The ten point advantage Tottenham currently have over Arsenal in the Premier League would have been unthinkable just a couple of seasons ago. Although Arsenal fans were calling for Arsene Wenger’s head after a bad start to the season, things seemed to have settled down on that front with the good run of form they put together following the 2-1 defeat the Gunners suffered at White Hart Lane. Now reality has finally set in, Wenger’s management skills are once again being called into question by their supporters.
In stark contrast, Harry Redknapp’s reputation continues to thrive not only among Spurs fans, but also football enthusiasts around the globe. Bringing Scott Parker and Emmanuel Adebayor to the club this season only added to what was already an excellent squad of players. Not only have Harry’s player purchases been very astute, he has also helped Gareth Bale become one of the best footballers in the world. He is able to instil a belief in players that Wenger cannot. Another great example of this is Benoit Assou-Ekotto. He was going nowhere fast at Tottenham but Redknapp spotted his potential and gave the former Lens man a chance. Ekotto is now one of the very best left backs the Premier League has to offer.
While the 5-1 cup victory in 2008 was a sign of things to come, the day when the power really shifted in North London was 20th November 2010. Spurs had not won at Arsenal for 17 years. Going 2-0 down before half time would have seen Tottenham sides of old throw the towel in, but this set of players were not prepared to lie down. Winning the game in such a manner gave Spurs a new found confidence and helped enforce the never say die attitude that has seen us become serious title contenders this season.
There are a couple of games during this campaign that really illustrate the difference between the two teams perfectly. Both were defeats, our 2-1 reverse away to Stoke, and Arsenal’s 3-2 loss at Swansea. Admittedly, the game at the Liberty Stadium was very entertaining and all credit to Swansea for playing some great football, but a number of the Arsenal players on that pitch looked like they did not want to be there. It ultimately ended with the man Arsenal fans were hailing as the King a few days earlier, a 34 year old Thierry Henry, turning on them for venting their frustrations.
At Stoke, Spurs were not at their best in the first half. Any team two goals behind at the Britannia Stadium would probably have resigned themselves to defeat. In the end, it was only one of the worst refereeing performances in Premier League history that cost us all three points. Every Spurs player gave their all in that second half to try and get something from the game and even though we lost the match, it is possibly my favourite Tottenham performance of the season. It goes a long way to showing why Tottenham are now the dominant team in North London and why you’d better mind that gap.
I wouldn’t say Stoke was my favourite game of the season but we certanly didn’t deserve to lose. Some good points about Arsenal there.
What a load of shit. Forever in our shadow.
I agree davspur not my favourite game either but I see your point. It is a good point that we are definitely the more dominant team this season. But for the power shift to be complete we would need to be this dominant over them consistently. Which is the real challenge for Spurs. Believe or not this is the easy bit!!!
Ok, shoot me down as a gooner. I think the shift started well before then. The shift started foremost under Jol. I loathe Jol, but I loathed how spurs got rid of him more (but thats another story). Under Jol in 2006, spurs had the chance to take arsenal out of the equation, but for one flaw. Davids sending off at highbury. 1 -0 and 11 men, you can say screw lasagnegate, you get fourth? Would henry?cesc? rvp have stayed? no Way. Spurs then knew they had the beating of US. The point was underlined not by the 5-1 win (though for any fan thats an achievement), but the 4-4 draw. 4-2 up with 1 minute to go you sit on the ball. But we have a soft underbelly with silvestre in the back we had to throw it away.
The fall for us has been we are now a workmanlike team. the pires, bergkamp, viera movement are gone. We’ve got a team of paul stewarts (effective but monotonous to watch).
Spurs? Well you need that 4th spot AT LEAST. Lose that and you lose bale,vdv,modric and lennon. Your team could quickly unravel.
Good article, but are decline isn’t totally wengers fault. Losing cesc for half a ronaldo would screw any team.
Came across this by accident and hopefully never again.
Interesting viewpoint but do you remember 2004? When the Invincibles came to your part of town they left a historic legacy on the Premiership – they have a specially presented cup that was given to them by the FA with all the teams that could not stop them in the one and only ever Unbeaten year.
This does not remind me of a man who cannot instill confidence in his team…would you not agree? Even painfully so? Has Mourinho, Feguson, Guardiola accomplished this?
