Spurs couldn't stop the Invincibles – can they deny Arteta's Arsenal? | first division

YoIt wouldn't sound like the original Arsenal terrace chant. “We took a big step to win the league in the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.” The prospect, however, is real. And ahead of Sunday's derby, the 195th edition of the match that determines the atmosphere in north London, it is absolutely sickening for Spurs fans.

The Spurs couldn't stop the Arsenal Invincibles in April 2004 and it's fair to say they haven't heard the end of it since. It wasn't the first time their hated rivals had won the league at White Hart Lane either. Arsenal did exactly that on the final day of the 1970-71 season, when a late Ray Kennedy header gave them a 1-0 victory.

It's fun to reread the match report 2004 on Spurs' official website, how he talks about the team's thrilling second-half comeback from 2-0 down, which culminated in Robbie Keane's injury-time penalty being “justly rewarded” 2-2. The payment line? “Oh, and Arsenal won the title.”

It can't happen again. Every Spurs fan knows this and nerves will surely surface on Sunday because his team has not had a brilliant performance in the last five games, assuming the defeats at Fulham and newcastle. Arsenal, on the other hand, are flying after their 5-0 Chelsea monstrosity on Tuesday. They believe defending champions Manchester City will lose a result to let them in. They have to have that mentality.

Spurs haven't had too many home defeats to Arsenal in the Premier League (six in 31, to be precise), but they went down 2-0 in the corresponding match. last season and consecutive defeats are not part of any of his plans.

It has even been possible to wonder whether, when asked whether Spurs fans would prefer Arsenal not to win what would be their first title since 2004 or for their club to achieve their own goals for the season: in other words, a League of Champions. finish through the league position.

The stars align on that score on Sunday, but there could be some crises of conscience a week later when Spurs visit Liverpool, also still in the title race, and host City on May 14.

Let's assume that the starting point for any fan is the performance of his team. Furthermore, if Arsenal were to miss out, it wouldn't change the reality that they have had another excellent season, in which they have progressed even further, proving that they can compete at domestic level and in the Champions League. where they reached the quarterfinals.

For Spurs, the related and more interesting question concerns how much they need the Champions League next season; how much it would really change the landscape for the director, Ange Postecoglou.

The fight for fourth place™ is always a major storyline, with Spurs often involved, although this time it seems to have come a little closer to us, mainly due to the assumption that England would get an extra place in the expanded Champions League 2024-25. that is, fifth in the first division would be rewarded.

Last week, when Arsenal, City, Liverpool and West Ham left Europe, we suddenly realized that almost certainly Germany occupying one of the two additional performance spots, while Italy took the other. And so, drum roll, it's Aston Villa in fourth to Spurs in fifth; Villa are six points clear with a better goal difference of five, having played two more games.

The first thing to say is that, of course, Spurs want the Champions League. It would cast a more favorable light on Postecoglou's debut season; It would be better to have it than not to have it. It all comes down to the primacy of sporting achievement and pride. But then why doesn't there seem to be the same energy around the battle within the Spurs fan base as in past seasons?

There are numerous factors and as we approach the derby, it is worth mentioning that of tribalism; in that Spurs are not fighting for the Champions League against a traditional rival. It would surely be different if it were them or, say, Arsenal who qualified, as has happened in the past (the last time being two seasons ago).

That race ignited. Spurs' 3-0 home win over Arsenal in the penultimate game and everyone remembers what was said at that moment. Spurs were ready to start with Antonio Conte, while for Arsenal it was a blow to Mikel Arteta's project.

What does thinking look like now? And this is also part of it. Spurs fans have heard the line indefinitely about increased Champions League revenue leading to greater influence on the transfer market, bigger signings and eventually a title challenge: silverware.

They have played five Champions League seasons since 2016-17, enjoying some truly momentous nights, but they have not taken the decisive step either at home or abroad. So they may have to bear with some of the fans who have seen the exit film of the Champions League round of 16 before and are wondering if there might be better opportunities in a Europa League campaign. Especially since the competition will no longer feature teams that left the Champions League.

This is the slower, more steady development option, which Postecoglou has seemed to support at times; the idea that going from a season without European football to one with it at the highest level may be too big a leap for a new team. The Europa League has less physical and emotional pressure. It is more acceptable to rotate players.

A key change in Spurs' narrative this season is that they do not have to offer Champions League football to retain Harry Kane. Would any of Postecoglou's team demand a move if they wanted to stay out of Europe's elite competition? He is aware that he does not want players who sign exclusively for the Champions League.

The manager will have significant funds in the summer, but Champions League revenue is unlikely to materially alter his budget. The turning point for Spurs has been the reconstruction of the stadium, which has put the club in a strong and sustainable financial position; also to attract the new investment that the president, Daniel Levy, talked about earlier this month.

The Spurs' season has been marked by revisionism. Beforehand, with a new coach, half a new team and without Kane, there was not much more than cautious optimism. The Guardians the writers predicted an eighth place. But after an impressive start (eight wins, two draws and zero losses), a subsequent return of 34 points in 22 games has been seen as a disappointment. He carries that form over 38 games and he'll score 58.7 points, which would have put the Spurs in 10th place last season.

Overall, there has been progress, even if the bar was lowered by last year's disaster when the team limped home with 60 points. They have equaled that number with six games left to play. Against it was the race towards the Champions League. round of 16 last season. This season, the domestic cups They have brought failure again.

If fans have accepted Postecoglou as a man and how he wants to play, it seems the harshest judgment will be reserved for next season. That will be when we see if he can lift the Spurs from fourth or fifth place. Whether he can follow the path illuminated by Arteta.