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http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/dec/19/arsenal-wojciech-szczesny-tottenham?newsfeed=true
Aston Villa v Arsenal, 7:45pm Wednesday 21 December
Arsenal's Wojciech Szczesny cannot imagine finishing below Tottenham
• Arsenal have ended season above rivals for last 17 years
• 'It means a lot to me to finish above Spurs,' says keeper
Wojciech Szczesny has assured Arsenal's supporters that they will finish the season above Tottenham Hotspur, saying "it's not in our vocabulary" to consider coming in behind them. Arsenal have not finished below their neighbours since 1994-95 although, after their 1-0 defeat at Manchester City, they trail them by five points and Tottenham have a game in hand.
Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, appeared to concede after the loss at City, which cast them 12 points off the top of the table, that a title challenge was beyond them and feels as if the battle for supremacy in London is the more realistic challenge. Chelsea, in fourth place, separate the north London clubs.
"Not getting above Tottenham isn't even something we can think about," Szczesny said. "It's not in our vocabulary. We don't want to finish below Tottenham, no matter what. That's the mentality here. That's just my personal ambition to do that. I'm one of the fans. So it means a lot to me to finish above Tottenham. And we will do so."
Szczesny said after Tottenham's 2-1 north London derby victory at White Hart Lane on 2 October, when he blamed himself for letting in Kyle Walker's winning goal from long range, that Arsenal were a better team and Tottenham would endure a difficult period at some point. Spurs are on a run of good form, having taken 34 points from an available 39, but Szczesny still says that Harry Redknapp's team will stutter and Arsenal will take advantage.
"They've been on good condition, you have to give that to them," the goalkeeper said. "But I'm confident we are a better side and will finish above them. They look good at the moment but hopefully … not hopefully … they will drop points in the second half of the season."
Aston Villa v Arsenal, 7:45pm Wednesday 21 December
Arsenal's Wojciech Szczesny cannot imagine finishing below Tottenham
• Arsenal have ended season above rivals for last 17 years
• 'It means a lot to me to finish above Spurs,' says keeper
- David Hytner
- guardian.co.uk, Monday 19 December 2011 23.00 GMT
- Article history
Wojciech Szczesny has assured Arsenal's supporters that they will finish the season above Tottenham Hotspur, saying "it's not in our vocabulary" to consider coming in behind them. Arsenal have not finished below their neighbours since 1994-95 although, after their 1-0 defeat at Manchester City, they trail them by five points and Tottenham have a game in hand.
Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, appeared to concede after the loss at City, which cast them 12 points off the top of the table, that a title challenge was beyond them and feels as if the battle for supremacy in London is the more realistic challenge. Chelsea, in fourth place, separate the north London clubs.
"Not getting above Tottenham isn't even something we can think about," Szczesny said. "It's not in our vocabulary. We don't want to finish below Tottenham, no matter what. That's the mentality here. That's just my personal ambition to do that. I'm one of the fans. So it means a lot to me to finish above Tottenham. And we will do so."
Szczesny said after Tottenham's 2-1 north London derby victory at White Hart Lane on 2 October, when he blamed himself for letting in Kyle Walker's winning goal from long range, that Arsenal were a better team and Tottenham would endure a difficult period at some point. Spurs are on a run of good form, having taken 34 points from an available 39, but Szczesny still says that Harry Redknapp's team will stutter and Arsenal will take advantage.
"They've been on good condition, you have to give that to them," the goalkeeper said. "But I'm confident we are a better side and will finish above them. They look good at the moment but hopefully … not hopefully … they will drop points in the second half of the season."