A north London derby is fast approaching as Arsenal is set to face Tottenham in what will be a thrilling Premier League clash. The two are held up in the race for the Premier League position four spot and if Arsenal wins in the derby, then it will be a done deal as they will have secured the spot for the season officially. Therefore, Arsenal are one game away to be in next season's UEFA Champions League. This means that they will be back in the UCL for the first time since 2017. 

The Gunners had begun their season on a low suffering three successive defeats and even going for the first international break at the bottom of the EPL table but Mikel Arteta has worked his way up the table to save a season that seemed to be on the verge of collapse. Mikel Arteta’s side went into their game with Leeds on Sunday knowing victory would move them four points clear of Tottenham ahead of this week's crucial North London Derby. Eddie Nketiah's brace ensured they got that much-needed win. Arsenal must be proud of the position that they are now seating in as they were talks of a relegation battle at the beginning of the season. 

Simply put, Thursday's night derby against Tottenham will be the biggest game that Arsenal have played in the last five years and they will need to put in a lot of effort and intelligence if they are to outsmart Antonio Conte's side. No one will be more aware than Arteta of just what Champions League football will mean to Arsenal. As a player, he regularly competed in Europe’s elite club competition for the Gunners, but those days now feel like a distant memory in north London. The return to UCL will put Arsenal back to an advantageous position when if comes to fending for star players in an effort to build a much more elite European squad. With contracts of players such as Bukayo Saka set to expire, being in the UCL will have them signing extensions for the London club. There will also be a huge financial boost that will play a huge role in sourcing for quality players in the transfer market.