So now, the time is near...
Tomorrow is Arsenals date with destiny! If we win at Newcastle we will be in the Champions League yet again! The fact it would be at the expense of our poor neighbours Spurs would make it even sweeter!
Win by more than 2 goals and there is even a chance we could take 3rd place from Chelsea and in doing so not have to play a 2 legged qualifying game before the start of the season! This would be more than fantastic, but right now I will settle for 4th place and watching Spurs lick their wounds once more....would Player of the Year Gareth Bale really stay and pursue the 'glory' of the Europa League when he could be mixing it with the elite players and teams in the Champions League? This is Tottenhams problem, and I hope it's one they are going to have!
There are some that assume Newcastle, safe from relegation, will already be on the Beach and will not bother putting in any effort against Arsenal! Total baloney! For a start, Alan Pardew and Arsene Wenger have history, and the Newcastle boss will be keen to get one over on him, especially after the humiliation of a 7-3 thrashing at the Emirates earlier in the Season! Some of the Newcastle players will be playing for their places in next seasons team, after all, they have only just avoided relegation after a very disappointing campaign when so much was expected of them after the previous seasons heroics.
There is also the fact that they will be playing in front of 50,000 screaming Geordies, desperate for the team to erase the memories of the 6-0 home drubbing by Liverpool. Forget Pardews claim that he wouldn't mind losing 4-0 to Arsenal as long as they were safe from relegation, this was just a soundbite to express his relief at survival, now the game is almost here he will be demanding that his players end the season on a high! There are season tickets for 2013-2014 to sell at St Jame Park!!
We have to assume that Spurs will beat Sunderland at home, even though it's not guaranteed! Spurs have a history of choking when the going gets tough and it would be keeping to character if they lost or drew when a win would have sent them into the Top 4! Sunderland boss Paulo Di Canio is talking up the importance of getting a win, not least because the result could cost the Club 4.5 million pounds, depending on where they finish in the league!
Finally there is Chelsea..... after their trip and win in the Europa Cup final in midweek they have a tough home game against Everton, who will want to say goodbye to out going manager David Moyes with a strong performance! There is even the possibility of a play off match between Chelsea and Arsenal to decide the 3rd and 4th positions should Arsenals match end in a 2-1 win to the Gunners and Chelseas match finish in a 0-0 draw, as the teams would then be level on points, goal difference and goals scored! A unique scenario!
So, it's all to play for, and the eyes of the World will be on Arsenal as the Title and relegation issues are already sorted.
I'm predicting an Arsenal win and Champions League football again, but it's going to be a nervous time for Gooners everywhere! Better get your nails cut so there is nothing to chew come 3pm tomorrow!
Carl
https://twitter.com/CarlBovis_AFC
