Charlie Nicholas on rivals Arsenal and Tottenham

Spurs head into the clash 14 points ahead of their neighbours after launching a title charge for the second successive season, while the Gunners are up against the odds to extend their 16-year stay in the Champions League.

Having failed to make it past the final-16 stage for a seventh successive campaign, Arsene Wenger's future has come under intense scrutiny with an extension to his expiring contract yet to be signed, while key players Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil are yet to commit to new deals.

In contrast, the widely praised Mauricio Pochettino has joined a raft of Spurs stars in penning new long-term deals ahead of their move to a new stadium, which will be 1,000 bigger than the Emirates.

However, after losing the FA Cup semi-final to Chelsea and not making it out of the Champions League group stages, failure to win the Premier League this season will represent a 10th successive trophyless campaign for Spurs. 

For all their issues, their neighbours will be looking to win the FA Cup for a third time in four years, but Gunners legend Nicholas admits that it should not mask the shift is standards.

He said: "The best team at the moment is undoubtedly Spurs, even I'm not blinkered enough to deny that. 

"If you're breaking it down to the best defensive and attacking set ups then it has to be Spurs on both fronts. Who would really get in Tottenham's team? Sanchez obviously and then maybe Ozil and Aaron Ramsey? Only when they're on top of their games.

"The pace, energy and power they have with their young players has them in the sort of position Arsenal were six or seven years ago.

"The one question that remains in whether they can handle the pressure and, even if they don't win the league, it is huge for them to finish second after they let it slip last season. 

"They need to forget about Arsenal though because you don't win anything for finishing above them. With the problems they have, it isn't an achievement to finish above them in the league.

"Right now, regardless of the Wembley camouflage, Spurs are the better team but if they don't take that on and win things then it doesn't mean anything."

Nicholas, however, does not believe Tottenham are more powerful as a club, with the difference in managerial performances key to shaping their current fortunes. 

He added: "Tottenham are not the bigger club because they've got a lot of years to catch up, even once they've got the new stadium.

"There's obviously question marks over Sanchez and Ozil's futures but I genuinely think Spurs will have issues with holding onto their best players this summer and it's not the biggest squad to cope with exits.

"Their budget isn't going to be as big, plus they've got a real problem if they play at Wembley throughout next season. Teams are going to look forward to coming to what is essentially a neutral venue. 

"I have to believe Arsenal will bounce back next season but even as a pundit and a fan I can't give a justification as to why they should.

"We're all waiting for a decision from Wenger so we bobble along with no leaders on the pitch, none in dressing room and none in the board room.

"In contrast, at Spurs you've got a really tight-knit squad with the Premier League's best manager in charge. Antonio Conte has obviously done great at Chelsea but Pochettino has got so much variety and options, which is remarkably given the budget he's worked with."