Has the balance of power shifted in north London?
Spurs have momentum, but talk of Arsenal’s demise is premature, argues
Sanchez and Ozil have done little to justify Wenger keeping them
Spurs have finished below Arsenal twice in three years
Youth development
Arsenal must have hoped that the photograph in 2012 of Arsene Wenger’s young British core all signing new contracts would prove iconic. Alex Oxlade-chamberlain, Carl Jenkinson, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs simultaneously agreed new deals beneath photographs of Wenger celebrating both the “Invincible” season and his first double as manager. Theo Walcott followed and Wenger explained how he was building around local players who would more likely show loyalty. It was a noble idea but what let him down was not any lack of buy-in from the players, but their collective failure to develop into anything resembling a group who could win the title. Only Ramsey is a regular. Now look at Tottenham. Did Dele Alli, Kyle Walker, Kieran Tripper, Danny Rose, Harry Winks, Ben Davies and Harry Kane have inherently more potential? Few would have said so before Mauricio Pochettino’s input. What was once Arsenal’s great selling point is now Spurs’ biggest strength.
Ruthlessness
The anecdotes regarding Daniel Levy’s negotiation style have become the stuff of legend and, while those on the receiving end have not always enjoyed the experience, the overall benefit to Tottenham is clear. Big players are invariably on big contracts and, although Spurs are fond of saying star names are not for sale, they do make major sales on their own terms. The contract countdowns that Arsenal now face with Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Wilshere – and perhaps soon with Ramsey, Danny Welbeck, Olivier Giroud and Petr Cech – are hard to imagine at Spurs. They have also been helped by the ruthless clarity in Pochettino’s decision-making. The key moments were across 2015-16 after a fairly disappointing first season. There was no great fanfare – but Pochettino simply waved goodbye to a long list of players: Townsend, Adebayor, Lennon, Soldado, Kaboul, Capoue, Assouekotto, Stambouli, Holtby, Chiriches, Paulinho. Wenger has chosen a different approach with Sanchez and Ozil – and their performances so far this season have done little to justify the financial gamble of keeping them.
Squad depth
Pochettino follows a deliberate strategy in his player recruitment by building lean and genuinely multifunctional squads. With the exception perhaps of Kane, every outfield player can operate in at least two fairly distinct positions. Not only does that provide more options, but it has helped build total buy-in among a tight group for a physically imposing style of high-pressing football. Spurs can overwhelm even the very best opponents, yet this is potentially also a point of weakness. A perceived tendency of Pochettino teams to fade was partially answered last season but the certainty of Champions League involvement after Christmas will bring a different challenge. It is a period when Arsenal’s greater quality in numbers could prove telling. Arsenal’s depth has been evident in how Wenger has been fielding different but comparably powerful teams in the Europa League and Premier League.
Positive narrative
An intangible but major strength for Tottenham is the gathering momentum and sense of wider