Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has refused to accept claims that the power in North London has shifted from the Red side to the Whiteside as he tried to maintain Arsenal’s reputation by referring to 20 years of dominance.
Talking ahead of the all-important North London Derby, the long-serving Arsenal manager said that Tottenham are liked by everyone right now.
Tottenham have not finished above Arsenal since 1995 and there was a real chance to change that last season when Spurs and Arsenal headed out on the final game day with a fight for the 2nd place. Tottenham disappointingly lost 5-1 to a 10-man Newcastle United who were already relegated when they came out to play the final game of the season.
This time though, Tottenham are 14 points ahead of the Gunners, although Arsenal have a game in hand. A victory for Spurs on Sunday would ensure a finish above Arsenal for the first time in 1995. However, Arsene Wenger doesn’t seem to accept that the change is permanent.
He said,
“Let’s be honest. I’ve answered that question about a ‘shift’ for 18 consecutive years. You can’t say that the merit of one year has the merit of 20. It’s certainly one of the few times where Spurs look favourite in people’s minds. It looks a bit like that but it doesn’t matter much to me. The priority for us is to finish in the top four. After that, for pride and for the continuity of our achievement, we want to fight to be above Spurs.”
“I expect an open, committed match at high pace. There could be goals in there because both teams play positive football and play in an offensive way. We’re playing for our future and to continue our run. We know what is needed from us until the end of the season so on that front it’s quite easy to prepare.”
“I don’t think that the top three is decided. But we have an opportunity to be in there only if we win our games.”
Though the title is the ultimate aim for the boys, finishing above Arsenal after all these years is certainly a good step forward. It shows that they have managed to reach the level of all the other top teams in the division.
Teams now fear to visit the White Hart Lane as Pochettino has managed to make it a fortress. A victory on Sunday will help them keep the pressure on Chelsea and surely, Arsenal will be keen to spoil that.
I am Spurs through and through . I can remember them doing the Double at our place in 1971 . Wegner has to like a good politician talk his own club up . In some ways he is right . If this season we finish above them and then we finish below them for the next 20 seasons again then it is a false dawn . I think deep down Wegner knows that Spurs are a real threat and could finish above his team consistently .