Arsenal Fans Fear Tottenham Might Let City Win
There will be no shortage of Spurs fans on Tuesday who would prefer their team to lose against Manchester City just to avoid helping their biggest rivals in North London, Arsenal, who need a favor from either Tottenham or West Ham United to win their first Premier League in two decades.
Since their triumph in 2003-2004, when Arsene Wenger's 'Invincibles' reigned, the glory of the title has eluded the Gunners, who are entering the final matchday with a chance to lift the trophy. They will need a slip-up from City, maybe even two, depending on the goal difference, which currently favors Arsenal with a +3 advantage.
In terms of points, Arsenal leads the table with a one-point advantage over City, who still have a postponed match to make up, the one scheduled for Tuesday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The "North London Derby" is the ultimate derby in the capital, and the rivalry between the two teams is so fierce that several Spurs fans seem willing to give up Champions League qualification just to spite their neighbors.
Tottenham still has fourth place at stake. Ange Postecoglou's side is fifth, four points behind Aston Villa, who visits Liverpool on Monday with nothing at stake. If Unai Emery's side wins at Anfield, Tottenham's chances of making it to the Champions League will be over, and they will have to settle for the Europa League at best, as there is still a remote possibility that Chelsea and Newcastle United could overtake them.
If Villa fails to win against Liverpool, Tottenham will take the field tomorrow knowing that Champions League qualification is still possible.
Moreover, they will do so on a pitch that has been a curse for City. They lost their first five games here since it opened in April 2019. They were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Champions League that same season and lost all four subsequent Premier League matches. In fact, they have never scored a goal in the Premier League at this stadium.