Unfortunately for Arsenal fans, Mikel Arteta is relying on Tottenham (yet again)

A 2-0 defeat to Manchester City towards the very end of the 2023/24 season was described by Ange Postecoglou as "probably the worst experience I’ve had as a football manager”.

His Tottenham side had, in fact, played rather well against the title hopefuls. "They're having a real go," some commented, but that's where the issue lay.

Anything but three points for Pep Guardiola's Cityzens that night would've seen our bitter foes, Arsenal, take command of the title race heading into the final day. It was a unique occasion, and one I don't think any of us want to endure again. The principled Postecoglou, who would later admit he misread the situation, initially couldn't grasp why there were so many keen to see their own side beaten that night.

None of us were proud of feeling that way, for wanting that outcome. But we accepted that this would be a one-off. When Son Heung-min raced through at the last to potentially snatch a fatal point, we all sank to our knees as Guardiola did.

As the typically so efficient South Korean approached Stefan Ortega's goal, the image of Martin Ødegaard holding the title aloft must've flashed through the consciousness of Gooners across the land and overseas. Fortunately, that dastardly image crossed Son's mind, too, and Ortega emerged as the hero in their decisive joust.

The title was City's, and Arsenal are still waiting for their moment in the sun under Mikel Arteta.

Tottenham fans foolish to want anything but a victory against Man City

There had been acceptance that this was Arsenal's year. After Man City were beaten 2-0 in the Manchester derby two weeks ago, much of the discourse focused on how handsome the Gunners’ title triumph would be.

They had the chance to move nine points clear at Nottingham Forest, but in the blink of an eye, their advantage is just four.

And had Arsenal done the business at the City Ground and failed to concede late on to Manchester United, we wouldn't be having another debate regarding the urges of Tottenham supporters ahead of City's visit to N17 on Sunday afternoon.

Arsenal's malaise has enlivened the title race, offering a vulnerable City (not to mention the depleted Aston Villa) a chance to compete until the last. This is not a City side comparable with their very best, but after Man Utd waltzed into a nervy Emirates and claimed victory, factions of the neurotic Gunners fanbase are fearing a collapse.

Arsenal remain in command, but City, who'll soon have a couple of their injured defenders back and have signed two of the Premier League's best at their respective positions in January, are suddenly in a position to pounce.

However, their momentum may be stymied in a familiar graveyard for Guardiola's men this weekend. The Spaniard arrived on English shores to take the City job in 2016, but waited almost eight years to secure his maiden victory in N17—and that was an FA Cup tie. The aforementioned 2-0 victory was City's first Premier League triumph at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and a 1-0 win last season suggests the Sky Blues have well and truly exorcised their north London demons.

Sunday's fixture is not comparable to the awkward occasion overseen by Postecoglou two seasons ago. While that duel directly impacted where the title would reside, the upcoming bout arrives in Gameweek 24. There's still so much football to be played, and ultimately, Spurs supporters are not in a position to be pleading for defeats.

18th-place West Ham United are just eight points back. Fears of a relegation scrap are increasing ahead of a tough run of games. It'd be very Spurs to win on Sunday, given their woeful home record in the Premier League this term, but we're going to have to start picking up points soon to avoid an utterly disastrous scenario.

And whether that helps our rivals this time around, so be it. There's plenty of time for their collapse to set in. If the Emirates is that tense for a January outing when they're seven clear at the summit, imagine what it'll be like in mid-April if City are still sniffing around?!

We, of course, could atone for snatching a result on Sunday when we host the north London derby next month, with Thomas Frank likely to still be in the job. That's why, for me, wanting anything but a win this weekend would be foolish. It's clear that this board, whether rightly or wrongly, are going to stick by this manager, perhaps for the season.

Our successful Champions League campaign means Frank has some credit in the bank, with recent tactical quirks hopefully sparking a drastic domestic improvement.