Arsenal have blown the title, claims Redknapp

'They should have been in pole position' says Spurs manager ahead of derby

Harry Redknapp thinks Arsenal should have been in 'pole position' for the title race

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp believes that tonight's opponents Arsenal have squandered a good opportunity to win the Premier League. Arsenal visit White Hart Lane this evening needing a win to maintain their challenge to Manchester United. But recent disappointing results at home have severely damaged their chances, particularly three consecutive draws.

"They drew with Blackburn at home and threw away a great opportunity on Sunday and only took a point," Redknapp said yesterday. Arsenal drew 1-1 at home with Liverpool last Sunday, and 0-0 at home with Blackburn on 2 April. Their home game before that, against Sunderland on 5 March, was also 0-0. "If they took those extra four points [against Blackburn and Liverpool] look where they'd be. With United to play at home still, they would have been in pole position."

Redknapp believes that Arsenal not reaching the later rounds of the FA Cup or the Champions League gave them a lighter fixture list, further improving the chance which they appear to have squandered. "When United drew [Manchester] City in the FA Cup semi-final, they had two [Champions League] legs to play," he said. "Chelsea and Arsenal had none of that and you looked at it and I fancied Arsenal strongly. They had no distractions. Then suddenly on that Saturday, United came back to win the game and Arsenal couldn't beat Blackburn."

Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has told Spanish magazine Don Balon that the club may have to change the philosophy which has resulted in no trophies since 2005. "It's true that Arsenal have got a reputation of a team who play beautiful football, but don't win anything," he admitted. "We won the FA Cup [in 2005] when I got here and we reached the Champions League final [in 2006]."

Fabregas said that his manager Arsène Wenger's record would have led to his dismissal at a major Spanish club. "But here it is different. The manager is intelligent and the club value different things – that the team is always in the Champions League, that we compete until the end, that we have young players, economic stability. For the board this is important. But I imagine there will be a moment when you have to decide: do you win things or not?"

Source : The Independent 20 April 2011