“A gleaming new stadium looming over north London. A distinct style based around homegrown players paid a fraction of what other comparable clubs are paying. A foreign manager who arrived in England to widespread scepticism before being revered as a magus-like figure who has led a revolution in physical preparation. Tottenham are becoming the club Arsenal should have been”: according to an article in The Guardian.
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It adds that we have even sold one of our better players to Manchester City – albeit, and this perhaps shows how we have improved on the Arsenal model – with a replacement already in place.
The article however does point out that Wenger actually won things, not just in his early days when he introduced his “sophisticated ideas”, but also more recently (2 Fa Cup wins in recent years). Even in the three years since Mauricio Pochettino took over at Tottenham, Wenger leads the trophy count 2-0 it adds.
It adds that finishing above Arsenal last season was a hugely significant moment for Spurs as it was the first time since 1995, and also there was solid statistical evidence they are the best team in north London. This season, already, the gap between the sides is four points. It’s three years and six games since Arsenal last beat Tottenham in the league.
The article further digs at the Gunners by saying as Spurs are beating Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, Arsenal are snoozing through deathly 0-0 draws against Red Star Belgrade in the Europa League. The FA Cups, the myth of St Totteringham’s Day, created a mirage: the gulf between Tottenham and Arsenal was significant even before last season and it is getting bigger.
A final dig, the article adds that what makes the inversion of roles most galling for Arsenal is Spurs have not accelerated past them with the sort of injection of cash that has elevated Chelsea and Manchester City.
It concludes by saying Tottenham are an example of what can be achieved through “careful husbandry”, a faith in youth and the establishment of a collective that works tactically and psychologically.
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