Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur will be determined to dent Arsenal's hopes of winning the Premier League
Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have been given a huge boost to their chances of defeating Arsenal in the Premier League later this season. The Lilywhites will host the North London Derby at the end of February before the Blues lock horns with Mikel Arteta's side at the Emirates Stadium a week later.
Fortunately for Chelsea and Spurs, having each secured automatic qualification to the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League, they both will have at least a week of rest before taking on the Gunners. The Lilywhites are currently set to have 11 days to prepare for the North London Derby.
Tottenham will face Newcastle United in the English top-flight on Tuesday, February 10, before playing Arsenal on Sunday, February 22. Meanwhile, Chelsea are currently set to have seven days to prepare for their meeting with the Gunners.
The Club World Cup winners will welcome Burnley to Stamford Bridge on Saturday, February 21, before taking on the Premier League leaders at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, March 1.
Had Chelsea and Spurs failed to finish in the top eight of the 'league phase', and placed between ninth and 24th, they would have been enrolled into the knockout phase play-offs. This preliminary round gives teams another chance to qualify for the last 16.
The first and second legs of the tie would have been played on either February 17 or February 18, and on either February 24 or February 25, respectively. Once the eight winners are confirmed, the round of 16 draw will take place on Friday, February 27.
So, had Chelsea failed to secure automatic qualification to the last 16, they would have played the second leg of the knockout phase play-off just days before facing Arsenal. Meanwhile, Spurs would have likely had to play the first and second leg of the knockout phase play-off either side of the North London Derby.
When quizzed on the importance of avoiding the play-offs following Wednesday night's win over Napoli, Liam Rosenior said: "Yeah, firstly, I think to get through in this competition is the most important thing, so I'm delighted to do it.
"In this way, in terms of our season, in terms of my time on the pitch with the players, that's going to help us so much. I had no time. It's not an excuse, it's a fact.
"And I'm asking the players, and I'm so proud of them, even in the first half, I'm asking them to press in a completely different way that they've never done before and hardly had any practice at.
"So that time over the next few weeks will help us get better and improve, but we still need to win games in this moment."
Tottenham will also be looking to exact their revenge on Arsenal following their humiliating defeat in the North London Derby in November. Speaking to reporters in Germany following Spurs' win over Eintracht Frankfurt, Thomas Frank echoed Rosenior's thoughts.
"I think, of course, we need to look forward to the round of 16, which is hugely important that you are qualified for everything," said the Dane. "But [it] also gives us some time between games to train."