UEFA chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson says that "I'm afraid I have to tell Spurs that there is no alternative. We have put the rules in place and those rules will stand. Of course Spurs will feel hard done by and it is a difficult decision, but England will only have four teams and Arsenal will be invited back if they are champions."

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been busy saying very little about the matter. On the one hand, "I feel the rules are clear from the beginning of the season. We have not made the rules, we respect the rules." but on the other, "If they [UEFA] can make an exception for Tottenham, why not? But the rules have been clear like that - and at the moment, we can still finish fourth."

One has to suspect that Wenger would actually find it quite amusing if we managed to steal Spurs' place. This is a man who pulled few punches in his criticism of our rivals following the recent derby draw, and who wasted no time in making a joke at their expense on his arrivial at Arsenal in 1996 when he said "I went back to my hotel and intended to watch Tottenham on television - but I fell asleep."

UEFA's statement hardly means much, though. As I understand it, Tottenham were considering a legal fight, rather than simply asking UEFA if they wouldn't mind letting them in after all. The point would be, that it would only be because of the country's success that we would be getting an additional team in the competition, and that other countries would not be treated the same way. UEFA's new rule for this season seems to be that no country can have more than 4 teams in the competition. So if a team from a slightly less successful country were to win it, their country would get an extra place. Seems to me that Tottenham have a point, but it'd be a hell of a battle to get UEFA to back down to English pressure two years in a row.

Incidentally, I heard on the radio the other day that Celtic will be watching the Champs League final with interest, since if Aresnal were to qualify as Champions, they'd go straight into the group stage (because of our high UEFA ranking) and it'd be Celtic that would miss out, having to play a qualifier. See this Celtic site for more details.

Meanwhile, things are not looking so bleak for Sunday's game between Tottenham and West Ham. Many of us have been assuming that West Ham's forthcoming FA Cup Fianl would mean they'd put out a reserve side at the Boleyn Ground in the last game, giving Tottenham an easy ride to the 3 points which (we hope) they'll need.

Well, that's all still true. But Alan Pardew's hand is also forced somewhat by some injuries to key players. Matthew Etherington (Abductor), Dean Ashton (Hamstring), Anton Ferdinand (Back), James Collins (Groin) and Yossi Benayoun (Groin) are all out injured, and Hayden Mullins is suspended. This means that those reserves playing against Spurs will feel that they have a chance of making the final, and will hopefull play their socks off for that prize.

And Tottenham themselves could be without Robbie Keane (Ankle), Stalteri (Knee ligaments), and Michael Carrick (Calf), in addition to the definite injuries to Mido (Knee), Jenas (Cracked Shin) and Ledley King (Metatarsal).

Anyway, perhaps we should get the 3 points against Man City tonight before thinking on Sunday too deeply.