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Are Spurs better than Arsenal?

Well, let's face it, they've been far better than us for a pretty long time, but something tells me we're getting better.

If we compare our players, like for like with the Arsenal players, I'll think you'll find that there's not much in it.

Players & positions taken from TottenhamHotspur.com & Arsenal.com

Spurs Defence: Gomes, Assou-Ekotto, Bale, Corluka, Hutton, Chimbonda, Naughton, King, Bassong, Dawson and Woodgate.

Arsenal Defence: Almunia, Vermaelen, Sagna, Senderos, Song, Djourou, Traore, Gallas, Silvestre, Clichy, Gibbs.

If I had to pick a back four (plus keeper) out of all the above players, I'd pick; Gomes, Clichy, Sagna, Woodgate & King.

Spurs Midfield: Jenas, Huddlestone, O'Hara, Lennon, Boateng, Modric, Bentley, Palacios and Bostock.

Arsenal Midfield: Diaby, Rosicky, Denilson, Wilshire, Eboue, Fabregas, Nasri, Ramsey and Arshavin.

If I had to pick two wingers and two midfielders, I'd pick Lennon on the right and Arshavin on the left. For my central midfield positions, I'd pick Fabregas and Modric.

Spurs Attack: Defoe, Keane, Pavlyuchenko, Crouch

Arsenal Attack: Eduardo, Walcott, Van Persie, Bendtner

Crouch & Defoe would be my choice. Or I'd swap Defoe for Keane or Pavlyuchenko. I wouldn't pick any of the strikers currently on offer.

My eleven would have 7 Spurs players and only 4 Arsenal players. It's a shame the games' not played on paper.

That's just my opinion, I'm sure a lot of you will completely differ from my eleven. As I said in yesterdays post, we have a very good squad at the moment. If we could add one more player, it would be complete.

I'm all for us bringing in Sissoko. The guy bossed the midfield in Toulouse's friendly last week. From what I've seen of him, £15 million would be well spent. I think Harry will make his move if Jenas moves to Villa.

47 comments

  1. Wishful thinking really.
    They still play better football than us. Last couple of years i think we have turned up better on Derby day !
  2. Let's join forces with Arsenal. We'd have a team competing for the top 10
  3. They play far better football than us.

    I didn't add the manager equation into the article. If I had done, I would pick Wenger over Redknapp.

    It pains me to say it, but Wenger, for me, is the best manager in world football.

    I think the only reasons he's not spending any money is because he can't.

    Most managers would have come out and slagged off their board by now. He just takes it all on the chin.
  4. Errr ok, worried Spurs fan here. You've just opened the door to a tirade of abuse of "here go those delusional Spurs fans again". For a start i'd put Van persie ahead of Crouch. Is Lennon really better than Walcott? They both flatter to decieve so i'd call it a draw. We don't have a genuine leftie and Arshavin is one of the best in the league, we have to play Modric out there. The real difference is that they have the most dislikable manager in the entire world who also happens to be a master tactician. We're not better than them til we finish above them in the league (or possibly do the double over them, that would be enough for me this year).
  5. In answer to your question, no we are not better than Ar5ena1. The whole is greater than the sum of the individual parts and sadly the Arse have proved they are a better team over the past countless years. Lets just deal with it, move on, and try and be better this year eh?
  6. football is a team game and we all know what Wenger is capable of doing with his players. Generally I'd say that the midfield and defence of Arsenals is better but the strikeforce and goalkeeper of Spurs is better so that is a draw, as usual!
  7. Spurs fans..., always good for a laugh!
  8. I completely agree with the comment left by Anonymous 1:05.

    Wenger has the ability in turning his players into stars.

    Are they better than us? Yes. As I said, they have been better for years.

