Spurs Fans Arsenal Dilemma Before Leeds Clash (North London 2026)

Key Points

• Tottenham fans are divided over whether they want Arsenal or West Ham to win at London Stadium.
• Tottenham host Leeds United on Monday, while Arsenal visit West Ham on Sunday.
• A West Ham win would hurt Arsenal’s title hopes, but it could also worsen Spurs’ relegation battle.
• An Arsenal win would improve Tottenham’s survival chances, but it would push their north London rivals closer to the Premier League title.
• Spurs are 17th with 37 points, one point above 18th-placed West Ham.
• Spurs have taken only three points from their last nine home league matches, all of them draws.
• The club has changed managers twice since its last home Premier League win.
• Supporters interviewed by BBC Sport said survival is their priority, though some would prefer a draw.
• The outcome at West Ham could have major consequences for both the relegation battle and the title race.

Tottenham Hotspur (North London News) May 8, 2026 — Tottenham supporters are facing an uncomfortable choice ahead of a decisive weekend in the Premier League, with their club battling relegation while Arsenal remains in the title race and West Ham sit just below them in the table.

Before relegation-threatened Spurs host Leeds United on Monday at $20:00$20:00 BST, leaders Arsenal are due to visit struggling West Ham in a London derby on Sunday at $16:30$16:30 BST. The result of that match could shape both ends of the table, and it has left many Spurs fans weighing one unwanted outcome against another.

Do Tottenham fans want Arsenal to win, strengthening their own survival hopes but taking their fiercest rivals closer to a first league title since 2004? Or do they want West Ham to win, damaging Arsenal’s title chances but potentially leaving Spurs back in the relegation zone before their next game?

According to BBC Sport, that is the dilemma creating what one supporter described as a “nightmare scenario” for Tottenham followers.

As reported by the BBC Sport fan correspondent, Tottenham supporter Ali Speechly said:

“One of my Spurs mates said they would be cheering on Arsenal. I was like: ‘What are you even saying!’ Spurs fans are split over it. Personally, I wouldn’t go as far to cheer on Arsenal. I couldn’t bring myself to do that.”

The article makes clear that Spurs’ recent improvement has not removed the pressure. Tottenham begin the weekend with their Premier League future back in their own hands after back-to-back away wins at Wolves and Aston Villa, but the margin for error remains small.

With three matches left, Spurs are 17th on 37 points, one point ahead of 18th-placed West Ham. If Arsenal and Spurs both win, West Ham would be four points from safety with two games remaining, while Arsenal would need a maximum five points from two games to secure the title, provided Manchester City beat Brentford on Saturday.

What would an Arsenal win mean for Spurs?

The BBC Sport piece says some Tottenham supporters would rather see Arsenal take three points if it improves Spurs’ chances of survival.

Bardi, from The Extra Inch podcast, told BBC Sport that he can live with an Arsenal win if it helps Spurs stay up. As reported by BBC Sport, he said:

“Right now, survival has to come first. This is our priority. Safety is more important than banter, but you won’t see me crying if they draw 5-5 with Jarrod Bowen scoring twice in added time.”

That view reflects a pragmatic approach among some fans who believe relegation would be a far greater concern than seeing Arsenal move closer to the title.

Speechly said the uncertainty around Spurs’ form has made the emotional equation difficult. As reported by BBC Sport, she said:

“It’s emotional gymnastics because a lot of Spurs fans had come to terms with the fact that relegation was going to happen. Now De Zerbi has come in and fans are like ‘actually, we might survive’.”

The article adds that Tottenham have changed managers twice since their last home Premier League win. Since beating Brentford 2-0 on 6 December, Spurs have taken just three points from a possible 27 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, all of them draws, across the tenures of Thomas Frank, Igor Tudor and now Roberto de Zerbi.

Why would some Spurs fans prefer a West Ham win?

For other supporters, the idea of helping Arsenal’s title charge remains too difficult to accept, even if it weakens Spurs’ own position.

The BBC Sport article quotes Speechly as saying she could not bring herself to cheer on Arsenal. That sentiment is common among fans for whom the north London rivalry remains emotionally stronger than the immediate table situation.

However, the same article shows that even those who dislike the idea of an Arsenal victory recognise the practical benefits if Spurs can take care of their own business.

