Mauricio Pochettino: 'Tottenham Hotspur schedule no excuse for Arsenal defeat'

Mauricio Pochettino has told Tottenham Hotspur that their hectic schedule would not excuse a North London derby defeat at Arsenal on Sunday.

The Lilywhites, who beat Aston Villa 3-1 on Monday, edged out Anderlecht 2-1 in Europa League action at White Hart Lane last night to leave them with two days of training before visiting their bitter rivals.

The Gunners returned from Germany on Wednesday following their 5-1 Champions League defeat by Bayern Munich, but Pochettino says that Spurs' two games in four days should not give Arsenal the advantage.

"I don't want to put any ideas out there that they have an advantage, but it is very difficult to play Thursday and Sunday," he is quoted as saying by Sky Sports News.

"Also when you play a very tough game against a motivated team like Aston Villa, it's one day less recovery. And it's the same with the Europa League with one less day recovery.

"We have a young squad that runs a lot. I'm not complaining. It is not an excuse. We will be ready to compete and try to win the game."

Arsenal sit level on points with Premier League leaders Manchester City, with the Lilywhites five points behind in fifth.