Four-thousand, nine-hundred and sixty-three days
Three-thousand, two-hundred and eighty-three days
We all know which one is the biggest number, yet we constantly hear about the smallest one, which is the number of days our infamous trophy-drought lasted.
Countless articles were written about our inability to win trophies during the nine-year, 512-game streak that went from the 2005 FA Cup final against Manchester United to the 2014 FA Cup final against Hull City. We were mocked for getting into finals and losing, we were ridiculed for being eliminated in a Champions League semi-final, we were laughed at for being close but not going all the way.
During that time we played a Champions League final, two League Cup finals and never finished outside the top-four but all we could hear about was our trophy drought. Fair enough, we are a big Club and expectations are pretty high, that’s completely normal and we must live with that.
Have you heard about Tottenham’s trophy-drought? Have you found any article about their thirtheen-years streak? Me neither.
This argument, alone, should prove which one is the biggest Club in North London but we can go further on the big-Club, small-Club expectations scale.
Spurs are one of the most-cherished, most-protected and most-cuddled Premier League teams by the British press, always very inclined to paint a wonderful picture of the Club and its players. Harry Kane diving is clever play, Gareth Bale’s very expensive return (on loan) from Real Madrid is the prodigal son’s come-back, their dangerous tackles are great character and their relentless whining and moaning is a trait of their winning mentality.
I found that very annoying at the beginning, especially their buyoant approach and the way they were always right in anything they did, then I realised that all of that came from such a low level of expectations that every little achievement had to be highlighted as a major accomplishment.
I suddenly realized that us getting to a final is quite ordinary, even when we go through difficult patches on and off the pitch, and people expect us to win the trophy, regardless of the opponent and the circumstances. It is the same for any other big Club like Manchester United, Barcelona, Real Madrid or AC Milan: when these Club compete for a trophy, some people believe that they can win it, some others expect them to win the whole thing.
Tottenham, on the opposite, is like the local Club having their big day out: not many people expect them to win but man! that would make a great story to tell.
That’s why they’re always the valiant ones, those who try their best and fail – but get a pat on the head – because no one really expects them to win.
They concede a penalty in the very first minute of their first-ever Champions League final? It’s the nerves, it’s understandable.
They lose eight FA Cup semifinals in a row? That’s unfortunate! Better luck next time, boys!
They bottle a title-race and “finish third in a two-horse race”? They were sooooooo close, how brave to fight until the very end!
The levels are so different that the Arsenal has no other option but to win, while Tottenham is great by just competing for a trophy – whatever it is.
They’re like the middle son of the family, the one everyone constantly encourages because he will never be as good as the first born but they can’t tell him.
He looks up to his bigger brother, he copies the moves and the style, he picks up all the mimics and habits but he doesn’t have the same swag. No matter how close he can get, he will never be like him.
North London will always be red, it will always be ours. We (sort of) love you guys and we hope you will never stop believing.
We are so proud of you.
*pat pat*
Italian living in Switzerland, Gooner since mid-nineties, when the Gunners defeated my hometown team, in Copenhagen. I started my own blog and podcast (www.clockenditalia.com) after after some experiences with Italian websites and football magazines. Covering Arsenal Women with the occasional rant about the boys.
Well said.
Kane dives and is a hero, because he is English, like Shearer who regularly assaulted, literally, defenders and was lauded, and never punished.
Pires fell too easily, and he was the cheating foreigner.
Yet, Son dives maybe even more regularly than Kane and yet who says anything?
When playing them, I always expect a penalty or 2 against us.
It’s so annoying cus mocking arsenal sells for the media but they know themselves that arsenal is a bigger brand than Spurs even on the field.they will always be in our shadow.