Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino is not going to let the north London derby clash on Sunday affect his friendship with Arsenal boss Unai Emery.
The two old friends will meet for the first time in the Premier League with third-placed Spurs three points better off than the Gunners.
Pochettino is especially touched by the memory of Emery, who at 47 is a year older then the Tottenham boss, recommending he replace him at Valencia when the latter left for Spartak Moscow in 2012.
Pochettino declined the offer, preferring to remain at the less prestigious La Liga outfit Espanyol, and insists that their roles at the head of such big rivals will not affect their friendship.
"The opposite I think," said Pochettino "Of course we are in different clubs and it is a derby we are going to play.
"In the moment we are going to compete, we are going to try to find the way to beat each other but before and after the game (we are) always very good friends."
"I am loyal."