Ok, so let's unpack your claims. With seven games to (early April), Spurs drew at Liverpool, effectively leaving them 7 points behind Leicester (who had a game in hand). They then drew 2 and lost 2 of their following four games, ending their title chances mathematically.
With seven games to go, we went to West Ham and drew 3-3. leaving us 9 points behind Leicester. The BBC said this "dealt a blow to our already slim chances of winning the league". We then drew 2 and lost 2 of our subsequent four games - exactly the same as Spurs.
And yet according to you, one of these teams meaningfully challenged while the other didn't.
"Plenty of strikers can score goals," he said, gesturing to the famous old stands casting shadows around us.
"But a lot have found it difficult wearing the number 9 shirt for The Arsenal."
Just for the record, you are thoroughly wrong here. Spurs won their next two games (including beating United 3-0) and closed the gap to 5 points. At that stage we were ten points behind.
Throughout this conversation, I have never used the term 'meaningfully challenged'. I have referred to Spurs' challenges over two years not being entirely convincing, and to them being very much an outside bet. As much as you would like his to not be the case, I'm afraid it is.
One can argue that their challenge two years ago was not much more convincing than ours. I think perspective is important here as their challenge was far better than anyone expected from them and ours was quite a bit weaker. Around february we looked well placed to mount a serious challenge but our form dipped considerably. Their form continued to improve giving a sense of momentum.
Obviously, this trend continued into the following season where we got progressively worse and they continued to improve.
They were 5 points behind and drew at home with West Brom with five games to go. Presumably you think this is where their challenge faltered.
We were 7 points behind and drew with West Ham with 6 games to go.
The difference between your definition of challenging and not challenging at all seems incredibly small.
I wasnt going to do this but you have forced me to. This is a post from you on 20 April in that year:
"At this point I think I'd even have Spurs as favourites. I guess our best hope is Chelsea pulling their fingers out at the Bridge but you can easily see them winning their remaining games"
it seems you were quite convinced by them at the time, Monty. Later on in the thread you also say
"7 point gap with five games to go. I dont think we have come that close in a very long time".
You are wrong above, by the way. when they drew with West BRom there were only three games to go.
20 April, 2016.