Will the new kid hit veteran with KO blow?
IN North London last night, boxing’s future met boxing’s past when Anthony Joshua took on Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley.
Today, 13 miles along the North Circular Road, there’s a similar sort of contest when new kid on the block, Mauricio Pochettino, takes on veteran campaigner, Arsene Wenger.
Wenger has never finished behind Tottenham in the League before – but he will this season.
The last time Spurs headed the Gunners was in 1995 when the Frenchman was managing Monaco and a 22-year-old Pochettino signed for Espanyol.
It was such a momentous occurrence, the Gunners’ fans sarcastically dubbed it “St Totteringham’s Day.”
Pochettino should have ended that woeful sequence last season when Spurs only needed a draw at relegated Newcastle to finish second behind Leicester, but were thrashed 5-1.
Spurs slipped to third and the natural order was re-established.
The patch was under red rule well before Wenger arrived.
Since Tottenham last won the title in 1961, Arsenal have won it six times. Since Spurs last won the FA Cup in 1991, Arsenal have won it seven times and could win it again next month.
While Arsenal have competed in the Champions League for 17 seasons on the trot, Spurs have made just two appearances.
This season, though, the balance of power has taken a seismic shift.
Wenger takes his team to White Hart Lane desperately requiring three points to maintain that unique record of 17 consecutive top-four finishes.
With his contract about to expire, even a late flourish – and a Wembley triumph against Chelsea – would leave many unconvinced about a new deal. The contrast with Pochettino couldn’t be starker. The Argentinian has the unequivocal backing of the Board and the fans, his team haven’t dropped a home point since October and could yet be champions.
This will be the last-ever derby played at the current White Hart Lane.
The shell of the 61,000 capacity new ground already envelops the old one and soon Spurs will be able to rake in as much match-day income as Arsenal, who have long had the financial advantage.
Arsenal might not be able to prevent Spurs finishing ahead of them. But what they can do today is stop their rivals winning the title.
In a season of very few good days for Wenger, that wouldn’t be a bad one.