A tradition, lost? Pochettino, Wenger weigh in on St. Totteringham's Day

It will take nothing short of a miracle for St. Totteringham's Day to come in 2017.

Each season, North London's red-clad half anticipates the day that Arsenal is mathematically guaranteed to finish above bitter rival Tottenham in the Premier League standings. It was close in 2015-16, taking until the final matchday of the season for St. Totteringham's Day to be celebrated, as Arsenal finished above Spurs yet again.

Not so this season, it seems, as Tottenham sits well above Arsenal and doesn't look likely to relinquish second spot anytime soon. And with the two teams meeting on Sunday at White Hart Lane, talk of the lack of festivities is inevitable.

The last time Tottenham finished above Arsenal was in the 1994-95 season. The next two decades have not been kind to Spurs, while Gunners fans have celebrated the occasion as an annual tradition.

And so to the managers then, as both Mauricio Pochettino and Arsene Wenger addressed the pseudo-holiday and its likely end this year.

Pochettino doesn't care

When Pochettino was asked about St. Totteringham's Day, he didn't know what it was at first. But after having it explained, the Argentine tactician quickly quashed any notion that it was part of his considerations for the season.

"My challenge is not to be above Arsenal," Pochettino said, as quoted by ESPN FC. "My challenge is to be above 19 teams, and to be the first, on top. That is my challenge, my aim, my dream. I don't care what happens with Arsenal. With all my respect, I care about what happens with us. I try to win every game and be the best. That is our big, big challenge.

"I really don't think about Arsenal's position."

He added: "For me, (abolishing St. Totteringham's Day) is not a motivation. The motivation is to win because it's a derby and I know what that means. But it's not a motivation to end that thing.

"I really don't care about that celebration you have explained to me."

Wenger's worry elsewhere

Arsenal sits sixth in the Premier League, 14 points behind Tottenham with six matches left in the season. As such, a few more losses or draws for Arsenal would dash all hopes of renewed St. Totteringham's Day celebrations this year.

But Wenger has an eye on Manchester United, Manchester City, and Liverpool, which all remain within six points. Those four will duke it out for berths in next season's Champions League, and that's what Wenger is focused on.

"The priority for us is to finish in the top four," Wenger said, as quoted by the Guardian. "After that, for the pride and the continuity or our achievements, yes we want to fight to be in front of Spurs. We have to focus on what is really important to us at this moment, which is to finish in the top four."

Wenger also dismissed the notion that Spurs are now the dominant team in North London.

"Let's be honest, I've answered that question about a shift in power over 18 consecutive years. Nothing changes in that," he offered.

"You cannot say that the weight of one year has the weight of 20."

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)