Tottenham vs Arsenal: Mauricio Pochettino dismisses Gunners' experience in title run-ins ahead of derby clash

Mauricio Pochettino has questioned Arsenal's experience in title run-ins ahead of Tottenham Hotspur's clash against the Gunners at White Hart Lane on Saturday (5 March). In a thinly veiled attack, the Argentine manager pointed to their arch rivals' back-to-back losses to Manchester United and Swansea City in the Premier League, while suggesting that his team was prepared to withhold pressure to challenge for the title.

The two north London rivals are poised to clash in one of the most anticipated derby's in recent years as both the teams are in the race for the Premier League title and will for the first time contest a game that could be dubbed a title decider. Tottenham are currently in second place, three points ahead of Arsenal in third, and both the teams are coming into the game on the back of a loss.

Pochettino's team, however, are the form team, having won their previous six before falling to West Ham United on Wednesday (2 March) and the manager is confident that Arsenal's past experiences in title run-ins is not an advantage. The former Southampton manager also looked to dampen the pressure on his team by suggesting that the clash against their bitter rivals is not a decisive one in terms of the title race.

"If they have players that have the advantage [of experience] to win the title, what happened against Manchester United or Swansea last night? We are capable of beating Manchester City away," Pochettino said, as quoted by The Times.

"Football is simple, not too complicated. You have a lot of examples. Different clubs sometimes sign a player or a manager with a big background or big trophies behind them. Sometimes [they have] success and sometimes not. You never know. Football is not an ordinary business. Anything can happen."

"We know and they know it is a very exciting game and a very important game because it means more than three points. It's not a decisive game. It's important for us and for them. But we don't have only two games after to achieve something," the Argentine manager added.