Arsene has won three Premierships, four FA cups etc (Let us not compare history here)but his legacy will be having built a World Class stadium in a recession and all on a budget while having spent so little money and having sold our best players – usally to Barcelona etc and who would not blame them going there for more money?
Yes, we are going through a bad patch with injuries and obviously unable to compete with City and Chelsea’s spending as Arsene has hist hands tied but his vision is on our future, which will only improve.
We are two seperate teams on different missions, you want a new stadium and we want to expand ours.
We want to pay our debts off asap whereas you can spend without thinking of the future.
The real reason for your undoubted superiority over Arsenal is not what you want to hear. Firstly Adebayor has made a major difference to your whole team. A loan player you can’t afford to buy or pay and rely on Manchester City to maintain his salary. Its outrageous and should never have been allowed.
You are not playing in the ECL or even the Eurpoa league and your players do not receive the injuries that Arsenal do- well why is that?.
Lets wait till next season- you are in the ECL- Arsenal are not. Lets then see if you are that much better- when we have you itinerary and you have ours. Lets also see whether you hold on to your heroes when the likes of Barcelona are constantly sniffing around.
Harry talks a good game – but Levy is the guy I admire most in your set up.
You are right about one thing though-Arsenal are badly run- you must think Wenger and Hill- Wood are a god send for Spurs fans.
Calm down mate, its January. For a “power Shift” to come about, you would need to finish above Arsenal for many seasons, not just. Next year normal service will be resumed. Anyway, I still think Arsenal will finish above yids this season, after all, spurs will always let you down!
LOL. I don’t think the article is criticising Wenger particularly, the Arsenal Twitter brigade do seem to be starting a Wenger Out campaign though. Benny and his hair are quite clearly the reason behind the power shift.
Er…no we don’t. All we need to do is finish about Arsenal the once. The problem you chaps down the road have is you’re not letting go of this fallacy that you’re still a great club. You’ve stagnated badly. Okay, so badly is pretty much defined as still being able to qualify for the CL every season but is that going to be your legacy, your gloat? 15 times on the trot?
Let go of it. Then you might be able to start a new era and move on rather than continue to drown in superlatives that are no longer relevant.
Wenger, came to Arsenal (a blank canvas) and pretty much created a club from his vision. Wenger is pretty much Arsenal. Much like Arsenal fans (most of them) seem to echo the delusions of the manager and part and parcel the same happens with the players.
You once had full rights to be arrogant pricks about it, but take a look around. This is no longer the Prem dominated by the Sky Sports Top four. No matter how much it hurts, its all changed. For the best. You think any club stood a chance during that period of time? Spurs included, we could hardly mount a challenge. Now we can. And its not just because everybody else has dropped off the pace, its because we’ve organically grown and evolved. Stick RvP into the Spurs side and we’d probably win the league (okay, City would still probably edge us out) but Christ…when in the last 10 years has anyone been able to speak about Spurs like this?
The foundations are set. Up to us to push on with it. To be honest, sadly, many gooners would not sit down and debate this. Because many refuse to accept weakness and doubt. They once cited the presence whereas all they do now is remind us of the past when the reality is, the future is there to be made.
But hey, I guess we haven’t got Frimpong denching it across Twitter so we’ve still got a fair amount of ground to cover before we turn into twats.
Spooky. Your comment;-
To be honest, sadly, many gooners would not sit down and debate this. Because many refuse to accept weakness and doubt. They once cited the presence whereas all they do now is remind us of the past when the reality is, the future is there to be made.
Isn’t true. Does my comment come over as an ‘arrogant twat’? Or goonergerry pointing out you have a free striker from city not have a point?
There are actually fans who like to discuss football in an adult manner.
There’s no doubt we have supporters that are ‘twats’. But I think you should take some points on that we have made and criticise or discuss them.
Obviously, my opinion is different to yours, but I think the article deserved debating rather than belittling?
It would be refreshing as a Gooner to be able to have a decent online debate with Tottenham fans but unfortunately it generally decends into childish Forever in our Shadow type comments like the first one posted here.
I think with all our players fit, the season would have been quite different and there wouldn’t actually be much between Spurs and Arsenal. Considering the players Wenger has lost to transfers and injuries this season, I think he’s doing a bloody good job!
