Soccer: Stakes high for London rivals

LONDON - Arsenal play Tottenham Hotspur for the last time at Highbury tonight in an English Premier League showdown that will mark the end of an era at the old stadium - and may decide who gets a place in next season's Champions League.

It is the biggest north London derby in the league since Arsenal beat Spurs at White Hart Lane to win the old First Division title in their 1970-71 double season.

But it is far more important financially, given the rewards of playing in Europe's elite club competition.

A win would take the Gunners to within a point of Spurs - but they would need to take maximum points from all four remaining games to be guaranteed of finishing fourth.

Tottenham need to win this game and one of their other two (home to Bolton, and away to West Ham). But even if Martin Jol's side clinch their first ever top-four finish, they still would be denied a place in Europe's premier club competition if Arsenal win this season's final in Paris on May 17.

Arsenal have an extra incentive, as they would go straight into next season's group stages as trophy holders, whereas the club finishing fourth in the Premiership would have to compete in the third qualifying round.

Spurs, at worst, would still be in the UEFA Cup next season.

The teams have met 68 times in the league at the 93-year-old Arsenal stadium, with the hosts claiming 34 wins, against 17 for Spurs, with 17 matches drawn.

But Tottenham have won only once in their last 20 league visits and even that was a slightly hollow victory. They triumphed 3-1 in May 1993 but Arsenal had already beaten them in the FA Cup semifinal and manager George Graham rested players ahead of the final.

"Ian Wright wasn't playing, nor was Tony Adams and there were some fringe players in their team," recalls former Spurs midfielder Danny Hill. "I remember the Arsenal fans making excuses afterwards saying the result was meaningless because of the missing players but it didn't matter to us. It was a Spurs victory over Arsenal at Highbury."

Tottenham's players have not experienced that feeling since - and you have to go back to New Year's Day 1985 to find the last genuine Spurs victory in the league there, when they won 2-1.

Tottenham have had their share of success at White Hart Lane, and ended Arsenal's 1991 double bid when Paul Gascoigne's unforgettable free kick left goalkeeper David Seaman stranded in a 3-1 FA Cup semifinal win at Wembley.

But the balance of power long ago shifted to the red half of north London. George Graham - later, ironically, to manage Spurs - delivered two league titles and two League Cups including the 1993 League Cup and FA Cup double.

The arrival of Arsene Wenger in 1996 brought three Premier League titles and four FA Cups, including two doubles.

Arsenal have now even matched Spurs by reaching the European Cup semifinal, which their rivals did in 1962 after their own double year. Tottenham fans have been used to living in the shadow of their neighbours.

The difference this season is that Spurs have so far had a better league campaign and find themselves four points clear of their rivals with just three matches to play, though Arsenal have a game in hand.

For years Arsenal fans have celebrated Tottenham Memorial Day - the day they rejoice because Spurs cannot catch their team in the league.

If Spurs win tonight, Arsenal fans may have to forgo that particular delight this season but if Wenger's team win, it will probably be Tottenham finishing second best to their rivals again.

Arsenal defender Sol Campbell will not play against his former club. The 31-year-old, who moved to Highbury from Spurs in 2001, has not recovered from surgery on the broken nose he suffered at Portsmouth last week. Wenger said he could be ready for their Champions League second leg in Villarreal next week.

- REUTERS