If anyone still doubts the truth of Arsene Wenger’s assertion that fourth place is at least the equivalent of a trophy, let him ask the chairman, manager, players and supporters of Tottenham. If anyone needs further confirmation, let him make inquiries of Chelsea.
There are now three London clubs competing for two tickets to the Champions League and, while fourth place entails a qualifying process, try offering it to any of them — you’d have your hand bitten off. All would certainly prefer it to the Europa League entry Swansea earned for winning the Capital One Cup Final last weekend.
So Arsenal’s visit to White Hart Lane on Sunday is more than a derby. It is a chance for Spurs to establish themselves as firm favourites for, in effect, European promotion while moving Arsenal closer to relegation to the continent’s second division.
That is the difference one player might have made when the season comes to be analysed and Sam Allardyce put it perfectly when he said last night: “At the moment there is nobody doing more for a football club than Gareth Bale for Tottenham.”
The West Ham manager may have been talking Premier League but even Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who clash in the Copa del Rey tonight, will do well to surpass Bale’s display at Upton Park. If he plays in each of Spurs’ remaining 11 fixtures — which include the visit of Arsenal and a trip to Chelsea — the club should take football’s most significant step up.
So let’s hope referee Mark Clattenburg has a strong, pro-active performance at the Lane. Not that it will be necessary if Wenger warns his players against fouling Bale, who, more than once of late, has risen from the floor to demand the ball and impose match-winning punishment — last night was a resounding example.
