Pochettino and Britney Spears

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino wants his players to heed the words of Britney Spears and ignore Arsenal’s title challenge this season.

Spurs are on track to finish in the top four for the first time since 2012 but their thunder could be stolen if their bitter north London rivals win the league.

Pochettino, however, is not bothered if the Gunners are crowned champions and quoted Britney Spears’ single with Will.I.Am – ‘Scream and Shout’ – to demonstrate the point.

“I think it’s like what Britney Spears and Will.I.Am sing: ‘everybody in the club, all eyes on us, all eyes on us’,” Pochettino said.

“Because it’s not important what Arsenal do. For me it’s important to assess our season and how we can compare with us not how we compare with another team.

“If you finish in the top four it’s a success because it means we will have improved on last season.

“Expectation can develop depending on how the season goes. But I was confident and I still am confident with the squad that we have.”

Tottenham can climb to third on Saturday if they beat Norwich and Manchester City lose at home to Sunderland.

The Boxing Day match at White Hart Lane kicks off the busy Christmas period, which sees Spurs visit in-form Watford 48 hours later, but Pochettino suggested he will not rotate his key players.

“Today it is not a decision to rest them because they are fresh,” Pochettino said.

“Last season we played December 26, 28 and January 1 and we didn’t change too much.

“It’s all about how we assess players after games, if we detect players need to rest maybe we change.”

Danny Rose is available again after missing last weekend’s win over Southampton through illness while Ryan Mason has also recovered from an ankle injury.