    I honestly think that our players aren't as bad as some are making out (on other forums/blogs). We just need Redknapp to stick around for about 5 years so that the team can gel thoroughly.
  9. Oh dear... as said above, why open us up to more abuse from the Scum. Pointless article. We clearly are not on the same level as them. Unfortunately we do not play as a team and Wenger although disliked has shown his worth over the years. And to think I was cheering when Rioch went lol
  10. Original thoughts from you - Well done on that. We ALL know that Arsenal are better than us. There is no contention there. They expect top 4, and we dream of it. As people say, football is a team game. A lot of their squad have more pace, fitness, a similar mindset and gel better. We are somewhat cobbled together to make a team. You have also picked a time where perhaps Arsenal are (on paper at least) at their weakest since pre-Wenger. I still make it 50-50 Arsenal to Spurs players. I think Nasri is class, Gallas is still very good, and Almunia vs Gomes is a lot closer than you think. I am not a Defoe fan - he scores the same goal each time - and hasn't scored nearly enough for some time. Our squad isn't that strong either. No depth in centre midfield, struggling with centre defence, and have players who are hard to accomodate - Modric & Keane especially. The only reason why I wouldn't go with both Van Persie and Eduardo is because they wouldn't score …
  11. What a silly article, I would love to be able to say were better than Arsenal but alas were just not there yet, lol last year everyone was touting us as 4th place contenders and look what happened there. As has been said already Football is a team game….. yes some of our players may be more talented in individual positions but as a team Arsenal has proven over the years that they are a better TEAM. I hope and pray we finish above them this year but I have to say I think you a little deluded to think at this point we are a better team, let see how the coming season goes
  12. I'm all for discussion points, but as others have stated here this is just more ammunition for those that claim spurs fans are delusional.
  13. Why do you do it year upon year!? Perhaps if you'd actually spent all your big money on decent players instead of the typically average players you seem to buy then a comparison with Arsenal might be valid. Apart from perhaps Modric I can't see any of your team getting into Arsenal's let alone the other big 3. Most of your players end up at Sunderland don't they? That says it all.
  14. I am a Spurs fan. And I have to say, Arsenal is better than Spurs. No doubts about it. Pointless article, I would rather read some articles that seek to explore how Spurs can catch up with Arsenal.
  15. I can't believe people honestly believe Defoe is better than any of the options available up front for Arsenal. Crouch is definately a weapon in certain situations, but not the calibre to power any team to the title. Largely it comes down to ambition, Spurs want to be better than one team in the league(Arsenal) whilst Arsenal are attempting to be better than every team in England and Europe.I suspect both teams will not meat their goals this season.
  16. Once again some people have totally missed the point. The author of this article is NOT saying that Spurs are better - he just used a provocative title - and some of you fell for it. He even admits Arsenal ARE better - yet you ignore this - can't you read? It does not make it a silly or pointless article. He is just saying: if they are better then why is it that I pick more Spurs players than Arsenal players? Maybe it is bias. Maybe familiarity. Better the devil you know etc...
  17. You probably right,only 3 Man U players will make it there,all CHELSEA players will make your team too....
  18. I don't understand why Spurs always concede more goals and always score less than Arsenal if that's the case.

