Fortunately for the visitors, Wojciech Szczesny was on fine form: having saved Dirk Kuyt’s penalty effort, the Pole leaped to save the next effort from the rebound and after conceding in unfortunate circumstances, via a Laurent Koscielny own goal, the ‘keeper saw his side take the lead through a van Persie brace, keeping his net empty in the process.
After a humiliating capitulation in Milan and an equally crushing defeat by Sunderland, a fixture list that throws up your bitter 3rd placed rivals and a resilient at home Liverpool, as your next two ties, isn’t one you’d look optimistic over. Yet, six points from six have been collected, whilst Tottenham have picked up zero. The gap is closed and the focus from Wenger is there: “the only thing you can say is in the last 15 years Spurs have finished behind Arsenal.”
If Tottenham failing to pick up any points from their past two fixtures, whilst Arsenal did the complete opposite, didn’t flair up the fight for London dominance, then the headline news on Sunday afternoon did. Just under nine months into his three-year contract at Chelsea, Portuguese manager Andre Villas-Boas was sacked. With just seven points separating Tottenham and Chelsea, with thirty-three left up for grabs, as well as the two facing each other in 19-days’ time, catching up their fellow Londoners will be at the top of their agenda.
Like Arsenal, Chelsea’s primary objective will be to ensure another season of Champions League football: especially considering interim first team coach Roberto Di Matteo has been given the reigns until the end of the campaign – presumably in hope of achieving Champions League football in order to attract the desirable calibre of manager for next season. Yet, unlike Arsenal, whose secondary objective of finishing above Spurs is motivated by a “hate,” according to their ‘keeper, if Chelsea do displace Tottenham, it’ll purely be a subsequent condition of ensuring Champions League status.
Whilst the main attraction will continue to be the two-horse race for the title, between Manchester City and Manchester United, the light relief of the battle for third will provide secondary entertainment of the highest pedigree.
In Andre-Villas Boas, the competition between the London clubs has already indirectly caused one casualty. With Harry Redknapp the favourite for the England job, securing dominance is vital and failing to do so may see another victim claimed. Meanwhile, whilst Champions League football is Arsenal’s real “trophy,” finishing above their rivals will be almost as important.
One thing’s for certain – nothing is certain.
Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit
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