Two Tottenham stars make feelings clear on helping Arsenal by beating Man City
Tottenham’s squad have no interest in the ramifications of their match against Manchester City for rivals Arsenal – insisting they’re solely focused on their own season. After beating Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday, the Gunners are one point clear at the top of the table going into the final week of the campaign.
City have a game in hand which comes at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium tomorrow (Tuesday) night. Victory would put the reigning champions, who are chasing a fourth successive title, two clear and in control going into the final day when they face West Ham at the Etihad.
Arsenal, seeking a first title since 2004, end their season on Sunday at home to Everton. And they will be nervously hoping for a favour from their north London rivals Spurs who have won all of their four Premier League home matches against City since moving into their new stadium.
Pep Guardiola’s charges did beat Tottenham at this venue in January in the FA Cup but were held to a 3-3 draw in the reverse league fixture in Manchester this season. City are an opponent who Spurs have generally enjoyed playing against in recent seasons.
Yet Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison have no interest in what the result means for other clubs. Instead, they say Spurs’ total focus is on their fading hopes of a top-four finish. They ideally need fourth-placed Aston Villa to lose to Liverpool tonight but a draw would also keep their ambitions alive.
Arsenal supporters were left furious after Spurs performed their lap of honour following Saturday’s win over Burnley – rather than after the match against City. And Kulusevski admitted: “It was a strange feeling but it was for the kids today because it was an afternoon game but the season is not over, absolutely not.
Asked if any Spurs supporters had asked the team purposefully to lose to City in midweek to help ensure Arsenal do not win the league, the Swedish winger made his feelings clear. “It’s a team we love playing against,” he said.
