Monday 9 May 2016 12:48, UK
Tottenham striker Harry Kane admits finishing below Arsenal would be a bitter pill to swallow after such a promising season.
Spurs are two points above their rivals ahead of the final day of the season, but have a far superior goal difference so need only a draw at Newcastle on Sunday to secure second and ensure they finish above the Gunners for the first time since 1995.
That it has even gone down to the final day is due to Spurs failing to win any of their last three games - despite taking the lead in all three - allowing Arsenal to close the gap.
The latest disappointment came at White Hart Lane on Sunday, when Spurs led through Son Heung-min only for Steven Davis to score twice and earn Southampton a 2-1 win.
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino has claimed the club, which has already secured Champions League football for next season, must not become fixated on Arsenal, but Kane says it is very important for both players and fans to finish the job at St James' Park this weekend.
"Finishing third would be hard to stomach," Kane said. "To finish above Arsenal would be a very good thing. It is not something I think we focus on at the start of the season but now we are here, it would be good.
"It would be good for the fans to have the bragging rights for the first time in a long time. We want to finish second. It is in our hands, we have just got to win our game and the job will be done.
"We all know what it means. We have not won the league this year but there is still a lot to play for and that is definitely one thing. The fans are urging us on."
The laboured response to Southampton's equaliser suggested fatigue is finally setting in for hard-running Spurs having taken two points from their last nine available.
"It has been a long season," added Kane, who has made 57 appearances for club and country this campaign.
"We have been fighting hard, mentally and physically, but I still think we looked good out there against Southampton. We played good football.
"In recent weeks we just have not been finishing teams off. We have been going ahead, and then maybe lacked concentration."
