by Simon Foster
While Alex Ferguson and Roberto Mancini slug it out via their respective press conferences, Arsenal are engaging in some psychological warfare of their own against North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Despite being genuine title challengers for much of the season, a recent slump in form has seen Spurs lose their hold on the crucial third place in the Premier League – which they’ll need if they are to return automatically to the Champions League for a second time in three seasons. They play a resurgent Chelsea this afternoon in a vital game for both clubs.
Arsenal, by comparison, have been enjoying a run of six consecutive wins – a sequence that
included the stunning, and seemingly pivotal, 5-2 victory over Spurs at the Emirates Stadium in February.
“In the battle for third place the momentum is ours now,” says Robin Van Persie in his matchday programme notes for today’s game against Aston Villa. “We are winning games and the other teams are dropping points.
“They have tough fixtures coming up too because Chelsea meet Spurs… For those two to play each other at this moment is fantastic because we know one of them – or even both of them – will definitely drop points.”
His colleague Thomas Vermaelen is in equally buoyant mood, suggesting that Arsenal are now the clear favourites to finish third. “At the moment we have had some good results against some difficult teams. We have shown good mentality… But we won’t be looking at Tottenham, only ourselves. That’s the important thing for us, not what other clubs are doing.
“Arsenal are favourites for third… we just have to keep the focus on our own performances.”
Tottenham’s manager Harry Redknapp is, however, cutting a more rueful figure. Dismissing claims that speculation over the England job has affected his team, he insists that third place is still realistic.
“We can still finish above Arsenal,” he said. “Arsenal can think it’s all over. It’s not all over. They’re not going to win every game, are they?”
