The fource is still with Wenger

Posted Monday, April 29, 2013 by The Sun

SO it looks like it’s all down to Chelsea v Tottenham on May 8.

The fource is still with Wenger And Spurs may well have to win at Stamford Bridge to edge Arsenal out of that last Champions League place.

That is, of course, on the assumption Chelsea claim the third spot behind the two Manchester clubs.

It should not be beyond Arsene Wenger’s team to win their last three games against relegated QPR (a), Wigan (h) and Newcastle (a).

That would put them on 73 points.

Though edgy Gooners are getting as nervous as their team looked yesterday against Manchester United and fear a banana skin looms in the shape of Roberto Martinez’s FA Cup finalists — who won 2-1 at the Emirates late last season.

Spurs look good for wins against Southampton (h), Stoke (a) and Sunderland (h).

Stoke might have turned a corner but having secured another season in the top flight, their minds may well be on the beach and the Coppertone.

That would give Spurs 71 points — which means they need a win at Chelsea — and you just cannot see that happening.

Which would be a major blow for Spurs after missing out last season despite finishing fourth.

It would also probably be more than Arsenal deserve.

Yesterday they made a flying start against United when Theo Walcott gave them the lead inside two minutes despite being offside.

David De Gea then just about kept out a Santi Cazorla effort.

Had that gone in, it might have been a different story.

Instead, Arsenal gradually fell away.

United came back to dominate the rest of the first half.

They could have scored three times but had to settle for one — Robin van Persie converting a 44th-minute penalty on his Emirates return.

The rest of what turned into a pretty tedious affair saw United — despite long celebrations after winning the title — cope comfortably with whatever little Arsenal could muster while always threatening to hit them on the break through the pace of Nani on the left and Rafael and Antonio Valencia on the right.

So Arsenal edged another point towards their 16th consecutive season in the Champions League.

Yet many would rather see Spurs get another crack at it after the scintillating football they produced under Harry Redknapp.

There is also no better atmosphere in which to experience European football in this country than White Hart Lane.

This will not go down well with Arsenal fans. But what actually do the Gunners ever achieve in the Champions League?

In 15 seasons, they have reached one final in 2006 and a semi-final three seasons later when they were butchered 3-1 at home by United.

For a club with such lofty ambitions that is not good enough.

In the last two seasons, they have gone out in the last 16 in the style that has now become a trademark.

Thrashed 4-0 at the San Siro by AC Milan, they clawed back three at home before half-time but couldn’t get a fourth.

This season they were hammered 3-1 at home by Bayern Munich before producing an extraordinary 2-0 victory at the Allianz.

But for Arsenal it was, once again, too little, too late — and a win that merely papered over the cracks.

Should they nail a Champions League spot then we can expect more of the same — because we have come to the stage where Arsenal are there merely to make up the numbers.

Yes, they have put together a decent late push in the league where they have lost just once since January 20.

But the team that beat them — Spurs — says it all.

Of games played against the two Manchester clubs, Chelsea and Tottenham, the Gunners have won just five points.

It’s a similar tale in Europe. When they play a decent side, they fall short.

Unless Wenger signs some serious players, it will be the same old depressing saga next season.