Sunday was a drab and dreary day in the end for Arsenal who lost control of a 2-0 lead for the second time in the space of eight days. Not only did it damage the Gunners title chances but it stole the chance of a very early celebration of St Totteringham’s Day.
In a season where the Premier League title is on the line, finishing above Tottenham, which is where the aforementioned day comes from, is hardly in the minds of many supporters. However, the point did mean that Arsenal are just one more away from confirming a finish above their north London rivals this season.
It will be the first time in six seasons, believe it or not, that Arsenal have managed it. In that period Tottenham went on to win a grand total of zero trophies despite having their star striker Harry Kane and world-class winger Son Heung-min in their forward line combined with two Premier League-winning coaches Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.
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In those six years Arsenal managed to overcome the departure of Arsene Wenger, trial a new coach in Unai Emery which proved unsuccessful, take a risk on a young unproven coach in Mikel Arteta, win an FA Cup at the first time of asking and develop the club back into a title-challenging side. Arteta has turned the club into a side that can enjoy the weekend’s football without worrying who their city rivals are playing, unless they’re facing Man City of course.
When, and it is when, Arsenal finish above Spurs this season it will be a cornerstone moment for both teams. The Gunners will have restored their club’s reputation as one of the league's main competitors for the top-of-the-table accolades whilst Tottenham face a season outside the Champions League with their best players reaching the end of their prime years.
There’s only one club in north London that’s now on the rise and the period that Spurs had with some of the best players in the league was utterly wasted. Look through the Arsenal side and it is bursting with young starlets like Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, William Saliba and more to come through the academy.
Meanwhile, Tottenham need to work out what life after Kane and Son will look like and who should be the man to take charge. What candidates will see how Mourinho, Conte and Nuno Espirito Santo saw their career status’ take a dive at the club and see it as a prosperous opportunity?
The same goes for players. Arsenal are looking to try and lure some of the best talents who might move this coming summer with football.london understanding Premier League and England star Declan Rice is a top target.
Names such as Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, Moussa Diaby and Rasmus Hojlund continue to be linked as Arsenal enter the phase of trying to establish themselves as successive competitors to the league behemoth that is Manchester City. Spurs will be looking to try and keep hold of their best instead.
So whilst the mood may be down around Arsenal after the last two results, use the north London rivalry as a swift reminder of not only how far the club has come, but what it could have been. The future is bright… for some.
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