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Mikel Arteta has aimed a thinly veiled dig at Tottenham Hotspur while sending a message to Arsenal fans after the club’s final Premier League home game of the season.

Despite looking really threatening for large parts of the season, Arsenal have once again ended the season empty-handed.

That has led some pundits to suggest that Tottenham would have had a better season than Arsenal if they win the Europa League, which certainly has not gone down well with the Gunners supporters.

It would seem that the Arsenal boss might have come across those comments as he has now aimed a barb at the two Europa League finalists.

Mikel Arteta points to Tottenham’s and Man United’s struggles

Following Arsenal’s final home game of the season against Newcastle, which the Gunners won 1-0 on Sunday, Arteta compared his side favourably to the likes of Spurs and Man United on how they have coped with adversity.

The Arsenal boss suggested that while other sides have crumbled when they have had key injuries, his side has maintained their levels throughout the campaign.

Arteta told Sky Sports: “Well, we are clearly very disappointed because we wanted to be here with the Premier League or the Champions League, and it is not the case.

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“But chasing a dream has its ups and downs, but make sure that it doesn’t get blurry and it does get recognised what we have done because any other team, and I have seen it with one injury, [you can end up] finishing eighth, 16th or 17th (currently occupied by Man United and Tottenham respectively).

“So this team to go through the season and sustain this level is incredible. We don’t want anyone to value it but me, as a manager, has to value what this team has done.”

A case of Deja vu for Arsenal and Spurs fans

Many will remember what Arsenal fans were saying when the Lilywhites were regularly competing at the top end of the table under Mauricio Pochettino, while their own side was missing out on Champions League qualification but were picking up the odd FA Cup here and there.

The argument of the Arsenal supporters at the time was that they had had better seasons since winning trophies was the only thing that mattered at the end of the day.

Spurs fans are well within their rights to flip around the same argument if their side is victorious in the Europa League, which would be a bigger achievement than anything Arsenal have managed in Europe throughout their history.

Tottenham face growing competition from Arsenal and Manchester City for Eberechi Eze, as the Crystal Palace star emerges as a serious summer target across the Premier League elite.

It is 2025, and Tottenham Hotspur continue to be linked with Eberechi Eze, a link that is all too familiar with Spurs fans.

It is not difficult to see why the Lilywhites remain interested in the Englishman, with Eze once more continuing to impress this season, scoring 13 times and assisting 11 more in a campaign that has seen him shine once again at Crystal Palace.

It was reported a few days back that Tottenham are ready to launch a transfer bid for Eberechi Eze, but their bid would be below the Englishman’s release clause, as the club are looking to secure a cut-price deal. However, it remains unclear whether Crystal Palace would be willing to entertain such an offer.

Arsenal and Man City enter the race for Eze transfer

Now, The Sun are reporting that while Tottenham are interested in signing Eberechi Eze this summer, two other English clubs are also monitoring the 26-year-old’s situation closely.

Manchester City are said to have been long-standing admirers of Eze, and with Kevin De Bruyne expected to leave the Manchester club this summer, the Palace talisman is viewed as a potential successor, with his Premier League experience and creative spark making him an attractive option.

Arsenal have also been keeping tabs on Eze’s progress, although they are reportedly not as aggressive in their pursuit, instead choosing to monitor the situation rather than force a move at this stage.

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Tottenham may need Europa League win to lure Eberechi Eze

The publication has also revealed that Eze’s future remains up in the air, and while Crystal Palace appreciate the Englishman’s loyalty to the club, there is a growing feeling that this summer will bring offers that could genuinely test their resolve.

Eze himself is reportedly keen to play UEFA Champions League football, and at the moment, Arsenal are the side in pole position to qualify for Europe’s elite competition next season.

Micky van de Ven has opened up on the touching story behind his shirt number at Tottenham, revealing the emotional reason that links him to a lost childhood friend.

Two years ago, Tottenham Hotspur completed the signing of Dutch centre-back Micky van de Ven from German side Wolfsburg.

The defender has gone on to make 49 appearances for Tottenham, scoring three goals and providing two assists in that time.

