Spurs Out To Redress Balance
Tottenham have splashed the cash this summer as they aim to go one better than recent seasons and secure a top-four spot at the expense of neighbours Arsenal.
The north London rivals have battled it out for the final Champions League place in the last two seasons, with Arsenal coming out on top by only one point on each occasion.
Those experiences would have been even more painful for Spurs fans considering the Gunners had to overcome significant points deficits over the latter stages of each campaign. Not to mention they only missed out on the Champions League in 2011-12 because Chelsea won the competition.
Last weekend's defeat at the Emirates Stadium was a setback in Tottenham's quest to redress the balance but they can feel confident of a strong season after a successful transfer window.
Spurs went on a spending spree as it became clear Gareth Bale would end the window at Real Madrid. The club have offset the loss of the Welsh superstar by adding genuine quality in the likes of Roberto Soldado, Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen.
On paper it would appear that Spurs have done more than enough to overturn the one-point advantage held by Arsenal. However, there must be a reason why BetVictor has the Gunners at 4/5 and Spurs 13/8 for a top-four finish(odds subject to change).
It might be down to Arsenal's experience, or the time it will take Tottenham's new stars to bed in. One thing is for sure, Arsene Wenger's side will feel far more confident after the recent 1-0 win and the arrival of Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid.
Arsenal's campaign got off to the worst possible start with a 3-1 home defeat by Aston Villa amid frustration over a lack of spending. However, they have won their last four games and have spent big on a world-class talent.
The Premier League is set to be one of the tightest ever this term, which gives both Arsenal and Tottenham a sniff of title glory. It is more likely they will be left fighting for a top-four spot, though, with all eyes on Spurs to see whether they can get over the line this time around.
