Arsenal's Mesut Ozil runs with the ball during the Champions League Group F soccer match between Bayern Munich and Arsenal FC in Munich, southern Germany, on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2015. Arsenal will host Tottenham on Sunday looking to restore some pride following a demoralizing 5-1 defeat by Bayern in the Champions League.Kerstin Joensson/The Associated Press
Arsenal plays host to its north London rival Tottenham on Sunday looking to restore some pride following a demoralizing 5-1 defeat by Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
That loss has left the Gunners on the verge of exiting the competition at the group stage for the first time since the 1999-2000 season. Arsène Wenger's side is now six points adrift of Group F leader Bayern and second-place Olympiakos with two games remaining.
"There is still a chance to qualify," Wenger said. "We have to realize that our chance is at a minimum.
"It will be very tight, but we have to fight until the end. Let's hope Bayern beat Olympiakos and we win at home against Zagreb. That leaves us with a chance to qualify from the last game. It's a small chance but there is still a real one."
While it struggles in Europe, five consecutive wins in the Premier League has lifted the Gunners to second in the league, level on points with leaders Manchester City.
Wenger's side responded to a 2-0 loss away to Chelsea in September by putting together its best run of form since the start of the new campaign.
By contrast, Jose Mourinho has since overseen a serious slump at Chelsea, losing three of the last five matches – a run that has raised question marks over his second spell in charge.
Up next is a trip to Stoke, which knocked Chelsea out of the League Cup less than two weeks ago.
Elsewhere, it's top versus bottom when Manchester City travels to Aston Villa.
Here are some things to know about this weekend's English league matches:
Defensive frailties
Arsenal's defeat in Munich highlighted the importance of defender Laurent Koscielny, who played in the 2-0 win over the Bundesliga club in October. After being ruled out of the reverse fixture, replacement Gabriel Paulista struggled alongside Per Mertesacker as Bayern cruised to victory.
Koscielny remains a doubt for Sunday's game, together with fullback Hector Bellerin. A depleted backline could force Wenger to continue with the back four that started in Munich against resurgent Tottenham striker Harry Kane.
After a stuttering start to the season that saw him net once in 13 appearances, Kane returned to form with a hat trick against Bournemouth in a 5-1 win before netting the third in a 3-1 victory over Aston Villa.
If Arsenal affords Kane the freedom that Robert Lewandowski and Tomas Mueller enjoyed it could lead to a first away victory in the north London derby for Tottenham since November 2010.
Third time lucky?
Jose Mourinho will be hoping his side can end its miserable run in the league after back-to-back defeats to West Ham and Liverpool.
A narrow 2-1 win over Dynamo Kyiv in the Champions League will have provided some much-needed relief in a game that will best be remembered for the staunch support of the Stamford Bridge crowd toward Mourinho. The home fans sang his name throughout the match, despite the Blues having lost six of its opening 11 matches in the league.
Chelsea has struggled since winning the title at a canter last season, with key players such as Eden Hazard, Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas looking shadows of their former selves.
Hazard's alarming drop in form is a major concern for Mourinho. Last season's Player of the Year missed the all-important fifth penalty during a shootout loss to Stoke and has yet to score for the club this season.
Another defeat could spell the end for the Portuguese boss who will miss Saturday's game due to a one-match stadium ban.
Baptism of fire
Remi Garde's first game in charge of Aston Villa will be at home to leader Manchester City.
Garde replaced Tim Sherwood on Tuesday and inherits a side that has won just once this season – on the opening day. Bottom-place Villa has lost its last seven in the league and is four points adrift of safety going into Sunday's fixture.
Garde, who previously managed at Lyon, will need to get Villa back among the goals with only Stoke's goals-to-games ratio lower than the Midlands club.
The summer sale of striker Christian Benteke saw the departure of Villa's main goal threat. His replacement Rudi Gestede has scored three league goals in a struggling side with Scott Sinclair second best with two. Garde will need the pair together with Gabriel Agbonlahor and midfielder Jack Grealish to offer a better return if they are to avoid the drop.