Indeed, his spell in north London has not been without its setbacks, as van de Ven has had to contend with several injuries that have sidelined him on multiple occasions.

Regardless, the Dutchman remains a crucial component in Ange Postecoglou’s system, with van de Ven’s sheer pace and recovery speed proving to be an asset that Tottenham have not been able to replicate elsewhere in the squad.

Micky van de Ven reveals the reason behind his number 37 shirt at Tottenham

The defender has been reflecting on his time at Spurs and has now revealed the emotional story behind his choice of the number 37 shirt.

According to van de Ven, the number was selected as a tribute to a childhood friend who tragically passed away.

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Speaking to GQ magazine, he said: “When I was 15 years old, my best friend Dimitri passed away. He was really sick and I always promised to make him proud.

“He was the person I always played football with so the day before he passed away, I promised him I was going to make sure I became a professional football player.

“When I made this beautiful transfer to Tottenham Hotspur, they said, ‘These are the numbers you can pick for your shirt.’ Number 37 was there. It was [Dimitri’s] favourite number when he was younger, so straight away I knew 37 had to be my number here.”

Micky van de Ven remains a vital part of Spurs’ defence

Van de Ven has surely made his childhood friend proud, with the Dutch defender not only playing at the highest level of English football but also representing the Dutch national team.

Despite the injury setbacks he has endured, the 24-year-old centre-back has continued to earn regular minutes, featuring 20 times across all competitions this season.

Ange Postecoglou may well be heading into his penultimate match as Tottenham Hotspur head coach, and ahead of Wednesday’s Europa League final, has broken his silence on what could lie ahead.

With time ticking away, Tottenham Hotspur are edging closer to their Europa League final showdown against Manchester United in Spain at the San Mames Stadium.

It is a huge clash for both Manchester United and Tottenham, with both sides desperate to finish what has been a bitterly disappointing season on some form of a high.

The Lilywhites are currently 17th in the Premier League table, with Manchester United sitting just one place above them, a single point clear of the north London side.

For Tottenham, this presents a massive opportunity – not just to end their painful 17-year wait for silverware, but also to secure a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League.

Ange Postecoglou responds to Tottenham exit rumours ahead of Europa League final

While Tottenham have enjoyed a far stronger campaign on the European stage, their domestic struggles have cast a dark cloud over Ange Postecoglou’s future, with mounting pressure and ongoing uncertainty surrounding his position.

Reports suggest that regardless of what happens in Wednesday’s final, some reports suggest Postecoglou will not be in the Tottenham dugout next season while the Australian does not see things the same way.

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Speaking to football.london, the Tottenham manager has now addressed the speculation, offering his thoughts on whether the final could be his penultimate match in charge.

Postecoglou refused to be drawn into the narrative, insisting that his focus remains firmly on the task at hand and not on what may come next.

He said: “Does not matter. It does not matter really because the reality of it is the opportunity is the same for me and more importantly the club.

“Whatever happens beyond tomorrow is irrelevant when you think about the opportunity right now and that is to provide something special for this club and its fans and everyone who has worked so hard for this. Whatever happens after that I am very comfortable that I will be continuing to try to win trophies wherever I am.”

Ange Postecoglou wants to remain as Tottenham manager

When asked further, he added: “I don’t think my job is done here. I think a trophy would accelerate that and I think there’s a lot still to be done. The challenges we’ve had are well chronicled but I think there’s been some growth in there.”

The goal for Spurs on Wednesday is crystal clear, regardless of what the future holds for the manager. They simply need to win – that is what they can control, and that is where the focus must be.

Ange Postecoglou is no stranger to high-stakes finals, boasting an impressive 88% win rate in cup finals throughout his managerial career.

Tottenham will be banking on his experience and calm under pressure, hoping he can finally lead them to long-awaited silverware. While a victory could buy him more time and potentially shift the narrative around his future, a defeat could all but seal his fate.

Ange Postecoglou has now provided a Tottenham injury update ahead of the Europa League final showdown with Manchester United

In a little over 24 hours, Tottenham Hotspur will take to the field to face Manchester United in what would be their fourth-ever Europa League final appearance.

