McMahon: Tottenham have the physical edge

We have an interesting north London derby coming up and the two sides are approaching it with opposing mentalities. 

Spurs are currently in the midst of an 11-game unbeaten run in the league, while Arsenal have struggled on both the domestic and continental fronts. I reckon Tottenham should win the game but I also expect it to be a hard-fought battle

Both sides won their last games with late goals but I'm not sure this one will be in the balance right up until the final whistle. 

Of course, everyone's talking about Gareth Bale because he's been terrific lately. But Tottenham have showed that they are more than just a one-man show and are strong in every department. 

Tottenham are deservedly in third place and if they secure qualification to the Champions League ahead of the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal, I think Bale should definitely be in with a shout for the Player of the Year award. 

Andre Villas-Boas also seems to have learnt his lesson from his time at Chelsea and isn't afraid to mix it up. Bale doesn't play in the same position every game and they're not afraid to make the rough challenges that are always going to upset opponents. 

It also seems to me that Tottenham have done a better job in figuring out how to integrate their new signings over the season and that’s also been a factor. 

Villas-Boas is thinking of second place and I like that he's being positive. 

But his side are only in third place because Chelsea slipped after suffering a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City last weekend. 

Watching that game, I felt that City were by far better team on the night. They were more organised and, yet again, the Chelsea players struggled to rise to the occasion in an important Premier League fixture, something that has been a regular problem for them in recent years. 

It has only helped to increase the pressure on interim manager Rafael Benitez, something which was pretty evident during the Spaniard’s outburst in the wake of his side’s FA Cup win at Middlesbrough.

The players have clearly been struggling to come to terms with his management skills and the supporters haven't given him their backing from day one. 

I really don't think Benitez has a leg to stand on and it goes to show that the club were right to appoint him on an interim basis – they just doesn’t have the confidence in his managerial abilities. 

Gary Cahill was the only player who attempted to justify the defeat to City by saying that the Blues were tired after their Europa League exertions earlier in the week. 

Well, you simply can't make excuses like that. They were just poor and that’s that.  

With Manchester United away in the FA Cup to come, and a place in the last-16 of the Europa League, they do have an opportunity to win some silverware by the end of the season. 

But at the rate they are going, I think they have a far greater chance of ending the season without a trophy. 

Steven McMahon's Premier League Predictions

Tottenham vs Arsenal

Tottenham are in excellent form and Arsenal will find it hard to focus on the match especially with the Champions League match against Bayern Munich looming.

Gareth Bale is undoubtedly the best player in the Premier League at the moment, and it will be a tall task for Arsenal to stop him.

Prediction: 2-1 (Half-time 1-0) 

Chelsea vs West Brom

Rafa Benitez’s rant has laid down the challenge to the players at the club now and they will come out on the pitch against West Brom with plenty to prove.

Prediction:  2-0 (Half-time 1-0)

Everton vs Reading

Prediction: 2-0 (Half-time 1-0)

Manchester United vs Norwich

Prediction: 3-0 (Half-time 1-0)

Southampton vs QPR

Prediction: 2-1 (Half-time: 1-0)

Stoke vs West Ham

Prediction: 2-1 (Half-time: 1-0)

Sunderland vs Fulham

Prediction: 2-1 (Half-time: 1-0)

Swansea vs Newcastle 

Prediction: 2-0 (Half-time: 1-0)

Wigan vs Liverpool

Prediction: 1-2 (Half-time: 0-1)

Aston Villa vs Man City

Prediction: 1-3 (Half-time: 1-3)

*Former Liverpool and England International Steve McMahon is a football expert with ESPN’s Monday Night Verdict at 8pm.