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Spurs and Arsenal have more reasons to
be rivals ahead of the derby game, especially with Arsenal
on the road to potential Champions League success.
Read also:
Mido in last season's derby
The two sides are the bitterest of rivals,
thanks to their near geographical situations which have
made them foes for years.
Arsenal are used to finishing ahead of Tottenham, but
this season have been lurking behind. But with the east-London
derby coming up in a few days, an Arsenal win would
see Spurs just 1 point ahead of Arsenal, who have a
match in hand.
It is the most important game of the season for Mido's
team, though Arsenal's success in the Champions League
has caused debate. Last season, England had exactly
the same scenario with the even more hating rivals of
Merseyside, Everton and Liverpool, playing for the 4th
spot. Everton made it, Liverpool came 5th but won the
Champions League. By special acceptance, the UEFA allowed
Liverpool into the tournament automatically without
denying Everton their place.
Now the rules are clear. Even if Tottenham finish 4th,
but an English team wins the Champions League, i.e..
Arsenal, Tottenham will have to settle for UEFA Cup
action. This would be every Spurs fan's nightmare, being
knocked out by their rivals despite finishing ahead
of them.
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Yesterday, Arsenal won 1-0 against Villarreal in their
first leg semi-final game, and they are looking odds-on
to reach the final of the prestigious European competition.
Tottenham meanwhile are confident they can finish 4th,
but everybody involved with the club will have to cheer
on Villarreal in the second leg or the finalists should
Arsenal reach.
It has now been revealed that Tottenham are challenging
the UEFA's rules, and that the Premier League are supporting
them in doing so. According to a British newspaper,
they requested reconsideration of the rules, but to
no avail.
Spurs representatives may even consider taking legal
action on UEFA, on the ground that the rules are discriminatory
under European legislation. The rule only takes place
should a team from one of the countries that gets 4
places win the tournament, so England, Italy and Spain.
There is extremely little chance that UEFA change the
rules after just months of operating them, though Spurs
will not be deterred and will most likely continue trying
to finish in the top 4, complaining to UEFA and quite
inevitably wishing Arsenal's European campaign bad luck...
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