The Lilywhites have come out on top in two finals, winning in 1972 and 1984, but if they are to make it three out of four, they would have to beat fellow English side Manchester United.

The last time Spurs were involved in an all-English final in the Europa League, they did come out victorious, beating Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-2 on aggregate in the 1972 final.

Indeed, Wednesday presents Tottenham with another opportunity to grab silverware, for the first time in almost two decades.

Ange Postecoglou would be feeling confident, given his 88% win record in cup finals. However, if he is to get the job done on Wednesday at the San Mames Stadium, the Tottenham boss would have to do so without a few of his first-team stars.

At the moment, Spurs have a creativity problem in midfield, with three of their tens out injured. James Maddison is out for three months and is expected to miss the final, but Maddison did travel with the Tottenham squad.

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Dejan Kulusevski is sidelined for Wednesday’s clash after undergoing surgery on his patella, following a knock to his knee in Spurs’ clash against Crystal Palace.

Lucas Bergvall is also sidelined with an ankle ligament problem and would miss the final, although rumours circulated on social that Bergvall could still play on Wednesday.

Pape Matar Sarr picked up a knock to his back in Tottenham’s last game against Aston Villa, but Ange Postecoglou said Sarr’s injury was nothing serious.

Ahead of the final with Manchester United, Postecoglou has now sat with the media to provide a further update on the fitness of his Tottenham squad.

Amidst reports that Tottenham Hotspur are ready to launch an offer for one of the Premier League’s best attacking midfielders, Paul Robinson has insisted that the Lilywhites stand no chance of winning the race for the player.

Tottenham Hotspur are thought to be keen on strengthening in the middle of the park this summer, and one versatile attacking midfielder, who has 13 goals and 12 assists across all competitions this season, is thought to be near the top of the club’s wishlist.

It has been widely reported over recent weeks that Tottenham have identified Eberechi Eze as their top summer target, with Spurs fans understandably excited about the rumour.

In fact, just a few days ago, it was reported that Spurs were ready to launch an offer for Eze should they manage to secure Champions League football via the Europa League.

Paul Robinson laughs off Tottenham’s attempts to sign Eberechi Eze

However, even if Spurs have Champions League football to offer the England international, Robinson does not think that Eze will be tempted by a move to N17.

The former Tottenham number stated emphatically that the Lilywhites would have “absolutely no chance” of winning the race for the Crystal Palace star.

When asked about Spurs’ rumoured approach for Eze, Robinson told Football Insider: “On the Eze question, there’s absolutely no chance. Absolutely no chance whatsoever of them even [being] in the conversation for a player like Eze without Champions League football, without a Champions League budget.

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“If Tottenham don’t win that Europa League, they’re back to square one without a manager again, and [signing] Eze is not even in the conversation.”

Why Tottenham’s chances of Eze may have suffered a blow on Sunday

The 26-year-old Tottenham target was the hero for Palace at Wembley on Sunday, with his goal ensuring that they beat Manchester City in the final to get their hands on the FA Cup.

It is Eze’s first major trophy of his career and ensures that Palace will be playing in the Europa League next season. That might perhaps tempt the former QPR man to remain at Selhurst Park for one more season to have a crack at Europe.

Pedro Porro will certainly not be taking Man United lightly in the Europa League final, with the Tottenham right-back making an admission about his former manager, Ruben Amorim, ahead of the showpiece event in Bilbao.

Ange Postecoglou is proud of his trophy record as the Tottenham head coach looks to keep his record of always winning silverware in his second season intact.

His opposite number is also not short of accolades, with Amorim having won the Portuguese Primeira Liga three times and the Taca da Liga twice during his time in charge of Sporting Lisbon.

Amorim has fired a warning shot at Tottenham ahead of the final, insisting that he knows exactly what to expect from the Lilywhites.

Pedro Porro praises ‘magnificent’ Man United boss Ruben Amorim

Pedro Porro was an integral part of some of those trophy wins at Sporting and knows first-hand how the Portuguese coach prepares his team for cup finals.