Bardi explained that he believes a draw could be the best compromise. As reported by BBC Sport, he said a draw would

“keep the title race alive, keep West Ham behind us on goal difference, and mean survival is still there for us to grasp ourselves.”

That view captures the logic behind many Spurs fans’ response: a West Ham defeat helps Arsenal, a West Ham win hurts Spurs, and a draw may be the least damaging middle ground.

How serious is Tottenham’s relegation risk?

The article underlines that Tottenham’s concern is not theoretical. They remain only one point above West Ham and are still trying to pull away from danger in the closing weeks of the season.

Spurs’ recent away wins at Wolves and Aston Villa have restored some belief, but their home form has been poor.

The BBC Sport report notes that Tottenham have not won a Premier League match in front of their home supporters since 6 December, and that they have picked up only three points from their last nine home league games.

After Monday’s match against Leeds, Spurs still have to travel to Chelsea on 17 May before finishing the season at home to Everton on 24 May. That means their fate could still go down to the final days of the campaign.

As reported by Bardi of The Extra Inch,

“What is at risk is the status of the club, the future of key players, and the possibility of becoming the first founding Premier League club to slip into the abyss.”

That statement, while dramatic in its wording, reflects the seriousness of a relegation fight involving one of the league’s most established clubs.

What do supporters say about the possible outcomes?

BBC Sport asked several Tottenham fans which result they would prefer at London Stadium, and their replies showed how difficult the choice is.

Paul told BBC Sport:

“I can’t think of a worse scenario for a Spurs supporter. On one hand, we need West Ham to lose, and on the other, a win for Arsenal will move them closer to the title. A draw wouldn’t be the worst result for Spurs so long as we beat Leeds on Monday, but that isn’t a certainty, so I would rather West Ham lose and put up with the consequences of an Arsenal victory. Us avoiding relegation is the priority and I don’t care about anything else at this point.”

Kyle offered a slightly different take, telling BBC Sport:

“Arsenal because it doesn’t seal the league for them, but a Hammers loss and Spurs beating Leeds on Monday (fingers crossed) would mean a gap of four points with two games to go.”

These comments illustrate that the debate is less about loyalty to one rival or another and more about which risk supporters consider tolerable.

Could Arsenal win the title while Spurs go down?

The BBC Sport report also considers the extreme version of the scenario: Arsenal winning the Premier League while Tottenham are relegated.

Speechly told BBC Sport:

“I don’t think there is anything worse than that. If you are writing a script and you wanted to inflict maximum pain on Spurs fans, that’s what you would write.”

That view is shared by many supporters because it would combine two of the worst possible outcomes for Tottenham in a single season: their rivals ending the campaign with a league title, and Spurs suffering relegation.

Bardi added that he can remember times when Spurs fans were willing to accept one disappointment to prevent Arsenal success, but says the current situation feels more serious. As reported by BBC Sport, he said:

“Many of us were happy to sacrifice Champions League qualification if it meant stopping Arsenal winning the league. That decision ultimately led to our great night in Bilbao 12 months later. This time, though, the stakes feel very different.”

Background of the development

Tottenham’s current position comes after a difficult run that has dragged them into a relegation battle despite the club’s usual status as a top-half Premier League side.

The BBC Sport report says Spurs have had two managerial changes since their last home league win. Their form at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has collapsed, with only three points collected from a possible 27 in recent home matches.

At the same time, West Ham’s struggles have kept the survival battle open, while Arsenal’s title challenge has added an unusual layer to the rivalry.

The match between West Ham and Arsenal therefore affects not only the title race and the relegation fight, but also the emotional balance of Tottenham support. That is why the discussion has spread beyond standard match preview territory and become a question of which outcome causes the least damage.

What could this mean for Spurs fans?

If Arsenal win, some Tottenham supporters may accept the result because it improves their club’s chances of staying in the Premier League. If West Ham win, Spurs could find themselves under greater pressure before their match against Leeds United.

For Tottenham fans, the immediate impact is psychological as much as mathematical. A West Ham defeat could lift spirits by weakening a local rival below them in the table, but it would also strengthen Arsenal’s title bid. An Arsenal win could feel uncomfortable, but it might bring a more important advantage if Spurs can collect enough points in their remaining fixtures.

The article suggests that the next few days will shape not just Tottenham’s table position, but how supporters judge the season as a whole. For fans focused on survival, the priority is clear. For those who cannot bear to see Arsenal succeed, the choice remains far more painful.