Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
FIRST AMONG EQUALS
Topping Gunners not enough for Poch
TOTTENHAM have wiped out the gap – now it is about finishing above not just Arsenal but everyone else. Boss Mauricio Pochettino (above) reckons Spurs are finally Arsenal’s equals after years in their shadow. They have not finished above the Gunners since 1995 – before Dele Alli was even born. But Arsene Wenger’s reign as boss of the best team in North London could be over tomorrow if Spurs triumph at White Hart Lane, guaranteeing they finish above their neighbours. After more than two decades of being mocked by their fiercest rivals, it would be a day for Spurs supporters to savour on what was confirmed last night will be the final derby at the current White Hart Lane. A Spurs board meeting yesterday confirmed they will play at Wembley next season and while Pochettino understands how much finishing above Arsenal means to the fans, he is more focused on making his side top dogs in the Premier League. He said: “It is true in the last few years Arsenal was above Tottenham, but I think the power is equal. “It is a derby that in my short experience at the club is so warm, passionate. “I understand for the fans it means a lot because after 20 years Tottenham always was below and I can understand that means a lot to be above. “But for me I want to be above Arsenal, but I want to win the title more. My aim is to win every game, win titles, develop our philosophy and create something special at Tottenham.” It could be a pivotal day in the title race as Spurs will know the outcome of tabletoppers Chelsea’s visit to Everton earlier in the day and could have the chance to slash the Blues’ lead to just one point. Pochettino insists his players can cope with the emotion around the game. He said: “You cannot ignore that it is a derby and all that means for us, for the fans. “We are not only playing a derby, we are playing for another big thing, that is to be alive and in the race until the end of the season, trying to win the Premier League. “It is a very tough job to try to be focused, to try to win the three points. But at the end it’s the same. To win, to get the three points, you must be better than your opponent. “It’s true that emotion will be involved, more than maybe in other games. “But it’s a good thing that the team learns a lot, they know football is emotion, you play with emotion. “It won’t be new for the team.”