Were we lucky, unlucky or not just good enough?

Our draw helped United to get within three points of us. Arsenal drop to fifth and four points behind us.
A couple of weeks ago we were looking at those in front of us and envisaging challenging them for the title. Now we are looking behind us as United, Arsenal and Chelsea slowly encroach on our third place
position.

Like the last couple of games, I was optimistic (but even my optimism was starting to wear thin).
While in the queue for the Premium section I talked to a mother and son from Australia – both Spurs supporters – and this was their first visit to Wembley/ Spurs. They had booked their tickets months in advance (a package trip), so were excited and enthusiastic for this game, I hope they went home with some happy memories. Maybe the next time they come back it will be at a different venue and with a different result (a winning result). But at least they didn’t go home seeing us humiliated (for a third time).
When I got into the stadium, and to my table, Paul Miller came over and joined us, as he usually does. He talked about the game where we stuffed Arsenal 5-0 (1985). I saw the match, which Paul Miller played in. The funny thing was the Friday before that game, I had put in my works diary what I thought the score would be. I then went to the match, totally forgetting what I wrote. The Monday morning, after the game, I checked my diary, only to find that I had written 5-0. Could you Adam and Eve it? I should have put some money on it. Probably would have won a fortune.

In my previous articles, I’ve mentioned the bag searches at Wembley. I also said that I had a rucksack that could fold into a purse or small bag. Once through the security checks and in the Bobby Moore lounge I unpack my rucksack and put my small bag in the bigger bag. When I made my way to my seat, I was stopped by Wembley security, who asked me if I had been bag searched. “Yes,” I replied. “Then why wasn’t a ribbon put on your bag to show it has been searched?” I looked at him as if he was kidding, “They stopped putting the ribbon on bags months ago,” I replied. He then let me go, unsure, and just walked away (so much for manners). It was lucky for them that I only had another bag and programmes in my rucksack (if he was unsure he should have checked). Sometimes the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing.
Anyway, that was enough excitement for the moment, as I hoped the real drama was going to start once I got to my seat.

81,332 turned up for what could be our last “home’ match at Wembley. There will be an announcement next week, and if that is positive, then the two-Test Dates will follow. Probably on the 16th and 23rd of March. And if that goes ok our first home game will be against either Brighton (unless they are still in the cup) or Huddersfield.

So, we all settled down to watch the game (hopefully it will be our last Wembley one there).
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang saw a last-minute penalty saved by Hugo Lloris to cost Arsenal victory and ensure we retained a crucial advantage over our arch-rivals in the battle for a top-four place after a dramatic north London derby at Wembley.

Kane’s penalty put us level with 16 minutes left after Aaron Ramsey’s coolly taken 16th-minute goal threatened to inflict a third successive league defeat on boss Mauricio Pochettino for the first time in his reign.

Arsenal were then handed a golden opportunity to close to within one point of us after Davinson Sanchez fouled Aubameyang, but the striker’s tame penalty was easily saved low to his right by the diving Lloris (his second penalty save this season).

The Gunners Lucas Torreira was sent off for a reckless challenge on Danny Rose in the closing seconds.
After Ramsey’s strike, keeper Bernd Leno kept Arsenal on level terms with a miraculous double save from Christian Eriksen and Moussa Sissoko, but the Gunners paid a heavy price for a glaring second-half miss from striker Alexandre Lacazette before Aubamayeng’s wayward spot-kick.

After that, I stayed for an hour in the hospitality lounge chatting away to various friends and then made my way home. I arrived home at about 6ish.

So there you have it. A game where we needed to win, but couldn’t muster the energy or skill to get the goal that would have put distance between us and the baying pack. Now we’ve got a trip to Germany to finish off, which then, hopefully, will be followed by a Champions League Quarter-Final place. After that; a trip to Southampton.

See you in Germany, if you are going.