Premiership: Tottenham Hotspur
Spurs Seek Place in next Season's UEFA Cup
Spurs need a win against north London neighbours and rivals, Arsenal, as they endeavour to qualify for next season's European competition.
Tottenham Hotspur (Spurs) have had a season which promised so much but is ending in disappointment. Their last bid to avoid total disappointment begins on Saturday when they play north London neighbours and rivals, Arsenal, at White Hart Lane. Spurs want to ensure qualification for next season’s European competitions through their final position in the Premiership. A win is a necessity as five clubs vie for three European spots. The teams finishing from 5th to 7th will be rewarded with a place in next season’s UEFA Cup.
Bolton Wanderers, Everton, Portsmouth, Reading and Spurs are battling to gain the European places but Blackburn Rovers could stake a late claim.
Last season Spurs finished in fifth in the League, their highest place since the introduction of the Premiership, but missed out on the lucrative Champions League place when a last day defeat at West Ham United allowed Arsenal to snatch fourth place from their grasp. Most annoyingly for Spurs, many of their team had suffered a bout of sickness on the night prior to this vital game and were feeling unwell during the match. Further annoyance for Spurs came from the fact that their neighbours had made a late successful bid to deny them fourth place which they had held from the previous December.
Spurs lost their influential midfield player, Michael Carrick, who was transferred to Manchester United during the summer and the season started slowly and somewhat disappointingly. However, good runs in the Cup competitions saw them advance to the semi-final of the Carling Cup and the quarter-final stage of both the FA Cup and UEFA Cup.
It was at this point of each competition that they became the ‘nearly-men.’ They lost to Arsenal over two legs in the Carling Cup, drawing 2-2 at home after holding a two goal lead but losing the second leg 1-3 after extra time. In the FA Cup Chelsea proved too strong for them winning the replay at White Hart Lane, 2-1. Again Spurs allowed a two goal lead to slip, having led 3-1 at half-time, only to draw 3-3 at Stamford Bridge. A week ago, Spurs third opportunity for Cup success came crashing down when they conceded two goals in the opening seven minutes of their second leg UEFA Cup game at Tottenham. Trailing by one goal to Sevilla, Spain, from the first leg Spurs had been looking for a good start but an own goal and a second by former Spurs player, Fredi Kanoute, gave the Spanish side the advantage. Although Spurs scored two goals in a minute midway through the second half to earn a draw, it was too late.
Now, following a 3-3 draw at Wigan Athletic last weekend a win for Spurs against Arsenal is imperative. The only problem is that Spurs’ record against their neighbours is not very good in recent times. They have not beaten them since 1999. Arsenal have had been as successful this season but are still holding fourth position in the League and have won their last two games against Bolton and Manchester City.
This derby game is a must win match for both sets of spectators – it gives them bragging rights for the next year and it is a long time since Spurs’ fans have been able to gloat at their nearest neighbours. They will be hoping that they can take the three points on Saturday because failure to do so could leave them struggling to claim a European place.
