Who is closer to a Champions League Challenge? – Arsenal or Spurs?
Who is closer to a Champions League Challenge? – Arsenal or Spurs?
By Jack Lacey-Hatton
Since the first North London
derby of the season on September 26, both sides involved have seen contrasting
fortunes.
For Arsenal, the 3-1 win jump-started their season, with the Gunners going five
games unbeaten since that day in all competitions.
Spurs on the other hand have suffered defeats at West Ham and at home to Manchester United, the latter seeing the end of manager Nuno Espirito Santo’s short reign.
But the appointment of Antonio Conte has raised spirits and given hope to the supporters that a top-four challenge can still be salvaged.
But realistically, who is closer to qualifying for next season’s UEFA Champions League?
Arsenal
Ahead of their final game before
the international break, the Gunners sit seventh in the Premier League table,
with 17 points from their opening 10 games.
After a tricky start, culminating in that awful collapse at Manchester City,
Mikel Arteta has managed to bring back a sense of calm to the club, with his
side playing some excellent football and slowly moving up the Premier League.
In their recent win at Leicester,
the Gunners looked very much like a team who could challenge for the European
places.
New signings such as Aaron
Ramsdale and Ben White are not only finding form but genuinely improving the
team, who appear to growing in confidence every week.
Arteta also doesn’t have to worry
about his side competing in Europe and most weeks will have maximum time to
prepare for the opposition on the training pitch.
Although bumps will undoubtedly
come, they look a different beast to the early weeks of the season.
They also
have a steeliness not previously seen in the Arteta-era at the Emirates.
If Arsenal can maintain this form
through the tough winter months they will, at the very least, be closer to the
top four than they have been in the last three years.
Spurs
A few weeks ago, it seemed Spurs
were as likely to put together a serious challenge for the top four, as they
were to offer a contract to Jack Wilshere.
But mid-season managerial switches can be game changers.
With all due respect to Nuno, Tottenham have, in theory at least, made one of the best pound-for-pound managerial upgrades the Premier League has seen in some time.
Most in the game would agree that Antonio Conte is an elite manager with a superb CV, it is hard to argue against him being in the top 10 in the world.
But mid-season managerial switches can be game changers.
With all due respect to Nuno, Tottenham have, in theory at least, made one of the best pound-for-pound managerial upgrades the Premier League has seen in some time.
Most in the game would agree that Antonio Conte is an elite manager with a superb CV, it is hard to argue against him being in the top 10 in the world.
Even if his first league game against Everton doesn’t produce three points, it will be hard to take the feel-good factor away from N17.
Conte’s appointment signals real intent from Daniel Levy to have a genuine crack at getting back in the Champions League which, in turn, could see Harry Kane revitalised.
If the former Chelsea and Inter boss could also bring Dele Alli, Japhet Tanganga and a few others back to their best, don’t be surprised to see Tottenham climb the table over the coming weeks.
Verdict
Spurs will surely be closer to
the race than they would have been without changing the head coach.
But considering Conte has also been promised significant investment to re-shape the squad, don’t be surprised to see them dip into the transfer market in January.
A partial re-build may mean this season has to be seen as one of transition, rather than a full tilt at finishing in the top four.
For Arsenal on the other hand, Mikel Arteta now has a team moulded in his own image.
With new signings contributing and the team looking more familiar with the tactics employed by the manager, they should be in the race for the long haul.
Although the top three positions already look locked in for Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool, they will fancy their chances at finishing fourth should they keep up current form.
This is also aided by Manchester United’s recent struggles and Leicester’s mixed start to the campaign.
The recent 2-0 win at the King Power Stadium showed the ‘new’ Arsenal at their best. On that evidence, it looks like they are closer to maintaining a serious Champions League challenge.
But both North London residents have a much better chance of qualifying now, than they had a few weeks back.
But considering Conte has also been promised significant investment to re-shape the squad, don’t be surprised to see them dip into the transfer market in January.
A partial re-build may mean this season has to be seen as one of transition, rather than a full tilt at finishing in the top four.
For Arsenal on the other hand, Mikel Arteta now has a team moulded in his own image.
With new signings contributing and the team looking more familiar with the tactics employed by the manager, they should be in the race for the long haul.
Although the top three positions already look locked in for Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool, they will fancy their chances at finishing fourth should they keep up current form.
This is also aided by Manchester United’s recent struggles and Leicester’s mixed start to the campaign.
The recent 2-0 win at the King Power Stadium showed the ‘new’ Arsenal at their best. On that evidence, it looks like they are closer to maintaining a serious Champions League challenge.
But both North London residents have a much better chance of qualifying now, than they had a few weeks back.
Photo credit: Getty Images