Arsenal turn attention to ‘defining’ Tottenham game after seeing off Leeds

Mikel Arteta is ready to lead Arsenal into what could be the “defining moment” of their season when they travel to Tottenham on Thursday knowing victory will seal a return to the Champions League.

A brace from Eddie Nketiah was just about enough to secure a 2-1 victory over 10-man Leeds on Sunday to leave the Gunners on the cusp of ending a five-year wait for top-tier European football.

Leeds rallied despite having Luke Ayling sent off before the half-hour and pulled one back through Diego Llorente but have slipped into the Premier League bottom three.

Arsenal now sit four points clear of their neighbours in fourth place and move to within just a single point of Chelsea ahead of them.

Victory in Thursday’s rearranged north London derby would be enough to seal a Champions League berth for the first time since 2017 and Arteta is excited by the prospect.

“We are going to go for that match with the same enthusiasm that we always do but knowing that this can be a defining moment,” he said.

“It can be another layer of motivation for us to really go for it. I can’t wait for the game.

That full-time feeling