In the grand scheme of things it would make very little difference to Arsenal if we finished up in second or third place in the Premier League table this season. Both places carry an automatic qualification for the group stages of the Champions League, unlike fourth which means a play-off at the start of next season, but there is no extra advantage to coming second rather than third.
That does not stop Arsenal fans from hoping and praying that the Gunners claim that second spot this weekend, though, as it will mean that we stop the Tottenham fans from gaining EPL bragging rights over us for the first time in 20 years. It is not in our own hands though, so all we can do is make sure that we beat Aston Villa at the Emirates and hope.
As well as being an Arsenal player, the England international midfielder Jack Wilshere is a Gooner through and through and so he wants that second place as much as anyone and in a Metro report the 24-year old has backed the Newcastle United team of Rafa Benitez to do us a favour in their final game against the spuds.
Wilshere also made a point of reminding the Spurs fans who the traditional holders of power in our neck of the woods are, while also suggesting that their poor recent run of form and their loss to Southampton last weekend has really helped Arsenal to keep going and avoid a really disastrous campaign.
He said, ‘We all knew the Spurs result and of course that motivates us.
‘We want to finish above them and show we are the best team in north London.
‘We expect to win our home games so hopefully Newcastle can do us a favour.’
‘I saw about 10 minutes of the first half and when I turned it off it was 1-1.
‘Obviously, then you are checking your phone in the dressing room. When we saw it finished 2-1 it gave us a real lift.’
It certainly seems that the pressure that was all on Arsenal has now switched firmly to the white bit of north London and with the Magpies having something to play for, could Jack be right about them doing us a big favour?
Bob.