Arsenal: Mauricio Pochettino Swipe Worryingly Accurate

Mauricio Pochettino has stated that Tottenham Hotspur are fighting for more than merely finishing above Arsenal. It is a worryingly accurate swipe.

A quick glance at the Premier League table would give you a rather worrying sight. Arsenal, languishing in sixth, above Everton thanks to only goal difference after an abysmal three-goal demolition at the hands of Crystal Palace on Monday night, are far from where they would like to be.

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Contrast that to the position of their most hated rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, and it is clear to see why such worries and concerns are beginning to engulf the club and the fan base. Spurs are flying high in second and are now Chelsea’s closest rivals for the title as we enter the final stages of the season.

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And yet, the media still continue to focus on Spurs’ intentions to finish above Arsenal, a club that they have failed to overhaul throughout Arsene Wenger’s 21-year tenure. Speaking ahead of Bournemouth’s trip to White Hart Lane this weekend, Mauricio Pochettino was asked what the hopes for the club were during the remainder of the season, with special care taken to point out their positioning in relation to their bitter rivals. Pochettino, though, was adamant that he and his players are fighting for more than simply finishing above the Gunners:

"“I think we’re playing and fighting for bigger things. If we look at the bigger picture, it’s to try to reduce the gap with Chelsea. I think today it’s not important, the gap we have with Arsenal. The most important thing is to do our job, try to win games and try to reduce the gap with Chelsea.”"

The swipe that Pochettino takes at his rival is, worryingly, justified. After a run of just one league win in five games, including losses to Watford, West Brom and most recently Crystal Palace, stretching all the way back to February 11th, there is a reason why Pochettino does not see Arsenal as genuine rivals.

Spurs currently sit 14 points clear of their North London rivals having played just one game more. Assuming that the Gunners do indeed win that game in hand, an assumption that is far from secure, to think that they can overturn 11 points in just seven games is rather ridiculous.

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Unfortunately, Pochettino’s swipe is worrying accurate, and perhaps that damns Wenger’s tenure more than any other. This could well be the first season in which he finishes below Spurs and that is a crying shame.