There is only one club in London, so he is happy." This was Arsene Wenger's interpretation when Alexis Sanchez stated that he wishes to remain in London but only for a team that has a winning mentality. The explosive Arsenal winger had been courting interest from various clubs, and his manager was desperately trying to ward off any speculation of his main man's departure.
But, with the Gunners visiting bitter north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, the derby could prove to be the final litmus test for Wenger, who has been at the receiving end of desperate calls for his sacking. Languishing in sixth position, with the two other major London clubs—Chelsea and Tottenham—vying for the title, Arsenal hardly seems like the only club to be reckoned with in the capital.
The remarkable rise of Tottenham under coach Mauricio Pochettino has been underplayed in contrast to the more exciting tales of Leicester City's dream season last year and Chelsea's sensational turnaround this season. The consistency and entertaining football displayed by the Spurs over the past two seasons is testament to their manager's tactical nous and the evolution of the young, pacy squad at his disposal.
The Lilywhites are currently on an eight-match winning streak in the league which saw them close the gap with leaders Chelsea to four points.
The match will be a must-win encounter for Tottenham for two reasons. One, they will host Arsenal at the White Hart Lane for the last time before the demolition of the 19th century stadium. Two, and more importantly, a win will keep Spurs' slender title hopes alive, as the teams enter the final stages of the season.
Both teams come into the game off contrasting FA cup semifinal outings. While Arsenal edged out Manchester City 2-1 in extra time, Tottenham were hammered by Chelsea 4-2. This means that Arsenal still have a shot of ending the season with a trophy, while Tottenham are banking on the Premier League title to silence their boisterous London rivals.
The game will also feature three of the six player of the year nominees in the country—Harry Kane and Dele Alli for Tottenham and Alexis Sanchez for Arsenal. In-form playmakers Mesut Ozil and Christian Eriksen will be players to look out for, in two sides that heavily rely on their creative midfielders.
Two other players that will play a key role in the game are two of the best custodians of the goalposts. Keepers Petr Cech and Hugo Lloris have bailed out their teams on numerous occasions this season and will be hoping that their defences don't fail them on a crucial night.
The injury list for Arsenal has Shkodran Mustafi, David Ospina and Santi Cazorla on it, while Erik Lamela will miss out for Tottenham. Mousa Dembele and Danny Rose are doubtful for the fixture.
If Spurs win the game, the team will continue to breathe down Chelsea's neck in the title race, leaving Arsenal almost certainly out of champions league qualification. Should Arsenal repeat their impressive FA cup semifinal performance and upset the Spurs, it would help Chelsea pull clear of the challengers and bring Arsenal within a point of Manchester United. The battle for third and fourth positions in the league will then feature four teams—Liverpool and Manchester City being the other two—who are locked in a nail-biting struggle.
The last derby ended in a pulsating 1-1 draw, at the Emirates, in November, when Spurs were three points behind Arsenal. Five months on, Tottenham are now 14 points ahead. This will be the first time in 22 years that Spurs will finish the season above their red neighbours. Although that run could have ended last season, the Gunners pipped Spurs to the second spot in the final week. Revenge will definitely be on the minds of the Spurs fans.
For 21 years, Arsenal have finished in the top four, the longest current run for any club in the league. But the club has often been criticised, by the stars that deserted them, for the lack of ambition. A defeat at the White Hart Lane tomorrow will seal their fate, rendering them helpless in their attempt to retain want-away players like Sanchez.
Match: Tottenham vs Arsenal
Competition: English Premier League
Date: April 30, 2017
Kickoff: 9pm