One to Forget As Reality Kicks in

So Tottenham always win the FA Cup when the year ends in a one? The notion may have appealed to the romantics but for those who prefer to deal in realism it was time yesterday to empty a bucket of cold water over the tired old myth.

For Spurs to survive such lung-splitting pressure before finally caving in, their wretchedly limp-wristed season disintegrating into dust, was an object lesson in staying power, if little else.

But when the dust settles and the distance they have fallen behind Arsenal is analyzed properly, the inquest into this painful humbling will be a torturous affair.

"There were too many disjoinments," volunteered Glenn Hoddle, treating the English language with the same disregard as his players had shown the football. "We were too negative in our passing and it just wasn't good enough. Arsenal were better than us and we didn't do enough to win. If we had passed the ball better, we might have had a chance. But we didn't and that's the bottom line."

Indeed. Perhaps the story of the season's most comprehensive 2-1 thrashing was best encapsulated by Arsenal's tally of 22 attempts on goal. Everyone knew that in terms of quality there was some distance between these two clubs but, at times here, the gap seemed more like a chasm.

It is doubtful the entire Spurs team managed 22 telling passes. While it is one thing to deploy methods of containment, Tottenham's reluctance to venture into opposition territory was something to behold. "They just wanted to block us, stop us playing," said Arsène Wenger.

Nothing wrong with the theory, maybe. Put into practice, however, Tottenham's attempts to sterilize the game once Gary Doherty had snaffled the opening goal was undone by a concoction of abysmal defending and some exhilarating attacking play from their opponents.

"We created chance after chance," said Wenger. "It was an outstanding performance. When you play at 1.30pm and 60,000 people have traveled the length of the country to see it, you know just how much it means. This is a proud day for our football club."

Among the manager's tributes, an honorable mention deservedly went to Patrick Vieira, imperious in midfield and contributing the equalizing header and a superb assist in Robert Pires' winner. "In his position I don't think there is a better player in the country," said Wenger. "I would expect him to be a strong contender for player of the year."

Preserving 1-0 leads, is George Graham's forte not Hoddle's. Never short of an excuse, he was keen to emphasize that his first week had been hindered by injuries. For an ordinary game, he said, four or five players, among them Sol Campbell and Steve Carr, would not have played.

As it was, when Campbell hobbled off, a picture of misery after damaging his right ankle, Tottenham's hopes of repelling Arsenal faded.

"With all due respect to Wycombe, I think we could have got away with it against them," said Hoddle. Yet that did not explain why his team were as wooden as a table-football side. With all due respect to Spurs, it could be argued Wycombe would have made a better fist of things.

So Arsenal make the journey to the Millennium stadium on May 12. Their fans will remind us that from the evidence of the 70s and the 90s they also tend to do well when the year ends in a one. They just don't talk about it so much.

For the time being Tottenham's supporters will no longer get away with believing that fate is on their side. Not for another 10 years, at least.