Capital Gains?

By Chris Lucking (Photograph: Tom Jenkins)

If there is a sense of inevitability on the red side of Manchester about the impact of their local rival’s billions, they only need to look towards London for solace. That isn’t implying that United will put a halt to City’s pursuit of dominance like they did to Chelsea’s under Abramovich. No, what is happening in the present is always given greater emphasis in football. As United stubbornly continue to undermine City’s pursuit of their first league title in 44 years, that sense of inevitability must be firmly entrenched in London more than anywhere else. The power, it seems for now, is firmly in the grip of Manchester.

Note: There’s no denying that the Premier League’s power in European competitions belongs to Chelsea right now. Maybe Londoners should keep their eye on Champions League final tickets after all, which are available at Ticketbis.

A quite disheartening sight to those who enjoy seeing the league remain open until later in the year, the top of the Premiership was already taking shape a mere two weeks into the 2011/12 season. Dallying wasn’t an option. The statements of intent from the Manchester clubs, the only two who had maintained perfect records after just three games, couldn’t have been made clearer than on the last Sunday of August. After their respective victories over Tottenham and Arsenal in which they put a combined 13 goals past the London clubs, despite the animosity between the two, you couldn’t help but feel that a collective chuckle was let out in Manchester. Many in London were left smarting about the inadequate performances on that Sunday. Manchester’s two have since poked and prodded each other in their bid for supremacy, with a few City slips looking like bringing some certainty to that contest. Attention can now be redirected towards London.

Great pride is often taken about being the best of a numerous capital contingent. A trophy isn’t always needed to claim bragging rights. An alternative universe could have all of the clubs from the city in the Championship, yet they’d still manage to sporadically shut out the rest of England and berate each other in their own race for supremacy. Whatever happens outside of any city with a healthy football presence, it’s always reflected onto the city rivalry. Fans wouldn’t have it any other way.

Following a bad start to the season, speculation about the possible end of Wenger’s Arsenal reign was perpetuated by fans and detractors alike. The detractors in particular revelled in this, more so following the 8-2 defeat at Old Trafford. Even though it wasn’t a rapid improvement, Arsenal remained steadfast and slowly built their season back up. To say they have turned it around superbly since an unconvincing first half of the season isn’t an overstatement. Come the end of the season, if Arsenal can continue that, some people might even want to consider an apology. Critics of Wenger will no doubt maintain their cynicism until he’s managed to put an end to the trophy “drought” they are enduring, although that would do a disservice to Wenger and his side’s display of resoluteness, a trait that they have so often been accused of lacking. Besides, consider what a Carling Cup victory has done for Kenny Dalglish. Contrary to what the Liverpool manager says, teams are judged on points. Points failing to amount to a trophy don’t automatically render the league redundant.

Meanwhile Tottenham’s path since a false start has been quite different. As we so often see when a side unexpectedly imposes itself on a title race, however briefly, there was much speculation and excitement about their title credentials. Sky Sports News was revelling in having a different angle. Had Jermain Defoe tucked in Bale’s cross in the 91st minute of their encounter with City, or had Balotelli been sent off for his stamp on Scott Parker, who knows if they’d have still been prodding Spurs fans for sound-bites. Still, it wasn’t even a defeat that sent them on their slump. Realistic Spurs fans probably already had one eye on third spot. Amateur sport psychologists would be more inclined to consider the distraction of Redknapp being linked with the England job. Maybe we can just be honest and say that a run of bad form was to always be expected.

Whatever the reasons for the form of Arsenal and Spurs throughout the season, it has delivered an intriguing situation. The weekend saw a reverse in both clubs’ form of late, making the remaining seven games look quite tantalising. Spurs, who hadn’t won in the league since beating Newcastle 5-0 early in February, beat a slick Swansea side 3-1. Arsenal, who had won their last 7 in a row, stumbled at Loftus Road. Both clubs now sit on 58 points. The difference between them? One goal.

Both clubs now how a sense of purpose that they can use to reinvigorate themselves and the Champions League places, saving the rest of England from that Mancunian swagger. Sky Sports News can put Tottenham back on their list of things to get giddy about. They and Arsenal will be relishing the challenge. To believe otherwise would betray the truth that football fans are defined not just by the club they support, but also their rivalries. Those with their allegiances outside of the capital can certainly relate to the challenge of having a rival who wants to step on their toes.

Spurs fans must have been dreaming of a significant gap between themselves and Arsenal at the season’s end. Whatever they tell you about fourth place and Champions League football, there will be a sense of regret about having ceded fourth spot. Tottenham haven’t finished above Arsenal since 1995. 2006 saw them miss out due to a mystery bug (thought to be food poisoning) that weakened the team. Fourth spot was relinquished on the last day of the season. Spurs fans will be looking to make Arsenal feel just as sick as their players had been back then. Arsenal fans, who are all too aware that their team is a shadow of previous Wenger sides, will want to send out a reminder that it doesn’t mean they’re so vulnerable as to have open season declared on them. Chelsea might yet want to spoil the party by sneaking into the top four. You can be sure that it won’t stop Spurs and Arsenal fans sizing each other up in the meantime.

Forget all of the talk about the financial benefits of Champions League football. Spurs and Arsenal can probably account for a season or two without it, and they’ll both qualify anyway. It’s a minor incentive when a team has found something inherently more pleasing to play for. Manchester’s clubs may have collectively chortled back in September, but that’s long in the memory. Tottenham and Arsenal fans can suppress their desire for redemption until next season. They’re playing for more than laughs right now. Pride is at stake.

Chris writes for The Substitution, a new football blog that is full of excellent reads. And if you’re looking for football tickets for Arsenal, Spurs, or even Chelsea, then you’ll likely find them at Ticketbis.

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