Arsenal meet Spurs in Champions League showdown

By Clare Lovell

LONDON (Reuters) - North London's needle derby between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur takes on added significance this weekend with a Champions League place at stake.

Spurs are in the coveted fourth spot in the Premier League which offers a passport into the qualifying stages of Europe's elite club competition. They are four points clear of Arsenal but have played one game more.

With three matches remaining and no chance of catching third-placed Liverpool, Martin Jol's side have to keep the Gunners at bay and try to forget they might still lose the Champions League place if their rivals win the competition.

If Arsenal, who take a 1-0 lead into their semi-final, second leg at Villarreal next Tuesday, win the Champions League they will earn a place in next season's competition instead of the team in fourth, a position Spurs have occupied since December.

It would be a bitter blow for Tottenham, who last played in Europe's premier tournament, then the European Cup, 44 years ago when they reached the semi-final and lost to Benfica.

Their consolation would be a place in the UEFA Cup for the first time in six years.

FINAL VISIT

Spurs go to Highbury for the final time before Arsenal move out, having last won there in 1993, and will be trying to avoid defeat without captain Ledley King who has a broken foot.

Tottenham dropped points in a 2-1 home defeat to second-placed Manchester United on Monday despite a spirited performance and Ireland striker Robbie Keane says they should meet Arsenal with confidence.

"It certainly was a strong performance and we have to take a little bit of heart from it to take into Saturday's game," Keane told the club's Web site. "Sometimes you need a bit of luck."

Arsenal may have England defender Sol Campbell, the former Spurs captain, back to face his old team after an operation to fix a broken nose.

With leaders Chelsea playing third-placed Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-final and Manchester United not playing, the north London derby and the relegation battle take centre stage.

Sunderland are already down but Portsmouth, who host the north-east side on Sunday, Birmingham City, who are at Everton, and West Bromwich Albion, who travel to Newcastle United, all need points to avoid the dreaded drop.

Birmingham, who climbed out of the relegation zone on goal difference thanks to Wednesday's 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers, and Portsmouth have 32 points while West Brom are on 29.