Arsenal and Tottenham are set to slug it out for Republic of Ireland defender Steve Finnan, reports The Mirror. The 32-year-old moved from Liverpool to Espanyol in the summer but has failed to settle at the Catalan club.

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp wants him to bolster a defence that has been ravaged by injuries to key players such as Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate.

For Arsenal, the former Liverpool player could be a replacement for William Gallas whose future is in doubt at The Emirates.