Tottenham Hotspur lost their final home game of the season on Tuesday night against Manchester City.
Defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium now means Spurs can only finish as high as fifth place with Aston Villa securing the final Champions League spot.
Ange Postecoglou‘s side put in a good fight but three points for City now means Arsenal’s Premier League fate is out of their hands ahead of Sunday.
It was a strange atmosphere in north London with a number of Tottenham fans very much open to the notion of their side losing to inflict misery on their local rivals.
Spurs fans were fairly quiet for the majority of the game but when they did sing they made their thoughts known on the Gunners.
And the mood was encapsulated by the scenes in sections of the home end when Erling Haaland opened the scoring for City.
The Norwegian netted two in the end but it was his first goal which saw some Spurs fans react.
What Spurs fans were seen doing when Erling Haaland scored
Tottenham may now go into the game on Sunday against Sheffield United without their spot in fifth guaranteed.
Newcastle United are six points behind but have a game in hand which will be played on Wednesday night at Old Trafford.
After losing four on the bounce, Spurs got back on track on the weekend with a victory over Burnley but have now seen any faint hope of Champions League football crushed.
Europa League football would mark a good return in Postecoglou’s first season at Tottenham and it is apparent some Spurs fans were pleased to see their own side beaten on the night.
After a tense first half, any concerns among some Spurs fans that their side were going to get a result from the game were relieved.
A number of Tottenham fans were then spotted doing the famous ‘Poznan’ celebration in the home end following City’s opener.
For the fans who did want to see Tottenham win, it has to be said the Lilywhites did give it a real good go against the champions-elect.
Europa League football would still be a big achievement for Ange Postecoglou
Although the players may well have wanted to qualify for the Champions League, but the recent run of results has shown that maybe it is still too early to be playing at that level.
Europa League football will provide Spurs with a good competition to rotate their squad and provide their squad players with much-needed minutes.
The likes of Radu Dragusin is a prime example of a player who could benefit from the second string European competition.
But the new rules which will now not see Champions League fallouts drop into the knockout stages will also mean it is a competition which will offer a big opportunity at silverware.