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London derbies – an enjoyable affair?

2 min read
by Editor
Our London derbies have never been something I’ve looked forward to when the fixtures are announced. Not for the lack of points over the last 25 years but for the feelings that overcome us in the preamble, ninety minutes and often the aftermath. Chelsea can often be a brutal occasion, being outplayed, outwitted and in […]

Our London derbies have never been something I’ve looked forward to when the fixtures are announced. Not for the lack of points over the last 25 years but for the feelings that overcome us in the preamble, ninety minutes and often the aftermath.

Chelsea can often be a brutal occasion, being outplayed, outwitted and in the past offering nothing more than a self deprecating whimper. Arsenal are well… enough said.

On the whole it’s agreed that Pochettino has transformed many aspects of this club. A playing style that translates effortlessly from the senior starting eleven to our youth’s substitute bench. A tougher core, robust enough to match anyone in the league. And an adoring fan base, brimming with pride whenever our beloved Tottenham are mentioned.

Something creeping onto my list though is the genuine confidence going into every crunch game. Most notably, against our close geographical rivals. In the league between 2012 and Pochettino’s debut season, we were beaten four out of the five times we played that weird bunch down the road – does he mean Chelsea? I think he does? Since then we have gone unbeaten in two and a half years and counting. The term “Three Point Lane” now sounds as foreign as our man at the helm when he graced these shores. Memorable nights including the euphoric 5-3 New Year’s Day encounter and, of course, our most recent triumph over Chelsea.

A review of the odds at 888Sport shows that (apart from champions-elect Chelsea) Tottenham have the shortest odds of finishing in the top four.

It’s bizarre to think that Poch hasn’t endured a true table rivalry with these two simultaneously as of yet. In 2014/15 we finished eleven points behind Arsenal as Chelsea trotted to the finish line. Ironically it was the other way round the following year, the ‘champions’ finding themselves in tenth. This year looks as if we could go the distance along with both of them. You never know, it could be both of them going the distance with us.

I suppose these are the pressures the top sides have to endure year in, year out. All on top of the natural pressures a derby game brings. But this is something Pochettino has also brought to this club. We’re now taken seriously by all clubs in the league. Just ask Guardiola. And what a feeling it is. Now not only do we go into these games with confidence but they come with an enjoyment, thoughts no longer of “imagine”, but “when”.

Recent wins have put us four places above Arsenal and got people talking about yet another title push. These games are no longer just about getting one over on them. It’s points on the table, where it could matter come May. Enjoy the feeling while it’s here, we may soon have to get used to it.

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