Arsenal spirits lifts Hector Bellerin as north London derby looms

Bellerin now wants to take Arsenal's new-found confidence into this weekend's clash with Spurs

Bellerin returned to the Arsenal starting XI after being benched for the last two games (Getty)

Hector Bellerin is hopeful Arsenal's recent resurgence has come at just the right time for them to derail Tottenham's title challenge this weekend.

The Gunners make the short trip to White Hart Lane for what could be the last time on Sunday having reached the FA Cup final following victory over Manchester City last weekend.

Arsene Wenger and his side have come under increased scrutiny in recent weeks following a string of bad results which saw them drop out of the Premier League title picture and crash out of the Champions League.

But the win over City, followed up by a hard-fought 1-0 success over current champions Leicester on Wednesday night, has restored them to winning ways before the north London derby.

Arsenal were pushed all the way by the Foxes before Robert Huth's late own-goal sealed the three points which keep alive their slim hopes of a top-four finish.

Bellerin returned to the side against Leicester and wants to take the new-found confidence into a game Spurs need to win to keep the pressure on leaders Chelsea.

"There was good energy and good spirit and we've just got to keep it going into the weekend now," he said.

Christian Fuchs puts in a challenge on Bellerin (Getty)

"It's really important to get to those games with a good spirit and good mood in the dressing room and after these two last results, the team is in a great one and we've just got to keep it going.

"It was really important for us to get the win. The spirits were really high after the weekend, so we knew that we had to keep it up.

"Leicester is always tough. They're a team that defend really well, so it's always very hard to crack them. We had to wait until the last 10 minutes to do it but I think the team deserved the win. We had the most of the game."

Defeat leaves Leicester six points clear of the relegation zone with five games remaining but, like Bellerin, England midfielder Danny Drinkwater is hoping the positives for Craig Shakespeare's side can be carried into the weekend trip to West Brom.

"It is frustrating," he told LCFC TV.

"I don't think we were at our best but I felt that we had done enough to deserve more than we got out of the game, especially the way we conceded the goal. It's unfortunate.

"I don't know what to say about the game to be honest. It's a tough one to take but we'll take any positives out of the game to West Brom.

"On another night, we would have created a bit more. There are positives we can take and I'm sure we'll turn it around come Saturday."

PA