Another trip to the national stadium looms in the FA Cup. Spurs will play Millwall at White Hart Lane next month, with the winners going on to a semifinal at Wembley. The League One club have beaten Bournemouth, Watford and Leicester City on their cup run, but Tottenham should be too strong for the South London side.

It is the Premier League where the greatest and most important opportunity lies, however. The next month gives them the chance to consolidate their place in the top four and damage Arsenal's hopes of getting into next year's Champions League.

By a quirk of the fixture list -- Arsenal were next due to play Southampton, who are in the EFL Cup final against Manchester United -- the Gunners' next match is not until March 4. Spurs are currently in third place, ahead of their neighbours on goal difference, but can extend that lead by three points if they beat Stoke City at home on Sunday. Tottenham's next three league matches are at White Hart Lane and all are very winnable -- Everton and Southampton being the other opponents. This is Tottenham's moment to turn up the pressure on Arsenal.

Why do Spurs' North London neighbours matter so much? It is 22 years since Tottenham finished the campaign above Arsenal in the league. Last season, Pochettino's side had the chance to end the streak but self-destructed in the final month, drawing two and losing two over their last four games. It was the mental collapse of a young team that lacked leadership. They are a year older now and need to prove their mettle under pressure.

Harry Kane was on target when the two teams drew 1-1 at the Emirates in November.'

Arsenal, with their 18-year unbroken run of Champions League qualification, have lorded over their arch rivals for the whole of Arsene Wenger's tenure. The Gunners expect Spurs to fall apart. It's just what happens. At the Emirates, they believe North London's natural order is for Tottenham to be second-class citizens. At times, it has looked like they bought into the idea at White Hart Lane. Even last season. The biggest threat to Pochettino's men is psychological.

Spurs are still a work in progress. They rely too much on Harry Kane's goals, and the thinness of the squad was shown during Jan Vertonghen's spell on the sidelines. The Belgian's absence led to Pochettino using Eric Dier at centre-back, which had a knock-on effect in midfield. When playing in a more advanced position, Dier shields his defence. When the 23-year-old is forced into the back four, there is little protection from the Spurs midfield. The defensive problems have been exacerbated by Danny Rose's continued absence at full-back -- he won't be back from injury for a few weeks yet. 

When doubt creeps in, Tottenham can freeze. At Anfield in their most recent Premier League game, Pochettino got his tactics wrong, played into Jurgen Klopp's hands, and Liverpool blew their opponents away in a whirlwind first half on their way to a 2-0 victory. The Tottenham manager was too slow in changing the team's shape, and his players appeared shell-shocked. In the dugout and on the pitch Spurs were unable to react. There were echoes of last season's implosion as their discipline frayed, and they left Anfield with five yellow cards.

As much as Tottenham are vulnerable to injury, the biggest test in the coming weeks will be whether they can hold their nerve. Putting some distance between themselves and Arsenal would help. Wenger's team could drop to sixth place in the Premier League by the time they kick off at Anfield, if Liverpool win away at Leicester City and United beat Bournemouth at Old Trafford.

Mauricio Pochettino has Tottenham on the rise and has a terrific opportunity to snap Spurs' 22-year streak against Arsenal.

The shift in the balance of power in North London has been slowly happening since Pochettino took over at White Hart Lane three years ago. This could be the campaign where Spurs cease to be the "second team."

Finishing above Arsenal in the Premier League -- especially if the Gunners miss out on the Champions League -- would have far-reaching effects. It is hard to see how Wenger could stay at the Emirates in such circumstances. The 67-year-old has said he wants to manage for another four years, but it would probably be elsewhere if Tottenham squeeze them out of the top four.

Next season is a crucial one for Spurs, too. Champions League participation would make it less likely that Kane and Alli would be susceptible to offers from elsewhere. A new stadium is being built at White Hart Lane, and they will play their home matches at Wembley. The experiences in the Europa League and potentially the FA Cup semis and final will be invaluable for a team that struggled in the stadium in the Champions League.

Tottenham need to take a step forward this season. The opportunity is there. And they may never get a better chance to inflict misery on Arsenal, their greatest rivals.

Is this Ranieri's last stand?

Leicester's 1-0 defeat by Millwall was embarrassing, but Claudio Ranieri's fate will be decided in the next week. The Champions League tie away to Sevilla is important, but the Premier League home match against Liverpool on Monday is vital.

If the weekend is unkind to Leicester, they will kick off against Liverpool in the bottom three. Hull, directly below Ranieri's side, play Burnley at home. Crystal Palace, second from bottom, host Middlesbrough. Sunderland, rooted to the base of the table, are away to Everton. All three teams could go above Leicester with a victory.

It is unlikely that all three results will go against Leicester, but it would not be surprising if one of the teams in the relegation zone win, leaving the champions in the bottom three. In that case, a defeat to Liverpool would set the panic alarms off at the King Power Stadium.  Ranieri, last year's hero, could be looking for a new job before next month's international break.