The potential of Arsenal triumphantly marching towards the league’s victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as unexpected as it sounds, is a believable reality. The thought of such an occurrence prior to the forthcoming 195th edition of the derby, which is a significant factor in shaping north London’s atmosphere, is nauseating for Spurs fans.
Tottenham Hotspur was unable to halt the Arsenal Invincibles’ forward trajectory in 2004, and they’ve been reminded repeatedly ever since. However, this wasn’t the first instance where their most despised opponent had seized the league at White Hart Lane, as Arsenal accomplished the same feat on the last game of the 1970-71 season, with a 1-0 win due to Ray Kennedy’s late goal.
The 2004 match report on the Spurs official website is a humorous read, detailing an impressive second-half rally from a 2-0 deficit, topped off by Robbie Keane’s last-minute penalty resulting in a 2-2 draw. However, the final note is the fact that Arsenal did indeed clinch the title.
There can be no repetition of this for Spurs fans and there’s likely to be a high degree of anxiety come Sunday, particularly considering the team’s lacklustre performance in their past five outings, including defeats at Fulham and Newcastle. On the flip side, Arsenal are on a winning streak after a formidable 5-0 victory against Chelsea, instilling them with the belief that the defending champions, Manchester City, might leave an opening they could exploit. This optimism is crucial, they think.
Premier League home matches haven’t always been disastrous for Spurs against Arsenal, with only six defeats in 31, but last season’s corresponding fixture saw a 2-0 loss. It’s certain that repeat defeats are not in their strategy.
For Tottenham Hotspur, the more intriguing question is how desperately they need to qualify for the Champions League in the upcoming season.
Furthermore, some might ponder whether Spurs supporters, when forced to choose, would opt for Arsenal missing out on their first title since 2004 or their own team achieving a Champions League position.
This Sunday may prove a turning point, as a clash of ethics might potentially ensue when Spurs face Liverpool, another top contender, next week, and later meet City on the 14th of May. The crux of the matter is how a particular team performs, from a fan’s perspective. Regardless of whether Arsenal doesn’t qualify this time, their admirable season cannot be overlooked. They have demonstrated their competitiveness both at the national level and in the Champions League, where they reached the quarter-finals.
For Spurs, a pertinent issue is their requirement for Champions League football in the upcoming season and the potential impact it could have on their manager, Ange Postecoglou. The quest for the Fourth position is often a main narrative, with Spurs typically being a part of the drama. This quest has caught us off-guard, ostensibly due to the presumption that England would secure an extra spot in the expanded Champions League 2024–25, thereby bringing value to even the fifth position in the Premier League.
However, a sudden realisation dawned last week, following the European elimination of Arsenal, City, Liverpool, and West Ham. It became likely that Germany would grab one of the two additional slots, Italy having already secured the other. Thus, the stage is set: Aston Villa in fourth and Spurs in fifth, with Villa maintaining a six-point lead and a superior goal difference of five after two additional games.
Undoubtedly, Spurs are keen on the Champions League. This would shed a more favourable light on Postecoglou’s inaugural season and is undoubtedly desirable. The essence lies in the glorification of sportsmanship and pride. Nevertheless, a comparable fervour is apparently lacking among Spurs fans in contrast to previous seasons.
Numerous elements contribute to this, and on the eve of the derby, it seems appropriate to discuss tribalism. Spurs’ Champions League contention is not against a traditional rival. The scenario would probably be different if they were vying for qualification against a familiar antagonist, like Arsenal – a situation seen two seasons ago.
The 3-0 victory at home against Arsenal proved to be a significant turning point in the race for Spurs, quite unforgettable for most. This triumph was seen as Spurs pushing forward under the leadership of Antonio Conte, whereas for Arsenal, it was a serious downfall for the project spearheaded by Mikel Arteta.
Currently, how’s the perception? This too plays a role. Regular Spurs’ supporters have incessantly heard about the financial uplift that comes with participating in the Champions League, which then supposedly paves the way for significant market transfers, coveted signings, and eventually a shot at securing the title.
Since the season of 2016-17, they’ve had five Champions League ventures, with quite a few remarkable nights to their credit. However, they have yet to make a significant stride either domestically or internationally. Therefore, sympathy might be in order for the fans who’ve watched the Champions League exit at the round of 16 previously and are speculating if a Europa League mission could offer better prospects, particularly as it won’t encompass Champions League castoffs.
Postecoglou at times has seemed to back a more gradual and stable improvement perspective; implying that transitioning from a season devoid of European football to one brimming with it might be too ambitious for a relatively new team. The Europa League imposes fewer physical and emotional burdens and allows for more rotation flexibility.
The narrative of Spurs’ season has been subjected to reinterpretation. Given a freshly appointed manager, a partly renewed team, and the absence of Kane, the general consensus was confined to guarded optimism.
One notable shift in Spurs’ narrative this season is that they need not secure a Champions League spot to retain Harry Kane. Would any member of Postecoglou’s squad consider a transfer if they failed to secure a spot amongst Europe’s top-tier clubs? He’s affirmed before that he isn’t interested in signing players solely attracted by the Champions League.
While the manager is expected to receive substantial financial backing in the summer, it’s doubtful that revenues from the Champions League would significantly impact his budget. For Spurs, the real game-changer is the construction of the new stadium, positioning the club in a robust and sustainable financial condition, and acting as a magnet for new investment, something that chairman Daniel Levy disclosed at the month’s commencement.
The Spurs’ season has been marked by notable changes. Initially, due to the new management, Kane’s departure, and a half renewed team, only tentative optimism was evident. The Guardian’s contributors forecasted an eighth-place completion. However, following an impressive beginning with six wins, two ties, and zero losses, a later 34 points accumulated over 22 matches was seen as underwhelming. In a 38 match context, this form would equate to 58.7 points, placing Spurs in tenth place last season.
Nonetheless, progress has been seen, especially considering the low standards set during the previous dreadful year when the squad finished with 60 points. That score has been matched this season with six games still ahead. Despite making it to the Champions League last 16 last season, this season’s domestic cups have brought disappointment.
Fans have accepted Postecoglou for his personal character and his envisioned game plan. However, it appears that stricter critique will be deferred until the next year. Then it will be seen if he can boost Spurs from their current fourth or fifth position, and follow the direction established by Arteta. –Guardian