How Tottenham can learn from Arsenal's difficult Emirates transition as they prepare for life at new White Hart Lane
It’s never easy, moving into a new home. As soon as you get the keys it seems either the boiler’s on the blink or the cat’s done a runner.
Arsenal fans’ problem with theirs is a loss of soul. A good number of them wish they hadn’t been lured in by broken promises and stayed at Highbury just over ten years ago and stuck to their principles.
Tottenham fans are wondering what awaits them, swapping their tight fortress of a home ground for an all-singing one on the very same spot.
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If Spurs’ bigwigs aren’t filling their days enhancing Mauricio Pochettino’s squad, then they should be putting that time to good use by studying their rivals’ mistakes.
If the Gunners’ shadow still hangs over north London, Tottenham now have an opportunity to step into the light.
Every time it goes seriously wrong for Arsene Wenger, and you can certainly class this point in time as one of the most severe, the knives that come out are three-pronged. A trident if you please…
Not just for the manager, not just for the players. But for the past decade and a bit, the club full stop. Half-arsed against Bournemouth and selling their stars as the balance sheets look lovely? Highbury didn’t crumble for this.
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Lesson one for Daniel Levy: Steer clear of bold promises. Don’t say – for example – anything like what Arsenal managing director Keith Edelman did in 2006. You will only make yourself look stupid.
“The whole purpose of our move to Emirates Stadium is to develop increased revenues so that they can be invested in the development of the team,” he lied. “It is clearly an important part of what we are trying to achieve and that is to make Arsenal one of the leading clubs in Europe.”
Lesson two is equally as straight forward. Don’t do what they did and charge fans more than anyone else in the world while breaking promises of progression and sticking by a manager most are long fed-up with.
As if the pressure wasn’t great enough on Wenger and the club’s failing regime, it soon will be if it’s Tottenham in the Champions League and not them come the middle of May.
By allowing Spurs a top four place and letting them in, the balance of power in north London could well shift. The summer is seen as the time Tottenham, as they cut the ribbon on their new home, push forward and add the players they need to take them to the next level.
Though if they don’t quality for the Champions League, then that big plan may have to wait. It’s imperative that Arsenal save their season and somehow find a way past their growing list of problems.
If not, they are leaving themselves exposed to a potential period of Tottenham dominance.