OPINION
Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno has predicted that Tottenham will finish in the top-four of the Premier League this season and qualify for the Champions League.
Spurs took a major stride towards a top-four finish on Tuesday night when Christian Eriksen scored a late winner in a 1-0 victory over relegation-threatened Brighton.
Speaking before that fixture, Leno backed Spurs to qualify for Europe’s top competition alongside Arsenal.
He also believes that Manchester City will end up winning the league, with Liverpool settling for a runners-up spot due to them having to play twice against Barcelona in the coming weeks.
“[It will be] Manchester City first, because Liverpool also have the Champions League, so maybe they will lose some power and energy from that,” he said, as quoted by Sky Sports. “I believe they have a realistic chance against Barcelona, it’s 50-50, but City only have the FA Cup final and the Premier League.
“I think at the end it will then be us and Tottenham.
“I believe in our quality and we have everything in our own hands. I don’t mind about the other teams though, if we are in the top four everything is OK for me!”
Tottenham will definitely be thrilled if Leno’s prediction ends up happening.
Not only would it mean that Spurs are in the Champions League despite a not-so-convincing run of domestic form in 2019, it would also mean that they have another competition to compare themselves with Arsenal and tear into their North London rivals for their shortcomings.
While it has been fun to see the Gunners in the Europa League for the last few seasons, it will be good to see the two North London clubs in the Champions League together.
Although they are unlikely to meet, it just adds to the rivalry a bit because it just shows that the teams are more evenly matched than when it was a Champions League team versus a Europa League team.
Leno is probably correct in his prediction that Spurs will finish in the top-four.
Now it is over to Arsenal to have their say in what could be a very tricky game for them on Wednesday night when they take on Wolves at Molineux.