Spurs gear up for neighbourly gesture

After letting a two-goal lead slip at Bolton yesterday, Arsenal need their neighbours Tottenham Hotspur to do them a favour by stopping Manchester United opening a five-point lead in the Premiership when they meet at White Hart Lane today.

Spurs' recent performances suggest the chances are slim especially, as their manager Glenn Hoddle pointed out: "Manchester United have just beaten what, in my view, is the best team in the world." The midweek win on the night over Real Madrid could give United a double lift, even though they went out of the Champions' League on aggregate. Now they know they can beat the best and that they have only one target left for the season, the championship.

What Hoddle wants from his team is 100 per cent effort. "We have to have all 11 players right on song at their best to try and get the win," he said. Spurs had that for half a game in last season's fixture, opening a 3-0 lead only to lose 5-3. They will have to try to replicate that first half without Darren Anderton and they also have a doubt over the defender Dean Richards, who has been suffering back pain.

West Ham's struggle against relegation was made more difficult by Bolton's recovery to claim a point and they will have to hope that they react positively to Glenn Roeder's illness and Trevor Brooking's move from the board to replace him temporarily as manager. For today's match at Manchester City, Brooking looks like being without the midfielders Michael Carrick, who has stomach injury, and Lee Bowyer, who is still hampered by an ankle injury. At least he has Frédéric Kanouté back to lead the attack.

City's manager, Kevin Keegan, is likely to stick with the team who beat Sunderland 3-0 on Easter Monday, with Nicolas Anelka and Robbie Fowler maintaining the striking partnership which has forced Shaun Goater out of the club at the end of the season. City fans will be sad to see him go but Keegan thinks Anelka and Fowler are the future.