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Tottenham, Arsenal, and Two Weeks ago

By Aaron Coe

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 13: Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino looks on during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium on February 13, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 13: Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino looks on during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium on February 13, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /
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In just over two weeks, Tottenham Hotspur have gone from on top of the world to playing possibly the most important match of the Mauricio Pochettino era on Saturday.

Oh, how much can change in two and a half weeks. Just 17 days ago Tottenham Hotspur had one of the best wins in European football this season, beating Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund 3-0 at Wembley. Spurs were a legitimate part of the title race.

LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 13: Juan Foyth of Tottenham Hotspur is challenged by Christian Pulisic of Borussia Dortmund during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium on February 13, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 13: Juan Foyth of Tottenham Hotspur is challenged by Christian Pulisic of Borussia Dortmund during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium on February 13, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /

Since that triumph, Spurs have dropped two straight and could inconceivably be only 1 point ahead of arch rival Arsenal by tomorrow afternoon, if the squad cannot find a way out of this sour patch.

Two weeks ago, Tottenham Hotspur were being considered one of three teams in for the title, now Spurs sit closer to closer to sixth place Chelsea on 53 points than they do second place Manchester City on 68. No longer is the talk about hanging in the title race, the key is finding points to hold off the teams behind.

But that was two weeks ago, when Spurs had a league best +19 goal differential on the road and only two road losses. Two weeks ago, when we had the most away wins in the league. Two weeks ago when Spurs were just five points off the lead with a game in hand! Oh, how much can change in two weeks.

Well Spurs still have both the most points and victories in league on the road, even if the goal differential isn’t as good as it once was. Yes, we all wanted and still somewhere deep down inside – hope – Spurs can win the league this year, but truth is, third is what we need.

LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 13: The Tottenham Hotspur team pose for a team photo prior to the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium on February 13, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 13: The Tottenham Hotspur team pose for a team photo prior to the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 First Leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium on February 13, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /

If a team that hasn’t added a player in 18-months, who had the most Premier League players in the World Cup and has been frankly hard-hit by injuries can pull off third, it is a great season. Don’t get me wrong, I and every other Spurs fan would love to win the League this year, but the odds are long.

This is no shot at our squad or the performance, in fact the team has more points at this stage in the Premier League era than any previous Tottenham team before. That really is something. However, when taking on teams spending more on a single purchase than Spurs do in multiple windows, it truly is tough to compete across a 38-game schedule. No excuses, just the reality of a team building a billion-pound stadium at their own expense.

Regardless of anything else to this point, Spurs have a decent shot in the Champions League and are four points in front of tomorrow’s opponent and long-time foe, Arsenal. Lose that one, Gunners are one point back with Spurs still making trips to both Anfield and the Emirates. Making this game a must win to stretch the lead over Arsenal back to 7.

Must win, arch-rivals, on a losing streak and playing in Germany on Tuesday. Add all those factors up and this makes the importance from last week at Burnley seem trivial. Arsenal are our rivals. They continue to spend and after 20 years finally changed coaches. Now is not the time to slip back behind the red curtain of Arsenal in London.

LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 19: Dele Alli of Tottenham Hotspur scores his team’s second goal during the Carabao Cup Quarter Final match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on December 19, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 19: Dele Alli of Tottenham Hotspur scores his team’s second goal during the Carabao Cup Quarter Final match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on December 19, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images) /

If Spurs lose, all the same tired old Spursy themes will come out questioning the character of the players, the manager, the whole damn club.  Lose this game and the proverbial noose gets tighter.

Of course, win this game, maintain the hold on both third place and city of London and at least for a few days’ things can feel a little like they did two weeks ago.

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