“You’ve stagnated badly. Okay, so badly is pretty much defined as still being able to qualify for the CL every season but is that going to be your legacy, your gloat? 15 times on the trot?”
– Totts have qaulified once for this comp and also failed to qaulify last yr even though this was supposed to be your minimum target last yr.
“Wenger, came to Arsenal (a blank canvas) and pretty much created a club from his vision. Wenger is pretty much Arsenal. Much like Arsenal fans (most of them) seem to echo the delusions of the manager and part and parcel the same happens with the players.”
– When he came to arsenal you guys had finished ahead of us for a couple of season minus bruce riochs yr in charge. what happened to you guys since then – and we are the delusional ones?
“You once had full rights to be arrogant pricks about it, but take a look around. This is no longer the Prem dominated by the Sky Sports Top four.” – well we didnt ask sky to sponsor us over the rest of the league
“No matter how much it hurts, its all changed. For the best. ” – what apart from liverpool not been able to buy a CL spot what has changed? the season is’nt over yet and you guys are bragging! again why didnt you qualify for CL last season?
“Stick RvP into the Spurs side and we’d probably win the league (okay, City would still probably edge us out) but Christ…when in the last 10 years has anyone been able to speak about Spurs like this?” – lets concentrate on finishing in the top 4 for a few seasons 1st and not being a 1 season wonder
“but Christ…when in the last 10 years has anyone been able to speak about Spurs like this?” – il give you that it is very rare
“The foundations are set. Up to us to push on with it. To be honest, sadly, many gooners would not sit down and debate this. Because many refuse to accept weakness and doubt.” – we lost 3 of our best player at the start of the season – i think that has been a factor – and good luck with your foundations set in the olympic stadium in stratford or where ever the new stadium is built. still reckon we gonna finish ahead of you guys.
Les – that wasn’t aimed at you, we all work on stereotypes when it comes to football. I know a few gooners that would happily agree with most of what I’ve said and in fact are painfully critical of the current state of affairs at the Emirates. I was just biting at this boring tiresome throw-back to what’s happening as some form of gauge that is meant to define everything, without question.
Spurs fans, unlike times before when we’ve not had reason to be giddy yet behaved like we were deserving of it, are still quite grounded. We know that for all our efforts we could still hit a bad run of form that would sink us down a few positions. It’s not impossible (although based on the past 12 months its unlikely).
We’re enjoying our football. We’re enjoying the fact that our strongest eleven can match up to the very best in the Prem.
The belittling like I said was aimed at the vast majority of Arsenal fans (i.e. not people I know) that refuse to debate. And it was an actual dig at Frimpong who in some way is a good thing as he appears to add weight to the argument, for the wrong reasons (re: Arsenal) although bless him, I don’t think he has quite grasped that.
Spooky, Fair enough. Obviously, worst of luck for the rest of the season 😉
Gee – nobody disputes Spurs were badly mis-managed in terms of board room and managerial appointments. Anybody could finish above us mate in the 90s’ – we were abject. It happens. Much like you played second fiddle in the 80’s (early not late) to us before it shifted again. Its a cycle of success.
The Wenger appointment redefined your club. Do you remember the brand of football you played before Wenger? Honestly, even winning titles, I’d stop supporting Spurs if we played like that. But that was pretty much acceptable to you lot as I found that the result meant more to you than the football. And then you go and get spoilt for 10 or so years under Wenger.
You should embrace it. What he’s given you. And although he’s stubbornness is obviously costing you in a big way now, fuck me, the bloke is a legend and yet you’d think Arsenal we’re the ones finishing mid-table every season the way you bitch and complain.
Start afresh, relax a little and stop expecting and believing you’re deserving of anything and go out and do it rather than harping on about what you’ve done.
“Do you remember the brand of football you played before Wenger? Honestly, even winning titles, I’d stop supporting Spurs if we played like that.”
– to tell you the truth up until 1990/91 when we won the title i thought our football was decent and was a match for any team in the division as our 2 title wins testified under grapham – the following yrs and the lg and fa cup triumphs are forgetable in terms of the football we played those yrs. rioch brought a little spark back but we played some good football before wenger.
“You should embrace it. What he’s given you. And although he’s stubbornness is obviously costing you in a big way now, fuck me, the bloke is a legend and yet you’d think Arsenal we’re the ones finishing mid-table every season the way you bitch and complain.” – im loving this peroid even the unsuccessful yrs unlike some of our younger members, what ever happens wengers a legend in my eyes.
