A win against Arsenal is always a welcome sight. There are fewer things in life more satisfying than defeating your bitter rivals, not least of all when it guarantees you to finish above them for the first time in twenty-one years. But beating the Gooners is no longer the benchmark of a good season. We are once again on the cusp of genuine success, thanks to the brilliance of Mauricio Pochettino - the man with ambitions for the Premier League title.
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| From left to right: the past, the future. |
Yesterday's game, on paper at least, looked like more of an opportunity for Arsenal. We once again found ourselves playing catch up with Chelsea, and with fewer games remaining, it's looking increasingly unlikely that we will be able to pip them to the title. Arsenal, on the other hand, are battling for a place in the top four - with United and City both dropping points, it looked like the perfect opportunity for Arsenal to gain some ground on their European-chasing rivals. That's on paper, anyway.
Apparently, their squad didn't get this memo. While our title may be unlikely, we played with the belief and confidence that if Chelsea should slip up, we will be right there waiting. Arsenal, on the other hand, played without a hint of passion or desire. There was not a chance in hell they were going to win that game yesterday. The difference in intensity was astounding, especially considering we were far from our dynamic best. It's difficult not to talk too much about the opposition, but I have to state that this is by far the worst Arsenal side I have seen for years. This was the equivalent of brushing aside a West Brom or a Stoke. The two teams were worlds apart, and without Petr Cech's heroics and some wasteful finishing on our part, it'd have been five or six. While Wenger has finally compromised and joined the three at the back trend, it's all a case of too little, too late for the Frenchman and Arsenal. The future is most definitely with Pochettino and Tottenham, whose youthful exuberance served to compound Arsene's miserable season. Outwitted and outplayed, it was abundantly clear to any neutral watching which club has the brighter future. Wenger's outdated style of management could not live with Pochettino's boys.
Though our transfer policy has been much maligned - and perhaps rightly so, given the little impact the likes of Sissoko and Nkoudou have offered - the signing of Victor Wanyama has shown itself to be a masterstroke as the season has progressed. Compare the Kenyan's tenacity, energy levels and tough tackling to notorious yellow card generator Granit Xhaka, whose ironically tough sounding name is even less bemusing than the fact somebody actually sanctioned a thirty million pound move for the guy. This match-up was emblematic of the difference between the sides all over the pitch. If Toby Alderweireld isn't the best centre half in the country, it's certainly Jan Vertonghen. There are attacking midfielders all around the world that would kill for the technique our centre half possesses in abundance. The term cultured sells him short - Jan actually feinted and beat a player in his own area without once looking like he would lose the ball. In fact, I cannot for the life of me remember a north London derby where I was so confident we would get the job done. Even Kane himself admitted post-match that the players 'always thought we were going to win'. It's this confidence, verging on arrogance, that will see us win trophies together before too long. Asides from the obvious talent on display, it's the belief in our abilities as a side and tremendous character that make me prouder than I have ever been as a Tottenham fan.
In truth, they were second best in every department. While their fans sang nobly, desperate to remind us of a time where they could pinch our captain on a free transfer and win titles of their own, the White Hart Lane faithful remained focused on the present. Their best players were unable to effect us in any meaningful way, while the Arsenal defence simply could not live with the movement of Alli and Eriksen. Last season's collapse at Newcastle seems a distant memory, that harsh learning curve providing the know-how to finish the job this season even if we cannot win the title. Second is the bare minimum Pochettino, and in all likelihood the fans, will accept. Yesterday was not just about finishing above Arsenal - that was just another notch in this season's belt - it was about keeping pace with the very best in the country and proving, beyond all reasonable doubt, that we are one of the best teams in the league, let alone north London.
As is evident, putting Arsenal to the sword is just the tip of the iceberg. This season we have cemented ourselves as one of the best teams in England thanks to the persistent work of our manager. In Pochettino, we have a coach who works from the ground up to ensure everybody is doing their job, tirelessly chasing and relentlessly pressing the opposition from the first minute to the last. We have the best goalkeeper and defence in the country, with two central midfielders that would get into any side in the league and an attacking trio that is the envy of Europe. Of course, opposition fans will argue this, but the statistics speak for themselves. We have the best defensive record and have scored the most goals in the league. The PFA Team of the Year consists of no less than four Tottenham players, with Alli deservedly winning young player of the year. While we lack the experience of winning silverware as a team - Chelsea showed us how to win ugly at Wembley - we are growing in stature and reputation with each passing game, and it is only a matter of time before this side achieves great things together. And it's not just Pochettino's incredible work ethic in training and coaching these players - it's his style. Everything he says in his interviews oozes class. He does not publicly slam his players, nor does he seek excuses when things are not going his way. And when things are looking good - as they so often are under Pochettino - all the plaudits are given back to the hard work and dedication of the players, as well as the fans' unrelenting support. Well let me tell you, Mauricio - we're prouder of you than any manager in living history. You are an absolute credit to this club.
