Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal will be 'fully ready' for Tottenham challenge despite playing FOUR times since Spurs' last fixture... as Gunners boss offers Jurrien Timber fitness update

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Mikel Arteta claimed he ‘loves’ that his Arsenal side have played four times in the last two weeks, while rivals Tottenham have been resting.

Ahead of Sunday’s crunch north London derby, the Gunners have lost two matches — against Bayern Munich and Aston Villa — and won two.

Yet, Spurs have not a had single match. Arteta is not fazed, though.

He said: ‘I love the fact we played four times, and we had some great experiences in a very demanding week.

‘We managed to have some really good results in the last two, and obviously that boosted the confidence and the belief of everybody. We are in a good place.

Mikel Arteta insisted that his side will be ready for the North London Derby despite their hectic April

The Gunners face Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham on Sunday knowing that anything less than three points could scupper their title charge

‘We’re going to be fully ready. We’ve had a bit of time as well to recover and prepare from the Chelsea game. I’m sure the team is going to be fully ready to go again on Sunday.’

Table-topplers Arsenal were predicted by a super-computer as having a 26.6 per cent chance of winning the title.

‘I don’t know what to say, hopefully we can trick that computer and make it a bit higher!’ he joked.

‘Maybe it needs to upload the software, we need to help it to upload the software, or give it more tools. Hopefully we can change that!’

He also confirmed that Jurrien Timber is ‘very close’ to returning to the first-team squad, though is unlikely to be in time for Sunday’s match.

'We’re going to have to make that decision tomorrow after a training session,' Arteta said when asked about the status of his versatile defender. 

'It’s very close, I don’t know if this is going to come to soon for him, but he’s very close.

The Gunners have had an up-and-down April but come into the tie on the back of a 5-0 win over Chelsea

Jurrien Timber is close to a return to the Arsenal side, in a huge boost to Arteta and Co at the end of the season

'Apart from Jurrien it’s going to be very close that we have everybody available. It elevates the training sessions and it’s going to be something very important. 

'It’s a good headache! You feel for the players because you see how much they want it. It’s always difficult but as well they’re fully ready to come on the pitch however we need them. There spirit is very good.'