    To be honest I think Arsenal are 2 players short of the Prem title whereas we are around 9!
  19. Of course Spurs are better than Arsenal. Also England will win the Ashes, Northern Ireland will win the World Cup, and Tim Henman will come out of retirement to win Wimbledon.
  20. Comedy Gold! especially the stuff about Spurs strikers being better than Van Persie and Eduardo. Keep em coming!
  21. I just ask one think if arsenal are better than spurs as the author says then how on earth does he have 7 spurs and 4 gunners in his team ??
  22. Reality time. Only a fit and on form Woodgate (King is good enough but no fit enough), Modric, Lennon, and possibly Crouch (different dimension - literally) have a chance of breaking into Arsenal team (Palacios is good but Fabregas is THAT GOOD). I am Spurs fan.
  23. hey mate, as you've said yourself, spurs as a team aren't as good. but i would query some of your choices of better players anyway. if you choose both woodgate and king above Gallas, then you are obviously ignoring the fact that they are perpetually injured (in which case i would digress and say that they are better players when all fit)...but if you are ignoring injuries, then rosicky is a much better player as an individual than modric, not too mention so is nasri. also agree with the guy above that there really wouldn't be too much between walcott and lennon- or between gomes and almunia (neither is that great nor that bad, despite the press last season!!!). finally, regarding upfront? i like crouch, defoe and keane but none of them could touch a fully fit eduardo or van persie. even bendtner would be an argument. basically according to your choices, even on paper, the only place spurs are arguably better would be central defence (although i would prob pick a fully fit …
  24. it bothers me that this pointless post comes up on newsnow. this isnt news, its a biased rose tinted opinion. Im an Arsenal fan, but i could be a fan of anyone and still see that Arsenal are better then spurs. Surely, do an artical compairing yourself to everton, aston villa or maybe mancity, that would be more intresting reading and a more realsitic comparison. All things going well, your best placing this year will be 5th - analyze those you have to beat to get there
  25. In the end it comes down to the managers as these are two very similiar sized clubs and Harry is not Wenger's league.
  26. just read a comment is Lennon really better than Walcott the answer is simply YES by far apart from one fluke of a game against Croatia i have not seen him play that well and his performances at U21 show he is very ordinary indeed, I am being kind here because he is even worse he is the most overrated Arsenal player EVER
  27. Rednapp has been at spurs how long? How long as Wegner been at arsenal?
  28. redknapp has to prove.....but last year arsenal in both games were matched by spurs....no adebayor
    could change their season.....
  29. The Arsenal fan (2:34:00pm) brings up a good point. This should not be anywhere near news now. Not news! I certainly wouldn't want Arsenal fans to laugh over this as it is a discussion for Spurs fans - as long as they do accept know that we aren't as good as Arsenal. Any Arsenal fan with sense should ignore this article. By the way, why does everyone like Defoe? He doesn't win the ball, or assist his partner, or hold the ball up. In that case he should just score lots of goals to make up for that - but HE DOESN'T score many. He has an especially bad record against good teams.
  30. It doesn't matter how long Harry has been at Tottenham. Both managers are in their early to mid sixities yet have had contrasting careers. Arsene Wenger has won nearly everything in the English game (more than once) and Harry has an FA Cup and Championship trophy. Before you come back at me with Harry has managed smaller clubs with lesser aspirations ask yourself why? It certainly isn't a case of being unlucky. He isn't in Arsene Wenger's league and frankly not many are. He took Arsenal from being like us to a double winning side in his first full season. End of story. I am a Tottenham but I am deluded or full excuses.
  31. The important thing is that Ar5ena1 play and have played better than Spurs as a TEAM for a long time now. This is helped by having a good manager who has been at the club longer than a season and a half... If Spurs keep Redknapp in charge for long enough for him to do his job properly then you will start to see the true potential of the Spurs squad, as individuals and as a team. I also think that on paper that Spurs have players better than Arsenal in a number of positions and not as good in others but overall i would say there is hardly anything in it as far as quality of individuals. Oh yeah i forgot, Lennon is far better than Walcott, different kind of winger but far more effective. Walcott is a couple of years younger but i think Lennon looked better when he was Walcott's age and still does!!!
  32. Plus, the writer of the article has no idea about tactics. Modric and Fabregas in the centre of midfield? Are you having a laugh? They'd really do well against the Boltons' of this world, wouldn't they? Now, Fabregas and Sgt Wilson, there's a thought....

    How about this then - what would you pick as your combined Spurs/Arsenal north London xi? And remember, the best TEAM, not just the most talented 11 players.

    Here's my crack:

    Gomes in goal

    Back four of Clichy, King, Woodgate, Sagna

    Midfield of Modric and Arshavan on the wings, and Wilson and Fabregas in centre mid, bossing things.

