Source: Daily_Mail
LEO'S LONDON: Arsenal face heartfelt blow if Spurs pip them to third
The last Champions League place is no longer the only fashionable spot on the top flight catwalk.From where Harry Redknapp is sitting, third place in the Premier League table at the end of the season is the new fourth. He has raised the prospect of a genuine north London rivalry on the pitch, of his Tottenham team overhauling Arsenal and finishing one position higher. Walk the line: Tottenham are desperate to finish higher than arch rivals ArsenalWith only six points separating the two teams before Wednesday's games and Arsene Wenger entrenched on the back foot, it is a mouth-watering possibility. But if it became reality, it would be a blow that would be felt at the heart of the Premier League. More from Leo Spall. LEO'S LONDON: Battle of Stamford Bridge could prove Arsenal's last stand03/02/10 LEO'S LONDON: Tottenham misfit Pavlyuchenko points the way to what is wrong with football27/01/10 LEO'S LONDON: Four years on, Theo Walcott must now prove he's World Cup class20/01/10 LEO'S LONDON: Simon Jordan may have ruffled a few feathers, but the game will be duller without him13/01/10 LEO'S LONDON: Florent Malouda will get nowhere with his Frank talking - Lampard is Mr Chelsea06/01/10 LEO'S LONDON: Super Cesc proved he is Arsenal through and through30/12/09 LEO'S LONDON: Harry's handling of Christmas bash has been spot on22/12/09 LEO'S LONDON: It's time the FA came down hard on the likes of Benoit Assou-Ekotto 16/12/09 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE The top flight's new-found competitive edge would be blunted a little, it's problem at the very top still unsolved. Let's face it, if Redknapp's team are going to leapfrog their neighbours at this stage of the season, it would be as much about the demise of Arsene Wenger's side as a Spurs surge. And it would leave just two horses in the title race again. The beauty of this season has been that Arsenal have just about managed to keep Chelsea and Manchester United on their toes. It is February and little is clear cut in a league that has seemed closer and more exciting than ever. Undoubtedly, the unpredictable race for fourth has made a major contribution, but moving it up a notch would be no great leap forward. It would only alter where the second rung in the Premier League begins. Arsenal would be dragged into the pack that contains Liverpool, Manchester City and Aston Villa as well as Spurs, whose fans would have the time of their lives. Their fight would be fascinating, a spectacle in itself, and maybe a new challenger to the top two would emerge with the benefit of a Champions League income, eventually. But any hope of the title being taken away from Manchester United or Chelsea any time soon would have to be put on hold. England's loss is Chelsea's gainFabio Capello might just have dropped off John Terry's Christmas card list last week, but he might be getting two from Chelsea from now on. As much as losing the England captaincy hurt the defender, the wake-up call that came with it could take him to a new level on the pitch. Captain fantastic: Terry has been marvellous for Chelsea despite encountering difficulty off the pitchWhat it does to Terry's behaviour off the pitch is anybody's guess and this correspondent would rather not have to endure any more tawdry tales from his private life. But the way he has been playing for Chelsea since news of the latest scandals broke it seems, losing the job he was so proud of has done his club a favour. Terry's standards have not exactly dropped in the last couple of years, but personally he has had less to prove. His performances in recent games show that, as a player, he can still rise to greater heights. Fighting back when feeling cornered is one of Terry's strengths and that is more obvious than ever right now. So even if he doesn't find it in himself to forgive the England manager for his sacking, his title-chasing club already have. Super Scott deserves a pay rise - not a pay cutIf there is one player who deserves to avoid the threatened pay cuts at West Ham at the moment it is Scott Parker. While so-called England candidates Matthew Upson and Rob Green literally took their eyes off the ball in defeat at Burnley last weekend, the midfielder was superb. His injury record and yellow card count have counted against him over the years, but if any player is going to drive West Ham away from trouble it will be Parker. Leading by example: Scott Parker could be one of the first to leave West Ham at the end of the season, but his performances have been nothing short of brilliantHis determination, energy and strength stand out as much now as they did when he was a kid at Charlton and they are qualities that have too often been in short supply elsewhere in the team. The way the two Davids, Sullivan and Gold, are talking Parker is unlikely to be at West Ham next season. But he would fit right in at any of the clubs nearer the top of the table and he will be extremely difficult to replace. Let me go, Harry: Misfit Pavlyuchenko opens his heart in bid to seal Spurs exitEngland united: JT and Capello will work together, insists Chelsea boss AncelottiZola is '100 per cent safe': Sullivan vows not to sack West Ham boss Explore more:People:Fabio Capello, Matthew Upson, Harry Redknapp, John TerryPlaces:Liverpool, London, United Kingdom