Harry Redknapp Still Confident of Spurs Finishing Ahead of Arsenal
Frank Wagner@Fw1812
Correspondent IMarch 26, 2012
Not too long ago, Tottenham was sitting with a 10-point lead over Arsenal in the Premier League table.
That was all before that fateful day in late February when Tottenham blew a 2-0 lead at the Emirates, falling 5-2 and changing the fortunes of both clubs.
Now, Spurs face a three-point deficit to their North London rivals with eight matches to play.
However, Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp does not seem too worried about the task ahead of his club.
After Spurs' draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday saw them hold onto a five-point grasp on fourth, Redknapp warned Arsenal that Tottenham has third place in their sights.
It's in our favour, Arsenal have got some tough games—they've got Man City at home, Chelsea at home. It's all to play for still.
We found ourselves suddenly from being 10 points clear to being behind Arsenal now.
It can all change. We've got to keep picking up results.
We've got decent games, I think...We've got to make sure now that we win six out of the last eight, if we can. You'd like to think we've got a chance of that.
No, it's not out of reach, of course not. I still think we'll finish above Arsenal—bring it on, Arsene!
Harry does have a point about the quality of opposition in the two clubs' respective run-ins.
Tottenham no longer has a match with any club in the top six of the Premier League and only three with clubs fighting to not be relegated. Meanwhile, Arsenal still have three matches with clubs in the top six and three more with clubs that are threatened by relegation.
However, the two clubs' recent forms certainly favor the Gunners.
For Tottenham supporters, finishing above Arsenal in the league would be an incredible victory. On the other side, Arsenal supporters would see a third-place finish as further vindication of their club's dominance in the North London rivalry.
In any case, given where the two clubs' seasons have been, both will probably be satisfied with a Champions League berth at this point.