Arsenal could pip Spurs to top four finish claims former player

Tottenham have finished in the top three Premier League places for three years running, finishing above their North London rivals Arsenal on two of these occasions.

Spurs have now established themselves as a Champions League regular, and have even made waves in the competition itself, topping the group of death last season, including a 3-1 win at home to Real Madrid.

However, Spurs have spluttered their way through the current campaign, succumbing to three successive losses before their eventual 2-1 win against Brighton last weekend.

Meanwhile, after a troubled start, Arsenal have strung together four wins on the bounce, with their partnership between Aubameyang and Lacazette finally seeming to flourish under new boss Emery.

The Gunners have seen back to back wins against West Ham, Cardiff, Newcastle and Everton, but lost their first two crunch games this season against Man City and Chelsea.

So if only one team can get that fourth spot out of Spurs and Arsenal, who would it be?

SkySports pundit Charlie Nicholas thinks he has the answer, as he told Sky: “At the moment I am pleased with the response from the first two defeats, everybody can see we have a real problem trying to adjust to the new manager’s policy defensively.

“There is still that confusion between defence and attack that takes too long to get going. Saying that, Sunday’s win over Everton was a first clean sheet, a confidence builder.

“My prediction at the start of the season was that Arsenal and Chelsea were going to be the two to miss out because there was too much toing and froing. I think that gap has closed for them because Man United are average and Spurs are struggling a little bit.

“I don’t think they are good enough because defensively it is telling me the honest answer is no [they are not], but they are improving and the good news for me is – what I have said from day one – that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette can play in the same team because Aubameyang is not a natural number nine.

“That is why it works better and they are starting to score a few goals and I am grateful for that. Until Arsenal adjust to this defensive set up – and let’s be honest at the weekend Petr Cech was man of the match, which tells you all you need to know – as it stands I am not expecting them to make the top four.

“If the improvement gradually carries on, I don’t see Chelsea or Man United being so much better, and I am a little bit more hopeful than I was at the start of the season.”

Nicholas was asked about the new Arsenal strike partnership, to which he responded: “Massive, they are vital. When strikers score goals confidence is high, people trust them and you can feel it in the stadium now.

“Aubameyang is better than Lacazette, but Lacazette is really good because he likes to get on the shoulder of people. If anybody notices with Arsenal, Lacazette’s touch and spin and link-up with Aubameyang – I think Cardiff is where they showed it best – they have that, this partnership and togetherness, and the feeling between the two of them.

“Aubameyang feels a bit more comfortable with Lacazette in the team and playing slightly wider. I think it suits him better, he looks to be enjoying it more rather than waiting 15 minutes for a touch at number nine.

“They have got a bit of a partnership here, it’s not Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke but it’s heading in the right direction and that is the most positive thing for the Gunners.”

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