Published: 16 May, 2014

ARSENAL by Richard Osley

BEFORE I bid my friend in the column next door farewell for the summer, I can’t resist reminding Catherine Etoe of her conclusions in October that Spurs had somehow been a driving force for the England national team.

This seemed to be based purely on one goal by Andros Townsend against the might of Montenegro, yet Ms E delighted: “Booked your ticket to Brazil yet? If you have and you’re a Gooner, just remember that you’re going thanks to Tottenham.”

On went the crowing in that vein. Given her confidence in the Spurs’ contribution, I was painfully surprised to look down at Roy Hodgson’s final World Cup squad and see not one Spurs player on there.

Spurs are distinctly not on the plane.

Even Darren Anderton has not suddenly declared himself fit just in time for a major summer tournament.

As it happens, most of us are not going to Brazil as fans, but we are going to Wembley on Saturday.

In fact, I should ask: Booked your ticket to Wembley yet? If you have and you’re a Gooner, just remember that you’re going thanks to Tottenham.

Oh that’s right.

Spurs fans could have avoided what must have been the tortuous audio of Arsenal supporters preparing for a big day out if they had beaten the Gunners way back in round three.

But big thanks to Danny Rose, who tried some sort of Cruyff turn at last man, stumblebummed it, and away ran Tomas Rosicky to win the cup match derby.

Really, to misquote an old Chas and Dave number… in the north London cup, they were only runners up, now we’re off to Wembley ’cos we beat the Tottenham.