“Start afresh, relax a little and stop expecting and believing you’re deserving of anything and go out and do it rather than harping on about what you’ve done.” – i think that advise can go along way amongst some arsenal support.
Fair play to Totts – i am taking more notice of them so the gap has reduced but it will take a few seasons of you guys finishing ahead of us to really convince me – nice to be able to debate. cheers
Christ? We’ll start having group hugs soon…..
13th of July 2006 was the day Arsenal started going backwards. It was the day we committed £470m to building a new stadium. Since this date we have spent -£6m per year on transfers. It’s no wonder the team is suffering. It has handicapped us and will continue to do so until it is paid off.
A note of caution to Spurs fans, estimated cost for your new/upgraded stadium is about £300m-£350m. If I were you lot I’d be fighting to stay at WHL.
arsenal are gay
“13th of July 2006 was the day Arsenal started going backwards. It was the day we committed £470m to building a new stadium. Since this date we have spent -£6m per year on transfers. It’s no wonder the team is suffering. It has handicapped us and will continue to do so until it is paid off.” ( sometimes you have to take a step back to go forward)
A note of caution to Spurs fans, estimated cost for your new/upgraded stadium is about £300m-£350m. If I were you lot I’d be fighting to stay at WHL.”
I would’nt – its hard to compete with a 75,000/60,000 sell out stadium. The gate receipts make up a good portion of revenue – seen this table http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2011/may/19/football-club-accounts-debt
gate\matchday – arsenal 94 mil yr,
man utd – 100 mil yr
tottenham 27 – mil
thats a bit of a difference – total turnover for totts was 119 mil for the yr – thats slightly better than man utd on matchdays!!
With the rich billionaires club expanding standing still is not really an option.
Two rather vital points for you gee.
1. Turnover is great but profit is the main thing. Our total turnover was £382m but our profits were only £56m. This is a one off as well as it has the figures for the sale of flats at Highbury, £156m. So without this one off sale our turnover would be £226m and our profits would have been -£100m.
2. The information you have shown is for the 2009/2010 tax year so the debts there are after 4-5 years of paying off the debts.
I do agree (as I said) once the debts are paid off we will be in a much better financial state that before. But whether that translates into money for the team will depend on the owners and whether they will start taking money out of the club once it is profitable again.
From a match day fans perspective the possibility that we may have more cash in the future has come at a cost of our tradition, atmosphere, and large hikes in season ticket prices. If Kroenke decides to milk the club (more than likely) we will have sacrificed all these things and gone through a barren spell for nothing.
Got to hand it to spurs this season. Playin some classy stuff. I’m not takin the piss when i say this. but i hope tottenham win the league this season. the football they’ve played this year deserves it! Got a great team. Bet luka’s glad he didn’t leave now.
How does today’s result “illustrate the difference between the two sides”?
Ha ha ha. All together now…….two nil and you fucked it up, two nil and you fucked it up!
1 point now yow fucking yiddo cunts
hahahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! topsin hotspur… pathetic.
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL
What gap would that be?
HAHAHAHHAHAH, FOREVER IN OUR SHADOW, YOU FUCKING WRECK FACE, HAHAHAHHAHAH!!!!!!!!
‘ARRY FUCKED IT UP ‘ARRY FUCKED IT UP
Author dude is like, crap should never have written this, made a monkey outa my ass, quick somebody how to delete this page!!! ahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha funniest thing I’ve read today
Watch that gap!
Forever in our shadow you will be!
Oh dear. A big club would know that a season does not finish in Feb. Never mind ey?
Just read this. Ha ha ha. The season lasts 9 months, not six, so I laugh at all you deluded totts. Oh yeah, just to compound the misery there is an ad for Absolute Radio with a picture of Wrighty on this page. Class!!!
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHA THIS IS HILARIOUS
Tottenham, mind the gap, Tottenham Tottenham mind the gap! Write your pathetic ‘article’ the next time 5pur2 finish above Arsenal.
FORVER IN OUR SHADOW
Hahahaah… Here we go again, what a bunch of mugs they are down at the lane that time forgot. 😆
MIND THE GAP? Totnumb mind the gap!!
Lol dirty spurs