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Who will qualify for the Champions League - Tottenham Hotspur or Arsenal?

The Sports Mole team discuss who they believe will clinch the final Champions League qualifying spot on the final day - Tottenham Hotspur or Arsenal.

Bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal go into the final day of the 2021-22 Premier League season still battling it out for the final Champions League spot.

Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea have all confirmed their places in the top four already, but the all-important dotted line which separates the prestige and profitability of fourth place from the more modest rewards of fifth may as well go straight through North London.

With 37 matches played each, the local rivals are separated by two points, with Spurs firmly in pole position given their vastly superior goal difference too.

Arsenal must therefore win against Everton and hope that Tottenham lose against Norwich City to realistically stand any chance of stealing in to the top four.

Here, the Sports Mole team discuss who they believe will clinch the final Champions League qualification spot.


Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta pictured on May 12, 2022© Reuters

Barney Corkhill, Editor

VERDICT: Tottenham

Ordinarily for a top team, this should not even really be a question. All Spurs have to do is avoid defeat against a Norwich side already long since relegated from the Premier League and with only five wins to their name all season.

However, there is always that question mark hanging over Tottenham, and the 'Spursy' tag which has haunted them for decades now will be forever linked to this group of players if they throw it away on the final day.

A manager like Antonio Conte is unlikely to let them do such a thing, and there is also the fact that Arsenal would then need to go and win as well - far from a certainty for a team that had fourth place in the palm of their hands before back-to-back losses in their last two.

Both teams can look back at opportunities squandered to have wrapped up fourth place a long time ago, and it would be fairly typical of both to slip up on the final day too, but regardless of how it happens, I fully expect Tottenham to be in the Champions League next season.



Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane celebrates scoring against Arsenal on May 12, 2022© Reuters

Matt Law, Football Editor

VERDICT: Tottenham

A point will do for Tottenham to confirm their spot in the top four, and I am finding it very difficult to imagine them losing at Norwich City.

The Canaries, in theory, should be free to express themselves, and they claimed a welcome point at Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out, but Spurs should have too much in this match, and I am expecting Antonio Conte's side to win at Carrow Road.

Arsenal will fancy their chances of beating Everton at home, but it is not a straightforward match for the Gunners, especially as the pressure is now off the Toffees, having secured Premier League survival ahead of the final matchday.

Back-to-back defeats to Tottenham and Newcastle United have really harmed Mikel Arteta's side, and they are now set to miss out on a Champions League spot for next term.


Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte pictured on May 12, 2022© Reuters

Oliver Thomas, Reporter

VERDICT: Tottenham

The fact that Everton confirmed their Premier League survival on Thursday has arguably made Arsenal's task easier this weekend, as the Toffees will only be playing for pride at the Emirates now that they are safe.

For me, however, victory for the Gunners will not be enough to secure a top-four spot as their rivals Tottenham should have no problems in breezing past basement club Norwich City.

The form of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min should fire Spurs to a comfortable win at Carrow Road, securing Champions League football next season after two years away from the competition.


Tottenham Hotspur's Sergio Reguilon celebrates scoring their fourth goal with Dejan Kulusevski on March 7, 2022© Reuters

Joel Lefevre, Reporter

VERDICT: Tottenham

It has been a mixed bag of good and poor performances for Spurs, but I see them claiming the final Champions League spot this weekend. Norwich City have known for a while now that they are going down, so I do not see Tottenham slipping up on Sunday.

Arsenal may benefit from taking on an Everton squad with nothing to play for, having assured their place in the top flight, but Norwich are weak defensively and they concede goals with ease so given the potency and Harry Kane and Son they should have plenty of chances and, given their quality, you have to think they will make a few of them count.



Marvelous Adepoju, Reporter

VERDICT: Tottenham

Antonio Conte has overseen a remarkable turnaround since taking charge at Tottenham Hotspur, who were ninth when he arrived.

A six-point swing over the last week has seen Spurs overtake their arch-rivals Arsenal in the race for fourth place.

Due to their vastly superior goal difference over their city rivals, a draw should be enough to lead Spurs back into the Champions League but I am backing them to claim all three against an already-relegated Norwich City side.


SPORTS MOLE VERDICT: TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min celebrates scoring their third goal with teammates on April 3, 2022© Reuters


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Barney Corkhill
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Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane celebrates scoring their second goal on March 16, 2022
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