    And up front? To be honest, this is where both sides fall down - lots of good players, none you would describe as "world class". Crouch and Edwardo? God, we both have shit strikers.
  33. I'm an arsenal fan and the only two players I would take from your team are: Jenas and Woodgate.

    Lennon isn't in the same league as Nasri or Rosicky.
    Modric isn't the half of what fabregas is.
  34. WTF!!!!! An Arsenal/Spurs XI. Can we not just get on with hating each other???? Its far more interesting than this pointless drivel!!!
  35. If i was to create a team of arsenal and spurs, the only positions on the pitch debatable are gk and cb

    Almunias a bit better than gomes who couldnt catch swine flue in birmingham, and if Vermaelen comes through well, our first 11 is probably better player for player as well as a team and coach...
  36. Can't believe i'm getting drawn into this. Arsenal have sold sold sold. Now correct me if i'm wrong but in both games last season were each side pretty level after 120 odd mins. Now being as Arsenal have not really strengthened (in fact they have weakened)and spurs have without doubt strengthened, then does that not make this a pointless discussion???
  37. where did arsenal finish and where did spurs finish?

    u havent beaten us in a meaningful match in how many years now?

    (carling cup is worthless)
  38. Read the article deidre. Its putting the current Spurs squad against the current Arsenal squad. And last years 120 mins were the home and away game in the league which was even stevens! It was not taliking about league positions it was talking one on one spurs players v Arsenal players. Learn to read dopey!!!!!
  39. I know there aren't many Arsenal sites but there may be some with some simple language that you can understand!
  40. It dont matter who is better. Arsenal will always be a bunch of garlic breath nomads.
  41. Oh dear, some of your worst fears have been realized; this asinine blog entry ended up on Arsenal newsnow feeds.

    Where to begin? Recent history would be a good start.

    Last season we finished ahead of you by 21 points. Our goal differential was superior to yours by 31 goals.

    The season before we finished ahead of you by 40 points! Our goal differential was superior to yours by 38 goals.

    To put that into pespective, you only finished 35 points ahead of Derby County, the worst Premiership team ever. That means you can be better compared to that Derby team than you can the mighty Arsenal.

    Or how about we compare the last 5 seasons, including your magical "we would have had 4th if not for lasagne" season.

    Over the last 5 seasons, Spurs have beaten their PL opponents by a combined 29 goals, while Arsenal have beaten theirs by a combined 190 goals! That's over 6 times better!

    In other words, YOU ARE NOWHERE NEAR US; STOP PRETENDING YOU ARE!

    Moving on, let's have a look at …
  42. Funny how Jermaine "f*cking Defoe just put two past officially the third best country in the world and got man of the match! But hey don't suppose you scummers would have been watching because for a supposed english club with one lame kid who can actually call himself english, it wouldn't have meant anything to you! OOOH hang on a minute maybe it would. Van Pervy was playin. You musty be soooo proud. TOSSERS!!!!!
  43. It was a friendly. Surprise, surprise, Spurs supporters getting excited about their performances in irrelevant competitions!

    Maybe you can make it into a DVD!
  44. You just have to read all the spurs posts that have arsenal as "ar5ena1" to see whether tottenham are better than the gunners.Their biggest achievement to date(in color) and they will milk it till they die. Bigger and Better than arsenal indeed. LOL.
  45. How on earth have you put Arshavin in before Bentley?
  46. And how does Fabregas make the team over Huddlestone?
  47. I read this article and responses expecting a very narrow and one-eyed view. I am an Arsenal fan and would naturally say Arsenal due to our superior placings over the past few years and record of achievement (league titles, doubles, FA cup wins, unbeaten season, consecutive years in top division and so forth), but I was surprised to see that team bias has not clouded most people's objectivity. Football is a highly emotive subject so congratulations to all those who commented dispassionately (I am not being condescending either so forgive me if it appears that way).