Pochettino's expression was tense.
Arsenal's goal in the FA Cup was clear: march forward round after round and ultimately lift the trophy.
But for Pochettino's Spurs, the idea of winning the cup wasn't even on their minds.
All he wanted in this Fifth Round clash with Arsenal
was to protect Spurs' dignity at home.
To throw everything into preventing another humiliating slaughter in the North London Derby.
The two teams entered with completely different mindsets—
and that alone would shape their tactics and affect their players' mentality on the pitch.
Arsenal, Colney Training Ground.
The moment the squad learned their FA Cup opponents would be Spurs,
the entire base exploded with excitement.
"Fuck, perfect! We get to smash Spurs again!"
Van Persie pumped his fist in delight.
The rest of the Arsenal squad were equally fired up, eyes gleaming with hunger.
Eat, sleep, beat Spurs—repeat.
Every time they faced Tottenham, the Gunners seemed to inject pure adrenaline into their veins.
"This time it's at White Hart Lane! We'll turn their stadium into a library!"
Kai raised his arm high.
"Wipe Spurs out completely!"
February 13th.
The FA Cup Fifth Round had arrived.
Spurs would host Arsenal at White Hart Lane.
The third North London Derby of the season.
That night, North London roared in chaos once again.
English football itself was shaken.
Media from across the country swarmed into London,
driving straight to White Hart Lane.
Tonight's match would see Spurs defend their home
against their century-old rivals—Arsenal.
Pre-match analysis was blunt:
"Spurs gained nothing in the winter window. Even at home, their odds in this FA Cup tie look grim."
"This is Arsenal—Kai's Arsenal! Against Spurs, the Gunners never hold back. They'll ram the barrel right down Tottenham's throat if they can."
"Son Heung-min is out for the season. Without him, Pochettino's dream of a flying-wing attack is shattered. And even when Son started, Spurs rarely got good results anyway."
"This Korean international simply hasn't adapted to the Premier League's intensity yet!"
The media buzzed with chatter…
Meanwhile, Son Heung-min sat at home.
In that League Cup quarterfinal,
he had been meant to challenge Kai—
but instead, teammate Gareth Bale's reckless lunge had taken him out.
Son was now out for the season.
Now, watching the live cameras pan over the two squads warming up,
Son's heart twisted.
When Kai appeared by the touchline,
the Arsenal away fans erupted in deafening cheers.
Tens of thousands of voices wrapped around that black-haired figure,
a hero embraced by pure adoration.
Seeing that,
Son's mentality completely collapsed.
Last season, he had come to the Premier League full of hope,
wanting to follow in the footsteps of Park Ji-sung,
dreaming of competing against the rising star of his generation—Kai.
But after just half a season,
he already regretted moving to England.
Now he didn't even feel like playing football anymore.
Thoughts of retiring early began creeping into his mind.
The nightmare of being relentlessly thrashed by Kai's Arsenal
again and again in North London Derbies
haunted his head like a shadow that wouldn't leave.
Meanwhile—
at White Hart Lane, under the North London night sky.
Tickets for tonight's clash were sold out.
All 40,000 seats were filled,
and astonishingly, over 10,000 Arsenal supporters had made it in.
For an away allocation, that was an overwhelming number.
The away stand erupted like a tidal wave,
their cheers exploding into the night.
Though fewer in number,
the Arsenal fans' voices were louder, fiercer, more unrestrained.
FA Cup Fifth Round.
The third North London Derby of the season.
The Gunners raised their arms high,
singing, chanting, roaring.
Even inside Tottenham's home ground,
they were determined to continue their unshakable dominance in the derby.
In the stands, Spurs fans tried to hold their ground.
Though their hearts were heavy,
they forced out defiant roars for their team.
On the touchline, just five meters apart,
Pochettino and Wenger stood in their dugouts.
Their faces said everything.
For Wenger, this was just another necessary step
on Arsenal's road to the FA Cup trophy.
Victory was essential.
For Pochettino,
this was a matter of pride—
a life-or-death battle that could decide his fate as Spurs manager.
With thousands of voices screaming into the night,
the players marched out of the tunnel.
The roar inside White Hart Lane hit its peak.
And when Kai led the Arsenal squad onto the pitch,
the Spurs supporters flinched.
The memory of his brutal, unstoppable performances
in the previous two derbies this season
was burned into their minds,
a scar they couldn't shake.
Facing him again,
Spurs fans were tense,
eyes fixed nervously on the field.
"Tweeet!"
Under the North London sky,
the referee's whistle rang out.
The FA Cup Fifth Round.
The third North London Derby of the season.
It had begun!
White Hart Lane erupted,
a tidal wave of noise cascading from the stands.
Harry Kane and Gareth Bale kicked off at the center circle.
In an instant, Arsenal's midfield and attack surged past the halfway line!
From the very first seconds,
the Gunners pressed with an intensity that stunned the crowd.
Suddenly—
Kai's figure burst over the halfway line,
charging down a Spurs player with ferocity.
Gasps echoed across the stands.
With a thunderous sliding tackle,
Kai intercepted Bale's back pass with sheer force!
Arsenal's formation snapped forward as one,
lines surging upfield,
pouring pressure onto Spurs.
And under the floodlights of White Hart Lane,
the night was ripped apart
by a deafening roar!