Garth Crooks convinced Arsenal can beat Tottenham Hotspur because of Martin Odegaard

Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League table following a 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday and will temporarily go three points clear of Liverpool with a victory over Chelsea at Emirates Stadium tomorrow.

A win over the Blues will also see them establish a four-point lead over Manchester City although they would have played two more games, and the Gunners will be eyeing another victory when they visit Tottenham Hotspur next Sunday.

The North London derby will be a feisty affair as fifth-placed Spurs are also battling for a Champions League spot, but Garth Crooks is convinced Arsenal can beat Tottenham because of Martin Odegaard.

The Gunners skipper bagged his eighth league goal of 2023-24 to seal the win over Wolves, and he will be desperate to ensure Arsenal win all of their remaining five games.

Winning away against Tottenham will not come easy, but Crooks believes Mikel Arteta’s men have what it takes to get the job done, tipping the Norwegian midfielder to play a huge role in ensuring it.

“For Arsenal to bounce back from their defeat against Aston Villa in the title race, and Bayern Munich in the Champions League, to beat a very dangerous Wolves side was impressive,” the BBC pundit wrote in his Team of the Week column.

“No wonder Mikel Arteta couldn’t hide his smile, which in reality signified his enormous relief that his team had come through their most difficult period in the club’s season.

“Martin Odegaard scored a brilliant goal and once again provided a calm to a situation that a special player brings when faced with a crisis.

“This latest victory takes them back to the top of the Premier League, one point above Manchester City – who have a very tricky game in hand against Brighton on Thursday. Now the scene is set for the Gunners’ big showdown next Sunday against Spurs. The atmosphere will be febrile as usual but with Odegaard in the side, Arsenal may come out of this encounter with their title hopes still very much intact.”

Spurs have plenty to prove and they would have had a rest of 15 days by the time Arsenal come visiting.

Whether that will be a boost for them remains to be seen, but the Gunners will fancy their chances and will ensure they leave with all three points to keep their title chances alive.