Chelsea vs Tottenham: The result and its consequences

Arsenal emerged the real winner yesterday

From the moment the referee blew the whistle, it was only one team that looked like winning and sadly for the Tottenham fans, it was the other side which looked like taking all the three points from the match. The men in blue who dominated the match for most part would have won had Chelsea forward Ramires not lost his footing in front of the goal. Owing to some individual brilliance from Adebayor who scored the first goal and set up the second, Spurs came from behind twice to finish the game at two goals apiece for both sides.

The draw means that Tottenham are now one point behind Arsenal at fifth place with 66 points with only two games left in the season. It was crucial for Spurs that they win because now their Champions League qualification is no longer in their hands. If Arsenal and Chelsea win their remaining two matches, Tottenham would fail to make it to the the top 4 even if they get maximum points from their last two games. The Spurs only have themselves to blame for their predicament as their performance over the past few weeks have been rather scratchy. It now seems a distant past when they looked destined to qualify for the Champions League after their win against Arsenal which earned them a considerable lead over Arsene Wenger’s side. AVB’s men can no longer afford any more slip-ups and hope that the other two contenders drop points in both of their games.

The Chelsea team would be quite satisfied after having settled for a draw. Although they would be disappointed that they missed a myriad of chances, it can be safely said that they are the happier of the two camps from the result. A win for Chelsea on the night would have virtually secured them a Champions league spot for the next season as they are way ahead of Tottenham on goal difference. But even after the draw, they look more than likely to qualify as for all practical measures, they need to win only one game from the their remaining two matches to ensure a Champions League spot. A win would take them to 72 points and with Spurs at 66, they would be through to the biggest league of Europe even if they lose their other match.

There are a few things you never say to an Arsenal fan, and the top among that list is, “Your team will surely drop out from the top 4 this season!” Midway through the season, the team looked like an uninspired lot whose qualification for the Champions League looked out of the question. A frustrated manager without silverware for 7 years and a team sorely missing someone to lead from the front on the pitch, Arsenal’s fate was deemed to have been settled when they lost to their city rivals Tottenham in the first week of March. But somehow, they have risen from the depths to finally have control of the 4th position. Should they win their remaining two matches, they would qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the 16th consecutive year. Arsene Wenger should be deeply relieved should they qualify but the lack of silverware would still be giving him sleepless nights till the dawn of the next season.

Yesterday was pivotal in the context of this season of the Premier League. With Chelsea’s future firmly in their own hands and Arsenal for the first time this season looking steady at the 4th position, Tottenham have to depend on the other two for their qualification. But the race to the Champions League was eclipsed by the announcement of the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement. After 26 years as the coach of Manchester United, the great Scot has decided to retire at the end of this season. He has been a perennial presence in the footballing world for most of us enjoying the beautiful game and the legacy he has left will surely not be forgotten any time soon. Thank you Sir for everything, and wish you a happy retired life!