Arsenal told Tottenham’s season could be better despite 14-place gap in Premier League
Jamie O’Hara believes Tottenham Hotspur will have had a better season than Arsenal if they secure the Europa League title and their north London rivals are eliminated from the Champions League. The former Spurs midfielder was in high spirits on Thursday night as Ange Postecoglou’s side cruised to a 3-1 victory against Bodo Glimt. Tottenham could yet end a dismal season by qualifying for the Champions LeagueGetty Brennan Johnson set the tone 38 seconds in as he headed in whilst unmarked at the back post. James Maddison and Dominic Solanke then followed suit to ensure a first-leg victory and put one foot in the final. Bodo did score late on but Spurs held on to stretch their unbeaten home run to 20 matches in Europe. It’s the longest ongoing unbeaten home run from any English side who have featured in Europe this term. Spurs sit 16th in the Premier League after a dismal league season, but the potential of a Europa League title – and the Champions League place that would come with it – has converted some frowns into smiles. The same cannot be said of Arsenal – who watched Liverpool lift the Premier League title on Sunday and then fell victim to PSG in their Champions League first leg. Ousmane Dembele silenced the Emirates crowd as he scored the only goal of the match in the fourth minute. Mikel Arteta’s side are likely to finish second in the league, 14 places above Spurs, but that will be for the third successive time, extending it to five years without a trophy since they won the FA Cup. “If Spurs win the Europa League, we get Champions League football and Arsenal get knocked out of the Champions League, we’ve had a better season,” ex- Tottenham midfielder O’Hara said on talkSPORT. “I genuinely believe we’ve had a better season. Our goal this season was to win a trophy and get Champions League football and we could do that. An end to Spurs’ 17 years trophy drought could be enough to save Postecoglou’s jobGetty “Arsenal, their goal this season is to either win the Champions League or win the Premier League and it looks like they’re not going to do either.” Despite the downtrodden mood of Arsenal fans, there remains a second leg in Paris to be played with only a one goal differential to overcome. Arsenal are capable of beating PSG as they proved back in October but with multiple injuries and a much-improved opposition it will be a hard task. Spurs could yet sack manager Postecoglou this summer – even if they win the Europa League and end a 17-year trophy drought – such has been their turmoil in the Premier League. Another ex-Spurs player, Ramon Vega, also joined talkSPORT to give his opinion. He said: “Arsenal messed up the league. “If Spurs win the Europa League, I think Tottenham funnily enough will have the better season because a title is always more important than any position in any league. Match Stats “That’s the one you’re leaving as a legacy. A position in the league is just a stat. A trophy goes in the cabinet and it stays there.” If Tottenham do progress to the final, it is likely they will meet Manchester United, who beat a ten-man Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in the first leg of their semi-final.
Jamie O’Hara believes Tottenham Hotspur will have had a better season than Arsenal if they secure the Europa League title and their north London rivals are eliminated from the Champions League.
The former Spurs midfielder was in high spirits on Thursday night as Ange Postecoglou’s side cruised to a 3-1 victory against Bodo Glimt.
Brennan Johnson set the tone 38 seconds in as he headed in whilst unmarked at the back post.
James Maddison and Dominic Solanke then followed suit to ensure a first-leg victory and put one foot in the final.
Bodo did score late on but Spurs held on to stretch their unbeaten home run to 20 matches in Europe.
It’s the longest ongoing unbeaten home run from any English side who have featured in Europe this term.
Spurs sit 16th in the Premier League after a dismal league season, but the potential of a Europa League title – and the Champions League place that would come with it – has converted some frowns into smiles.
The same cannot be said of Arsenal – who watched Liverpool lift the Premier League title on Sunday and then fell victim to PSG in their Champions League first leg.
Ousmane Dembele silenced the Emirates crowd as he scored the only goal of the match in the fourth minute.
Mikel Arteta’s side are likely to finish second in the league, 14 places above Spurs, but that will be for the third successive time, extending it to five years without a trophy since they won the FA Cup.
“If Spurs win the Europa League, we get Champions League football and Arsenal get knocked out of the Champions League, we’ve had a better season,” ex- Tottenham midfielder O’Hara said on talkSPORT.
“I genuinely believe we’ve had a better season. Our goal this season was to win a trophy and get Champions League football and we could do that.
“Arsenal, their goal this season is to either win the Champions League or win the Premier League and it looks like they’re not going to do either.”
Despite the downtrodden mood of Arsenal fans, there remains a second leg in Paris to be played with only a one goal differential to overcome.
Arsenal are capable of beating PSG as they proved back in October but with multiple injuries and a much-improved opposition it will be a hard task.
Spurs could yet sack manager Postecoglou this summer – even if they win the Europa League and end a 17-year trophy drought – such has been their turmoil in the Premier League.
Another ex-Spurs player, Ramon Vega, also joined talkSPORT to give his opinion. He said: “Arsenal messed up the league.
“If Spurs win the Europa League, I think Tottenham funnily enough will have the better season because a title is always more important than any position in any league.
“That’s the one you’re leaving as a legacy. A position in the league is just a stat. A trophy goes in the cabinet and it stays there.”
If Tottenham do progress to the final, it is likely they will meet Manchester United, who beat a ten-man Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in the first leg of their semi-final.
