Bright future a bright side: Five reasons for Tottenham Hotspur to be cheery

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Tottenham Hotspur's 55-year wait to be crowned champions goes on after their draw at Chelsea ensured Leicester City will win the Premier League.

Here, Press Association Sport looks at five reasons for Spurs fans to be cheerful.

• Read more: Toby Alderweireld would be a worthy winner of Tottenham's Player of the Year

1 – Champions League can be a game-changer

If you had offered Mauricio Pochettino Champions League qualification back in August he would have snapped your hand off. Tottenham took more money than they spent last summer and yet this young side have all-but secured a top-three finish with two games left to play. It means Spurs will go straight into the group stage next season, avoiding an awkward play-off, and will be able to target a whole new calibre of player in the transfer window. Throw in major financial rewards and the bonus of not playing Thursday nights in the Europa League and things start to look an awful lot rosier for Pochettino’s men.

2 – Pochettino is not going anywhere

Tottenham will be the most stable side in the title race next year, with Mauricio Pochettino set to sign a two-year contract extension that will keep him at White Hart Lane until 2021. Manchester City and Chelsea will both have new managers next season, Louis van Gaal’s future at Manchester United appears unresolved while Arsene Wenger has become a figure of division among Arsenal fans. Pochettino, meanwhile, will be heading into his third season at Spurs, more experienced, and with a squad that knows and trusts his methods. For once, Tottenham are not in transition.

3 – A finish above Arsenal is almost secure

Twenty years have passed since Tottenham last finished above Arsenal but this team can finally put that record to bed as they sit three points clear of their bitter rivals, with two games left. Spurs are also 14 better off in goal difference, meaning one victory from games at home to Southampton and away at Newcastle will almost certainly be enough and they may not even need that if Arsenal lose at Manchester City on Sunday. Many times in previous years, talk of power shifts in North London have proven premature but with Arsenal in turmoil over their own lack of progress, Tottenham can finally press home their advantage.

4 – Young talents can only get better

Leicester’s fairytale season has somewhat overshadowed the achievements of Tottenham, who sit second with the youngest squad in the division. Harry Kane, only 22, has silenced the doubters as the league’s top scorer with 25 goals and the sky is the limit for Dele Alli, the 20-year-old PFA young player of the year who has enjoyed such a remarkable breakthrough campaign. Eric Dier (22), Christian Eriksen (24) and Erik Lamela (24) all still have potential to fulfil and captain Hugo Lloris (29) is approaching his prime in goalkeeping terms. There are likely to be some minor tweaks this summer, perhaps adding more experience, but Pochettino knows his spine could be set for many years to come.

5 – At least it is Leicester

Spurs fans will no doubt be utterly fed up with the world’s infatuation with Leicester but they may take some consolation that at least it is not Arsenal or Chelsea pipping them to the post. If they keep focus in the final two matches, Tottenham should finish top dogs in London. If they had to lose the league to anyone, surely miracle team Leicester were the best of all the options.