Make no mistake - yesterday's game will hurt them more than it matters to us. Our ambitions do not stop at beating Arsenal. This game was not the highlight of our season, though the envy they will have felt will certainly be the low-light of theirs. We will not be making any DVDs this time round. Pochettino has his sights firmly set on the Premier League title, and if it's not possible this year, you can bet he'll have another go next year despite the adversity of a season at Wembley. We're constantly written off as a club - told we cannot mix it with the 'elite' of English football and the hierarchy of the traditional top four. Yet time and time again Pochettino has proved our doubters wrong, assembling a fantastic side who play for each other and the badge on the front of their shirts far more than the names on the back. The same cannot be said for the likes of Ozil and Sanchez. And that's where it will genuinely hurt our rivals the most - we're simply better than them now, both collectively and individually. Yes it's fantastic to finally end the torment of twenty-one long years below them, but that is far from the summit of this club's ambitions. Pochettino will not rest until he returns the glory days of the bygone era, emulating the most successful manager in our club's history. To dare is to do.
Though our transfer policy has been much maligned - and perhaps rightly so, given the little impact the likes of Sissoko and Nkoudou have offered - the signing of Victor Wanyama has shown itself to be a masterstroke as the season has progressed. Compare the Kenyan's tenacity, energy levels and tough tackling to notorious yellow card generator Granit Xhaka, whose ironically tough sounding name is even less bemusing than the fact somebody actually sanctioned a thirty million pound move for the guy. This match-up was emblematic of the difference between the sides all over the pitch. If Toby Alderweireld isn't the best centre half in the country, it's certainly Jan Vertonghen. There are attacking midfielders all around the world that would kill for the technique our centre half possesses in abundance. The term cultured sells him short - Jan actually feinted and beat a player in his own area without once looking like he would lose the ball. In fact, I cannot for the life of me remember a north London derby where I was so confident we would get the job done. Even Kane himself admitted post-match that the players 'always thought we were going to win'. It's this confidence, verging on arrogance, that will see us win trophies together before too long. Asides from the obvious talent on display, it's the belief in our abilities as a side and tremendous character that make me prouder than I have ever been as a Tottenham fan.
In truth, they were second best in every department. While their fans sang nobly, desperate to remind us of a time where they could pinch our captain on a free transfer and win titles of their own, the White Hart Lane faithful remained focused on the present. Their best players were unable to effect us in any meaningful way, while the Arsenal defence simply could not live with the movement of Alli and Eriksen. Last season's collapse at Newcastle seems a distant memory, that harsh learning curve providing the know-how to finish the job this season even if we cannot win the title. Second is the bare minimum Pochettino, and in all likelihood the fans, will accept. Yesterday was not just about finishing above Arsenal - that was just another notch in this season's belt - it was about keeping pace with the very best in the country and proving, beyond all reasonable doubt, that we are one of the best teams in the league, let alone north London.
As is evident, putting Arsenal to the sword is just the tip of the iceberg. This season we have cemented ourselves as one of the best teams in England thanks to the persistent work of our manager. In Pochettino, we have a coach who works from the ground up to ensure everybody is doing their job, tirelessly chasing and relentlessly pressing the opposition from the first minute to the last. We have the best goalkeeper and defence in the country, with two central midfielders that would get into any side in the league and an attacking trio that is the envy of Europe. Of course, opposition fans will argue this, but the statistics speak for themselves. We have the best defensive record and have scored the most goals in the league. The PFA Team of the Year consists of no less than four Tottenham players, with Alli deservedly winning young player of the year. While we lack the experience of winning silverware as a team - Chelsea showed us how to win ugly at Wembley - we are growing in stature and reputation with each passing game, and it is only a matter of time before this side achieves great things together. And it's not just Pochettino's incredible work ethic in training and coaching these players - it's his style. Everything he says in his interviews oozes class. He does not publicly slam his players, nor does he seek excuses when things are not going his way. And when things are looking good - as they so often are under Pochettino - all the plaudits are given back to the hard work and dedication of the players, as well as the fans' unrelenting support. Well let me tell you, Mauricio - we're prouder of you than any manager in living history. You are an absolute credit to this club.
Make no mistake - yesterday's game will hurt them more than it matters to us. Our ambitions do not stop at beating Arsenal. This game was not the highlight of our season, though the envy they will have felt will certainly be the low-light of theirs. We will not be making any DVDs this time round. Pochettino has his sights firmly set on the Premier League title, and if it's not possible this year, you can bet he'll have another go next year despite the adversity of a season at Wembley. We're constantly written off as a club - told we cannot mix it with the 'elite' of English football and the hierarchy of the traditional top four. Yet time and time again Pochettino has proved our doubters wrong, assembling a fantastic side who play for each other and the badge on the front of their shirts far more than the names on the back. The same cannot be said for the likes of Ozil and Sanchez. And that's where it will genuinely hurt our rivals the most - we're simply better than them now, both collectively and individually. Yes it's fantastic to finally end the torment of twenty-one long years below them, but that is far from the summit of this club's ambitions. Pochettino will not rest until he returns the glory days of the bygone era, emulating the most successful manager in our club's history. To dare is to do.
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