The 25-year-old admitted that Amorim has played a vital role in his development on and off the pitch over the last few years, remarking that he will always be grateful to the Man United boss.

When asked about locking horns with Amorim in Bilbao, the Tottenham Hotspur right-back told The Standard: “He’s a magnificent coach. I know him very well. It’s the way he treats the players, he always spoke to me as a person, it’s not just how he treated me from a football perspective.

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“The way he works on the pitch is also very good, but in this case, I hope I’m the happy one. When I arrived [at Sporting], it was a little bit difficult for me, but like everything in football, sometimes it’s hard at first, right?

“Things in life don’t always go the way you want them to, but when I got there, the truth is I had a lot of help from him, and at that moment my football exploded. To be honest, I’m really grateful to him for that.”

Winning the Europa League with Tottenham would be a childhood dream admits Pedro Porro

The Spaniard is aware of how big a game the Europa League final is for Tottenham, given that the club have gone without a trophy for 17 years.

Porro admitted that from a personal standpoint, winning a European trophy would be the fulfilment of a childhood dream and the culmination of all the hard work he has put in over the years to get to where he is.

When asked what lifting the trophy in Bilbao would mean, the defender said: “It would be very important. It would be a dream because, as we already know, when I arrived here, we knew it had been a long time since we had won a trophy here. So it would be very, very important for us.

“For me personally, it would be a story of faith, something I dreamt of ever since I was little. It’s my first European final, and everyone in the world would have motivation for that. That is everyone’s dream when they are little.

Chris Waddle has sent a warning to Scott Parker and the other budding managers being linked with the Tottenham Hotspur hotseat, insisting that the club’s poor recruitment may make their job very difficult indeed.

Most journalists are of the opinion that Tottenham have already decided to part ways with Ange Postecoglou, irrespective of what happens in the Europa League final.

However, it is anybody’s guess at the moment who will replace the 59-year-old, with a host of big-name managers being linked with the Spurs hotseat over recent months.

Some sources have said that the Lilywhites are also keeping an eye on young, up-and-coming managers, with one of their former employees, in particular, thought to be of a lot of interest to the North London club.

Chris Waddle warns of Tottenham’s lack of ambition

It has been suggested over recent weeks that Scott Parker has many admirers at Tottenham after the 45-year-old guided Burnley to 100 points in the Championship and promotion to the Premier League.

However, Chris Waddle warned the Burnley boss and other coaches on Spurs’ radar that not only would they have to contend with losing their best players regularly at N17, but they would also not be able to sign the players they want.

When asked about the possibility of Parker joining Tottenham, the Spurs legend responded (via Football Insider): “The thing with Tottenham is they’re a selling club, and I keep saying this, they don’t keep hold of their best players. So, straight away, you’re always looking for a young, talented footballer who will hopefully hit the ground running and do the business for you.

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“If not, like this year, with all the injuries and young players who got an opportunity, didn’t grasp it. So, if he were to go to a club like Tottenham, yes, it’s a marvellous club, it’s a great club, supports amazing, the stadium, training ground, everything is what you want as a manager.

“But if you haven’t got a chequebook that can buy experienced players, players who are at the top of their game, like a [Matheus] Cunha, like players like [Alexander] Isak, Tottenham Hotspur will not go for these players, so, they might go for someone who’s six, seven, eight years younger, who’s got potential.”

Waddle says Tottenham’s recruitment is to blame for their struggles

The former Spurs midfielder rattled off the names of the managers who have failed at Tottenham but succeeded elsewhere, pointing to that as evidence that the issue for the club has not been their managerial appointments.

Waddle insisted that it is the North London side’s poor recruitment and their lack of ambition that have led to repeated failures.

He added: “Listen, Tottenham’s had [Jose] Mourinho, [Antonio] Conte, Nuno [Espirito Santo], these are all winners of trophies! Nuno took Nottingham Forest well beyond what everyone thought they could go.

“Conte is a top of the league with Napoli, Mourinho’s won trophy after trophy in his career, yet he couldn’t win a thing at Tottenham. So, there’s got to be a question mark about recruitment, the club’s ambition.”

