Gareth Bale insists Arsenal can no longer claim to be north London's number top club and is adamant that Tottenham should be regarded as favourites for Sunday's hotly-anticipated derby at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal have enjoyed supremacy over Tottenham for the best part of the last two decades but Spurs are currently enjoying arguably their best season for over half a century and seem certain to finish above their bitter rivals come the end of the current campaign.
Harry Redknapp's men have lost just four league matches all season to move within seven points of the top of the table and are playing some of the best football in the country at the moment, thanks in no small part to the performances of Bale.
Arsenal, on the other hand, are struggling to fight for a position in the top four and stand on the brink of elimination from the Champions League after a 4-0 hammering at AC Milan, where Tottenham won 1-0 last season at the same stage of the competition.
Tottenham have not completed a derby double over Arsenal in the league for 19 years but Bale insists they should be regarded as favourites for the game due to the recent power shift he claims has occurred in the capital.
"Over the years Arsenal have been the favourites and they've been above us in the league but now the tide has turned in our favour," Bale told Spurs TV Online.
"We are playing some great stuff and I think we deserve to be where we are in the league and we deserve the favourites' tag."
Bale thinks last season's 3-2 win at the Emirates Stadium - Tottenham's first away at their rivals in 17 years - is evidence of how the tide has turned in Spurs' favour.
Redknapp's team went in 2-0 down at half-time but the Spurs boss masterminded a remarkable comeback to end Arsenal's title hopes with a 3-2 win.
"Other teams before us, if they had gone 2-0 down they would have crumbled but the boys showed that they have character and spirit that day," Bale added.
"That showed what we can do as a team. Even if we are 2-0 down we know we can come back and win, even in the biggest games.
"We threw everything at them and they couldn't handle it.
"We have to do the same again on Sunday. We have to put all our attackers in the game and concentrate on their weaknesses."
Forwards Emmanuel Adebayor and Rafael van der Vaart have trained this week and are expected to be fit for Tottenham.
Full-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto and midfielder Luka Modric missed last week's FA Cup game because of illness but should also be available to play at the Emirates.
Centre-half Ledley King (knee) faces a late fitness test and midfielder Sandro is a major doubt due to a calf injury.
Meanwhile, Arsenal captain Robin van Persie has challenged his team-mates to "put the record straight" by beating Tottenham.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger maintains the squad must not feel sorry for themselves despite a battering in the last 10 days, slumping to a 4-0 defeat in Milan which all but ended their Champions League hopes before then crashing out of the FA Cup at Sunderland.
By contrast, Spurs are flying high under Harry Redknapp, and the importance of producing a performance against their arch-rivals on Sunday is not lost on Van Persie.
"What better way to set things straight again than to beat Spurs?" the Dutchman said. "I would rather be playing them now than on any other day, and we know that a win is absolutely vital.
"I don't think anybody would deny that Spurs have a really good side - and they've added consistency this season. They are winning the tougher games and, as a result, have made that next step towards the top teams.
"Spurs have invested a lot of money over the past few years, and when you look at the figures it's reflected in their league position."
Van Persie added in the Arsenal's Official Matchday Programme: "They are above us for the first time in many years, but it is in our hands to change the way things are going, win the game and start moving closer to them.
"A draw will not be a good result for us [on Sunday], either in our bid to catch up with Spurs or in our efforts to fight off our other challengers for a Champions League place."
Arsenal defenders Laurent Koscielny (knee) and Kieran Gibbs (groin) face fitness tests.
Arsenal V Tottenham - view commentary, squad, and statictics of the game live.
Arsenal V Tottenham - view commentary, squad, and statictics of the game live.
Source: PA
