LONDON is witnessing one of history’s greatest con tricks and the decision we all face is, do we play along with it because it makes the perpetrators so deliriously happy – or call out the lie for what it is?

There is no need to be mean about the Tottenham Hotspur supporters who have been celebrating winning the lowly Europa League this week, but they do not help themselves by equating this mild success to being kings of the continent.

Their confusion was exquisitely illustrated on Sunday when Spurs went ahead against Brighton. “1-0 to the champions,” they sang – before letting four goals in and racking up a 22nd league loss.

After paying £80 a ticket to see the team get beaten every week, the fans were then told by Ange Postecoglou that it had been an “outstanding season”.

And this extraordinary gaslighting seems to have worked. There are fans now actively saying they want him to stay because he won a trophy too small for any successful team to be in, and one they are glad not to play in again. Amazing but true, they want to buy even more tickets for Angeball!

Only the winners of the Champions League are the European champions. Sadly, after the clear failure to buy a striker, that isn’t the Arsenal men’s team.

But if you wanted to see a big trophy and a proper celebration this week, it was at the Emirates Stadium where Leah Williamson’s team toasted beating the very best sides that the sport has, breaking Barcelona’s titanium stranglehold and claiming the top prize.

Back in the day, when other clubs seemed so disinterested in women’s football, Arsenal were pioneers.

The others are rightfully playing catch-up now but even the Chelsea powerhouse couldn’t beat Barca when they managed to get to the final a few years back. They lost 4-0.

European champions, Arsenal know what they are.