The Tottenham fans are getting increasingly excited as the Europa League final draws closer, and Richarlison admits that the feeling is no different among the Spurs squad, revealing what he is dreaming of doing in Bilbao.

It is difficult to say who the favourites are at Bilbao as both Spurs and the Red Devils have had campaigns to forget domestically, with the pair sitting just above the drop zone.

That has raised the stakes even more ahead of the showpiece event in San Mames, with both clubs desperate to have something to show for this season.

There is also the small matter of Champions League football on offer to the winners, which will be crucial for both clubs ahead of the summer, with neither Man United nor Tottenham in a strong financial position at the moment.

Richarlison is dreaming of lifting the Europa League trophy

The build-up to the game might be dominated by considerations such as Champions League qualification and the attempts of the two managers to save or enhance their reputations.

However, the only thing Spurs fans would care about is seeing their club win a trophy after 17 painful years of no silverware.

It appears things are no different inside the Tottenham Hotspur dressing room, with Richarlison admitting that holding aloft a European trophy will be a dream come true for him and his teammates.

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The Brazilian told Tottenham’s official website (Final Thoughts with Richarlison): “I’m delighted to be competing in my first final in European football. We’re dreaming of winning the title, and I think fans are really looking forward to this moment as well.

“It’s been a long time since the club won a trophy, so excitement is at its maximum. We know we need to be focused and work hard during the week as it’s going to be a great game.”

Richarlison is hoping for a memorable ending to a difficult season

Richarlison’s three-year spell at Tottenham has been blighted by his constant injury woes, and this campaign has been no different for the striker, who has struggled to remain fit.

However, he seems to be peaking at the right time, and the 28-year-old hopes he can make the difference for the Lilywhites on the night of the final.

When asked if he has thought about scoring in the final, Richarlison responded: “I think it’s a dream just to be playing in the final. I hope to be able to score in the final as well, I have objectives to meet. Of course, this season hasn’t been what I expected due to some injuries that have held me back a bit.

“I’ve experienced great moments in my career. I’ve won trophies with the Brazilian national team. I’ve been decisive in many games. I think it will be a great game. I hope to go into it focused so that if the opportunity comes, I’m in the right place to bring joy to all of us.”

Micky van de Ven has lifted the lid on a team barbecue party organised by some of the Tottenham Hotspur players as part of their preparation for the Europa League final.

Every Tottenham Hotspur fan is aware of the big Europa League final showdown on Wednesday night against Manchester United in Spain at the San Mames Stadium.

It simply is all or nothing for Tottenham when they take to the pitch to face fellow English rivals Man United tomorrow night, with the winner securing not only a European trophy but also a place in next season’s Champions League.

Ahead of the final, Ange Postecoglou highlighted what the Tottenham schedule would be like, with the manager revealing that his players would train on Sunday, 18 May, and Monday morning, 19 May, before flying out to Spain later that afternoon.

Tottenham players hold barbecue at Hotspur Way

Twenty Tottenham players were spotted on the plane heading to Bilbao in Spain, with the injured James Maddison among those travelling.

As preparations continue for the huge clash tomorrow, Micky van de Ven has shed further light on what else has been going on within the squad, including a team bonding session arranged by some of the players at Hotspur Way.

There have been whispers of Postecoglou organising a team barbecue for the entire Tottenham squad yesterday, and Van de Ven has now spoken about the rumours.

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Speaking to GQ magazine, he said: “To be honest, I think this one was organised by the South American guys [Richarlison, Cristian Romero, Rodrigo Bentancur], then the gaffer said we all needed to go together before the final.

“We have a nice little area at the training ground [he shows me a picture on his phone], the weather was really nice, and it was beautiful. Everybody went, we had a nice barbecue, a drink and just chatted.”

Spurs players prepare in Spain ahead of Manchester United clash

With the team bonding session out of the way, the Tottenham players who landed in Spain yesterday will train San Mames Stadium in Bilbao later on Tuesday to get a feel of the pitch before the big match on Wednesday night.

Supporters in the United Kingdom wondering how to watch Tottenham vs Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League final can catch the action live on TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate and discovery+.