The Tottenham Hotspur sporting director, Damien Comolli, issued an apology to Arsne Wenger in the wake of Tuesday’s 5-1 victory over Arsenal after the visiting manager’s post-match television interviews were interrupted by a trio of home players bursting into the room and spraying champagne.
Wenger was the innocent victim of what sources at Spurs admitted were “players’ high jinks” as Jermain Defoe and two team-mates emerged from the celebrations in the home dressing room and into the White Hart Lane interview area, spraying bubbly as they went.
It is understandable that Spurs would be pleased with their night’s work. This was their first victory over Arsenal since 1999. So, yes there was psychological baggage to unload. But their on and off pitch celebrations seemed out of synch with the true nature of events. They had qualified for a Carling Cup final. Against a weakened Arsenal side.
Instead of milking the applause of their fans, better to walk straight off the pitch. Creating a mind-set that this kind of result is the norm. This is the standard. We expect it. After all – this is Tottenham Hotspur.
Tottenham 5 – Arsenal 1 will have no long-term meaning for Spurs unless they can follow it up with other big performances. Not against Derby County at home. But away at Chelsea; Manchester United; Arsenal.
Tottenham’s celebrations were of a side high on intoxication. High on euphoria. But have they the emotional development, as a team, to build on it. To use the euphoria as fuel to go to another level. Or was it just a temporary high?