Showmen stick to principles at all costs

WHETHER Cesc Fabregas had his words twisted or not by a Spanish newspaper, the fundamental question posed this week hangs in the air over north London.

Are Arsenal, and also their neighbours and bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur, content to play exciting and attractive football, even if it means ending up empty-handed?

Or are Arsene Wenger and Harry Redknapp prepared to take a more pragmatic approach to winning trophies, the way Jose Mourinho has done throughout his career?