Tens of thousands of Tottenham Hotspur supporters will experience an unusual conflict on Tuesday night when their team faces Manchester City in the final home game of the season. Many will be hoping for a defeat, knowing that a City win would virtually guarantee Arsenal the Premier League title. If City slip up, an Arsenal victory over Everton on Sunday would crown Mikel Arteta's squad as champions for the first time in 20 years.
Despite the fans' dilemma, manager Ange Postecoglou and his players have made clear they will give their all. "Real success looks like trophies. Anything else in between, bragging rights, whatever it is, is absolutely meaningless to me," said Postecoglou. Defender Micky van de Ven echoed that sentiment after scoring the winner against Burnley, insisting the team must win both remaining fixtures to keep alive their slim hopes of Champions League qualification.
Yet many Spurs supporters see things differently. "I'd be physically annoyed if we actually won because I can't think of much worse than Arsenal winning the league. That is my literal worst nightmare," said Billie T, a contributor to the Hometown Glory podcast. "I live near way too many Arsenal fans I would consider fleeing the country I think, it would be that bad." Football statistician Jonny Blain, host of An Echo Of Glory podcast, added: "What's the number one priority for a football fan? Your own team doing well. What's the second priority? Your rival doing badly."
The rift reflects the deep tribalism of north London football, where success and failure are seen as intrinsically linked. "Arsenal's failure and Tottenham's success and Tottenham's failure and Arsenal's success are intrinsically linked and always will be," said Billie T. Blain dismissed accusations of a small-club mentality, noting that every Arsenal fan in social media circles would be celebrating a title win.
Arsenal, by contrast, have emerged as neutrals' favourites, partly because of the 115 charges for alleged financial rule-breaking hanging over City. A fourth consecutive title for Pep Guardiola's side would raise legitimate questions about the Premier League's competitive balance, making Tuesday's outcome significant far beyond the confines of north London.
