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Saturdays north London derby is the biggest for 25 years, says Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson. Second-placed Tottenham Hotspur entertain third-in-the-table Arsenal at White Hart Lane with the two city rivals separated by just three points ahead of kick-off.However, for only the fifth time in Premier League history, it is Spurs who head into a derby played after January 1 in front of Arsenal in the standings. And with both sides still within striking distance of surprise leaders Leicester City as we approach the seasons finale, this game takes on even greater significance according to the former Arsenal forward.I think the FA Cup semi-finals in 1991 and 1993 would be bigger, Merson told this weeks The Fantasy Football podcast. They were massive games, although they are always big. Paul Merson and his Arsenal team-mates celebrate their victory over Tottenham in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley in 1993 When I used to be on holiday prior to the season, in pre-season before the fixtures came out in June, I would always ring my dad and say: When is the Tottenham game? Always, the rivalry is that big.But now, this is probably the biggest it has been for many a year because both teams could win the league. TFFC Podcast: March 3 Max & Merse predict the weekend Premier League games and there are One2Elevens by Monk and Redknapp You know, lets be honest, Tottenham have not been in the title race for a long time. And that is not being disrespectful, it is fact. Tottenham have not been top of the league this side of Christmas since 1985, so that tells you everything.When I was playing for Arsenal, you were there not to like Spurs. It was the big game and you always got that feeling when you drove into the ground and felt the atmosphere, for both teams home and away. This is probably the biggest derby for many a year because both teams could win the league. Paul Merson Looking ahead to this weekends showdown, Merson - who played for Arsenal between 1985 and 1997 - thinks that with so much riding on the result, it will be a cagey affair in the capital.I do think that both teams will be too scared to lose and it will be a big win if either side wins, he said. At the moment Arsenal are chasing two teams down and you want to be chasing one, you do not want to be chasing two.However, whatever the outcome, Merson believes that the rise of Mauricio Pochettinos team this season can only be good for the Gunners in the long run. The two city rivals played out a 1-1 draw when they met at the Emirates in November I think it is great watching the way Spurs play at the moment and I think it is great for Arsenal as well, as it puts a lot of pressure on them, the board and everyone else as Tottenham are up there, he said.If they were not up there, then it would be like it does not matter, it is Arsenal again, but this time the pressure is on and fair play to them.Do you agree with Merse? Is this the most important north London derby for a quarter of a century? Let us know in the comments box or Tweet @SkyFootball. Also See: Merson: Wengers job on the line Finishing costing Arsenal West Ham dent Spurs title bid The title race run-in . After Martin Skrtel put the Reds in front from close range at Stamford Bridge after only four minutes, Hazard hit back in the 17th with a superb strike. Etoo gave Jose Mourinhos team a decisive lead from Oscars back pass in the 34th. . Three came down to the fourth quarter while quarterbacks continued to shine in all four games; so important to the overall quality of the game. . The incident occurred at 19:56 of the second period of the Kings 4-2 road win over Edmonton on Sunday. Nolan punched Oilers forward Jesse Joensuu in the jaw in front of the Kings goal during a scrum. .Y. - Free agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, fresh off winning the World Series with Boston, reached agreement with the rival New York Yankees on a seven-year contract worth about $153 million, a person familiar with the negotiations said Tuesday night. . Parker had 26 points and eight assists and San Antonio beat Toronto 112-99 Monday night. "We won that game because of Tony Parkers aggressiveness," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "His juice; his aggression all night long. SAN FRANCISCO -- Jorge De La Rosas second straight loss hardly seemed to bother Rockies manager Walt Weiss.If anything, the Colorado skipper continues to be encouraged by what hes seen from the lefty since De La Rosa moved back into the starting rotation.De La Rosa allowed three runs over seven innings, but the Rockies managed just five hits off Johnny Cueto and lost 5-1 to the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday night.Hes done an outstanding job since coming back from the bullpen, Weiss said of the Rockies career leader in wins. He looks like the `De La of old and giving us a chance every time.De La Rosa (5-7) struck out five and walked one. He retired 13 of the final 16 batters he faced before leaving for a pinch hitter with Colorado trailing 3-1.My confidence never left me, De La Rosa said. I just tried to make better pitches. I started to mix my pitches better than in the beginning. If I get results, Ill keep doing the same.Cueto pitched a five-hitter to become the NLs first 13-game winner and move the Giants atop the major league standings.San Francisco (54-33) passed the Chicago Cubs (52-32), who lost to the Cincinnati Reds earlier in the day.Voted to the All-Star Game for the second time and a candidate to start in next weeks Midsummer Classic, Cueto (13-1) struck out eight and walked one while going the distance for the fourth time this season. The performance gave San Franciscos slumping bullpen a much-needed break.Cueto also became the first Giants pitcher since John Burkett in 1993 to win 13 games before the All-Star break.Hes an artist out there, San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. Hes just a special pitcher.The GGiants have won five of seven.dddddddddddd Buster Posey homered for the second time in three days, Brandon Belt doubled and tripled, and Brandon Crawford drove in two runs for San Francisco.Rookie sensation Trevor Story drove in Colorados lone run in the fourth on a fielders choice grounder with the bases loaded.Posey struck out looking with a runner on third in the first inning before hitting his 11th home run of the season off De La Rosa in the sixth.De La Rosa struck out five and walked one. The lefty has lost two straight since his four-game winning streak.Grant Green walked and scored on Belts RBI triple in the first. Belt scored on Crawfords two-out single.Green also scored on a wild pitch in the eighth and Crawford added a sacrifice fly to make it 5-1.HEADED HOMEThe Rockies welcomed the short flight to Denver after finishing 1-5 on their brief road trip. You are always going to go through ups and downs, but the good thing about this game, you always have another opportunity, Colorado All-Star outfielder Carlos Gonzalez said. We have to believe in ourselves. We have to play better at home because we played really bad on this road trip.CUETO AT THE PLATESan Franciscos starter wasnt as dominant at the plate as he was on the mound but still managed to end a 0-for-26 slump when he singled off De La Rosa in the second inning.UP NEXTRockies: Right-hander Chad Bettis (6-6) pitches Thursday in the opener of a four-game home series with Philadelphia. Bettis has a 6.58 ERA over his previous five starts. ' ' '
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