the international break, Mikel Arteta revealed he was worried about when the match would be scheduled for.

“Yes, because I don’t know and we are not going to be deciding and it’s going to be very important,” Arteta said.

“That’s nothing to do with me. The club has to arrange those conversations.”

However, Antonio Conte hit back at those comments by referencing the circumstances in which the initial fixture was postponed.

“I only want Arteta to remember the game postponed – Tottenham-Arsenal – if we speak about unfair,” Conte said.

“In general, I think my answer is enough. If someone wants to think about fair or unfair. We postponed the game, Tottenham-Arsenal if you remember. I don’t forget this. And it’s not right to speak about fair or unfair.”

Arsenal’s match against Leeds will now take place on Sunday May 8, while the Gunners’s home match against Newcastle has been pushed back to a Monday night game, on May 16.

Ahead of the north London derby, Tottenham travel to Anfield to face Liverpool. That match will now be a 7:45pm kick-off on Saturday 7 May, which looks set to cause Spurs fans travelling by train problems. Tottenham face Burnley at noon on Sunday 15 May.

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