Sad state of affairs that we're relying on these two. Only thing that works in our favour is that history has proven time and time again Spurs and Arsenal choke at the business end of the season however from where I'm sat there seems to be a togetherness and willingness to dig at Spurs that isn't apparent at Chelsea or Arsenal. 11 games left, all things considered and put into context Chelsea arguably have the best run in on paper. Liverpool and Man Utd are probably the only fixtures that remain we aren't favourites for. Spurs still have Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton, City and Stoke/Swansea away in the run in so you'd expect points dropped there. Arsenal have a decent run in but every team bar Norwich I.e 10 of the games they play the opposition will have something to play for/be at home. I'd rather be playing midtable sides at home then relegation stragglers and teams chasing Europe away, throw Man Utd in there who as things stand have the incentive of winning the title at the Emirates. Further down the line I'm more sure that Spurs will drop points than I amArsenal but I'd prefer a draw, but if I was forced to pick a winner I'd probably say Arsenal to slow their momentum down, providing we beat WBA. If we come 4th, there is no guarantee we'd be in the CL (proper) anyway. 3rd is a must.
I'd prefer a Spurs win, alright they stay 3rd but if we win and Spurs do it puts us 5 clear of Arsenal. If not then a draw will be fine, just don't want Arsenal to get anything from it.
A draw please... We then need to beat WBA and if that happens, we'd be level with Spurs and 4 ahead of Arsenal
Food for thought, if we beat WBA and Spurs beat Arsenal that puts a 5 point gap between us, and then all of a sudden Arsenal have to play Everton whilst we play Fulham, gap could quickly become 6/7/8 with Arsenal then having to go to Swansea with us having West Ham at home so gap could increase again. Nothing less than 9/9 from our next 3 will do for me, manage to do that and I reckon we'll be sitting ok in 3rd. The United game shouldn't matter even though a loss to Liverpool with Sturridge playing a key part is inevitable.
Surely you would want a Spurs win so it keeps one rival 5 points behind (providing you beat WBA) and with Spurs run in and their visit to SB still to come its firmly in your hands
For spurs ... a spurs win is best For Arsenal ... an arsenal win is best For Chelsea ... a spurs win is best For those interested in the top 4 battle either a draw or an arsenal win is best. It's going to be a long exciting end to the season who ever wins...I just can't believe you lot will continue to be so inconsistent so think it'll be between us and arsenal for 4th
I'd rather risk dragging Arsenal in and going for 3rd rather than settling for 4th. If we can't get 3rd with the fixtures that remain there is no hope. You lot and Liverpool are the only games we should lose and you'll have the title wrapped up by then so it's a meaningless game for you, it's Liverpool's cup final but a big game for Benitez so for once he'll want to try and win. Spurs will always give away chances, West Ham despite being poor could have scored 3. We will create chances at home so I'm not too worried about playing them at home, we won't be in as bad a form as we are now and then they won't be in as good a form as they are now.
I'd rather risk dragging Arsenal in and going for 3rd rather than settling for 4th. If we can't get 3rd with the fixtures that remain there is no hope. You lot and Liverpool are the only games we should lose and you'll have the title wrapped up by then so it's a meaningless game for you, it's Liverpool's cup final but a big game for Benitez so for once he'll want to try and win. Spurs will always give away chances, West Ham despite being poor could have scored 3. We will create chances at home so I'm not too worried about playing them at home, we won't be in as bad a form as we are now and then they won't be in as good a form as they are now.
I think a Spurs win would be best for you guys, as you have the opportunity to put a gap between yourselves and 5th place. No point worrying about finishing 3rd, as its not much different to finishing 4th really. It will certainly be an interesting battle for the top 4, and I think anyone of you could quite easily miss out as your all very evenly matched. I really would not want to call it. Chelsea probably have the strongest squad, but your team spirit is probably the worst. I'd also worry about your strikers, Torres is simply not good enough, and whilst Ba started promisingly he hasn't really impressed me for a good few weeks. Spurs almost certainly have the best team spirit and squad morale, not to mention the best player in the PL in Gareth Bale. I do wonder though if Gareth Bale can keep smashing in screamers every week, because if his form dips I don't really see we're the goals are gonna come from as Adebayor hasn't looked great this season, and Defoes injured. I can't imagine the squad morale is great at Arsenal with the way results have gone for them recently, though Wenger does have a knack of guiding Arsenal into the top 4 each season. For the past 3-4 seasons we keep thinking they'll drop out, and they tend to come good in the 2nd half of the season to make it. There problem is defending, they just make so many costly errors. Mertersacker has got to be the worst player to ever have 50+ caps for Germany. He's not mobile enough to be playing at the highest level. The rest of there defence doesn't fill me with confidence either, there all more interested in getting forward than actually worrying about there defensive duties
A draw would be our best bet !! We shouldn't need Spurs or Arsenal results to get our place in the top 4. Mind you with Fat Boy in charge, I think top 4 is a big ask, and in truth, 4th is no more than we deserve. I would not be too confident for any of the "easy" games, those are what fat boy specialises in losing or drawing. 11 games, can't see more than 20 pts. That will run us a very close thing.
Spurs win I would've thought. It stops any momentum for Arsenal getting their season going again dead in it's tracks and they then have to pick themselves up for games against Everton and Swansea which are two tough games at the best of times. I'm sure us finishing above you again would rankle but getting top 4 would be the most important thing, I'd have thought. If we both managed to put in a good sized gap ahead of Arsenal then you've still got a great chance to finish 3rd anyway.
Their result shouldn't matter. Whatever the result we can take some positive from it. The main thing is that we win our game and make sure we benefit from one or other of them slipping up. Us win and them draw is probably the best result as it means only 2 points to them rather than 3; but ultimately, we must win our game. As a side note, as much as I don't like them, I hope it's us and Spurs that make the top 4. It's about time Wenger's 'project' finally got found out for good. They always seem to do enough at the end of the season to steal a top 4 (normally because they are out of all other comps by them).
Spurs poor record against good teams will always mean us and Arsenal have a chance, it all hinges on March. April should be less significant
i feel a little bit more confident after today and will definitely be hoping for a draw and that will be a first as i always support the spuds against the goons.
In terms of arithmetic it has to be a Spurs win and open a 5 point buffer between ourselves & Arsenal. What has to be considered the gooners will soon (barring a miracle) have a lot of leisure time after their Bayern game; so we have to be looking at building a comfort zone before we hit the tricky triple of Spuds, Mancs & Mickeys. The other issue which comes into play is the continued presence of Manuel at the helm and his cumbersome attempts at diplomacy.....scrambling for a 4th place berth GEEZ!!!!
