Arteta: Tottenham vs Arsenal is a special game

ARSENAL manager Mikel Arteta is eagerly looking forward to the north London derby billed for Sunday evening at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Although Arsenal are in dire form in the Premier League and their opponents Tottenham Hotspur are flying, Arteta says he relishes the experience of facing Jose Mourinho’s team.

“This is why we are here, to play these types of games,” Arteta told Arsenal’s official website on Sunday morning.

“If you ask me my favourite types of games when I was a player here, for sure I’ll tell you it’s the north London derby.”

The Gunners have won only one of their last five Premier League fixtures and Arteta believes victory at Tottenham Hotspur would go a long way in lifting the gloom at Arsenal.

He added: “It’s a unique atmosphere, it’s a lot of passion and feelings involved. Emotionally, it’s a special game and you live it. When you win it, you know the satisfaction that you bring to people, which is very necessary in these moments when people are suffering and having difficult times.”

Although Arsenal are 14th in the league table with 13 points, eight fewer than second-placed Tottenham, Arteta is confident his side can get a result.

“We have that ability to make people happy, so let’s give everything to try to bring that to them,” he said with some optimism.

In contrast to Arsenal’s poor form, Tottenham Hotspur are in excellent form, winning four of their last five league games and staying unbeaten since the opening day defeat to Everton.