Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has said that his side must get off to a strong start in Sunday's North London derby.

Redknapp, whose side hold a ten-point lead over Arsenal in the league table ahead of their showdown this weekend, admits that Spurs cannot afford to overlook their rivals despite their recent run of defeats.

"Arsenal have had a bad week with the Milan game and then Sunderland," he said. "But we'll have to be at our best.

"It's important we start well. You go into a game like that and it's important to get off to a good start. Arsenal have not been in such good form.

"We want to make sure in that first 15, 20 minutes or so that we get hold of the ball if we can and look frustrate them."

Depending on outside results, Tottenham could move to within four points of first place with a win at the Emirates.