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Arsenal: Do Not Underestimate The Influence Of Spurs’ Success
There is a growing chance that Spurs could finish above Arsenal this season. Do not underestimate the influence of a North London shift in power.
As the season draws to a close, the hopes that many Arsenal fans harboured as the Gunners entered the year have rather quickly and rather worryingly faltered. After spending nearly £100 million in the summer, it was believed that this could finally be the season that the now 13-year Premier League drought could end.
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How wrong we all were! Arsene Wenger’s side started, as they have done for many years now, in breathtaking fashion. With Alexis Sanchez shifted into a central role, Theo Walcott rejuvenated and Shkodran Mustafi anchoring a stifling defence, the North London side rocketed to the top of the table, culminating a three-goal dismantling of Chelsea.
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However, a series of draws in November, proceeded by two consecutive away losses to Manchester City and Everton in December saw Arsenal slip nine points behind the side against which they staked their title claim just two months before. Since then, they have stumbled to wins against the lesser sides and been ripped apart by their closer rivals, so much so that they now sit in fifth position, five points behind Spurs with a game in hand.
The disparity between then and their bitter North London rivals is significant. For all of Wenger’s 21-year tenure, he has never seen his side finish below Spurs. It is a remarkable stat, especially considering the sustained quality of Tottenham under a host of different managers.
Nonetheless, as North London took on Merseyside at the weekend, it was Spurs that only extended their lead over Arsenal with a 3-2 win over Everton at White Hart Lane. The scoreline was far closer than the game suggested, with a late Enner Valencia strike causing brief moments of panic during the closing stages.
The recent form of Mauricio Pochettino’s men is undeniable. Harry Kane, in particular, is playing at his very best, having scored three hat-tricks in his last 10 games, adding another two in an impressive display on Sunday afternoon. If Spurs do indeed keep their bottle, something that history would question with a wealth of evidence against, then their influence should not be underestimated.
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Whilst Wenger has suffered recent seasons which have been littered with disappointments and shortcomings, one piece of success that he has always been able to lean on is his unblemished record of qualifying for the Champions League and finishing ahead of Spurs. Now, after 21 years, both are in grave danger. If they were to fall, that could well be the final straw of an increasingly untenable tenure.