But before the game with the “Gunners”, “Tottenham” to be no less hard encounter with the other London team – “West Ham”.
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The Southampton legend said: “The pressure is starting to crank up a little bit now and with 11 games to go you do start seeing your objectives a bit clearer”.
Alli was hurt when he kicked the ground in the warm-up before Sunday’s 2-1 win over Swansea City at White Hart Lane, although he did get through the 90 minutes. I think we have ahead a lot of important games and weeks, but it means a lot to take three points at Upton Park and then to play against Arsenal at home and try to win the three points there too.
“Not all the Spurs squad would have played in this fixture before, but there are enough homegrown players to let them know what to expect”.
Tottenham have earned an unrivalled 17 points from losing positions this season, winning five of the 10 games in which they have trailed.
“First of all it’s a very important game [tomorrow] because it’s a derby and you can not split the emotion with the game”, he said.
Arsenal could not take advantage of an injury-ravaged United team at Old Trafford, where 18-year-old striker Marcus Rashford scored twice for the host and set up Ander Herrera for what proved to be the decisive goal, and manager Arsene Wenger conceded it had been a weighty blow.
“We are playing pretty well, of course we can improve and that’s what we are trying to do”, he insisted.
Few expected Tottenham to challenge so strongly for the title this term, but Leicester City’s bid has been even more remarkable, given they were bottom of the division at this stage last season – seven points adrift of safety.
“It’s a big match for both clubs, ” he said. They believe in the project and they believe their team-mates are playing well.
Champion Chelsea, meanwhile, will look to continue its recent upsurge in form when it visits relegation-threatened Norwich.
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“Conditions will be hard because the pitch is not so good and that can affect us more than them”.
