Ryan Giggs has admitted that he is favouring Tottenham over Arsenal ahead of their Premier League clash at the weekend.
Spurs travel to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday for a crucial league encounter as domestic football returns.
The North London derby is renowned for being a tasty affair and for the first time in 22 years last season Spurs finished ahead of their bitter rivals.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side are fast becoming the dominant force out of the two sides and look the more likely to challenge for the Premier League title this campaign.
Manchester United legend Giggs believes that Spurs do have the quality in their side to dominate the rivalry over the next few years.
Three of the last four meetings between the teams have been draws, but both are desperate for three points on Saturday.
“The north London derby always tends to be an entertaining affair, with a lot of goals and a lot of talented players, and I think it has been more interesting over recent years with the teams being evenly matched,” Giggs wrote in his column for Sky Sports.
“Form often goes out of the window with derbies but Arsenal have tended to dominate, so Tottenham are naturally relishing getting some revenge.
“Spurs are the better team right now but to really have the upper hand they have to do it consistently over the new few years, although with the talented young squad they have I don’t see why that won’t be the case.”
OPINION
Spurs have certainly looked the better of the two teams so far this campaign and their impressive performances against Real Madrid in the Champions League should give them encouragement against any opposition. However, Arsenal do have the home advantage and know that they could begin to get cut adrift of the top four if they lose. Arsene Wenger knows all about the intensity of a North London derby and does have the match winners in his team to come good on the day. Meanwhile, Spurs also have several key players in their XI and in-form striker Harry Kane will be desperate to get on the scoresheet.