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Robbie Keane has insisted Tottenham are no longer afraid of Arsenal and that Harry Redknapp's squad has the greater depth.
Spurs approach Saturday's north London derby at Emirates Stadium boasting 19 points from their opening 10 Premier League games, and with the teams appearing more closely-matched than they have been for some time.
Many of Spurs' fringe players helped their side to a 2-0 win over Everton last night through goals from Tom Huddlestone and Keane, which secured a quarter-final spot in the Carling Cup.
And Spurs captain Keane believes that such a routine victory over the Merseysiders proves Redknapp has a formidable group of players.
“You look at the two squads and we're definitely on a par,” said Keane, who is confident he will be able to play on Saturday despite suffering a blow to his ankle. “In the last four or five years, Arsenal always managed to get ahead of us but if you look now, it is even.
“It will be judged at the end of the season but if you look at the bench we have, it is probably a little bit stronger than their bench.
“The mentality around the club in previous seasons was that we would be happy to finish fifth, or qualify for the UEFA Cup, but there is a different feeling now. The players have the feeling that we want to get to the Champions League. You can take away Saturday's game, because anything can happen in a north London derby, but we need to be judging ourselves against teams like Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea over the season.
“It's still early days, but we're in the top four now, so it's important we stay where we are. If we can get to Christmas still around there, we'd certainly have every chance.”
Meanwhile, David Bentley could be handed his first League start of the season at Arsenal after Redknapp said an ankle injury was likely to rule Aaron Lennon out of the match.
Bentley's stunning strike in the 4-4 draw at Emirates Stadium one year ago remains the highlight of his Spurs career, and the £15million man admitted he had not been as dedicated as he should have been in recent weeks.
“It's been a difficult time since I've been here and I've encountered every problem in the book,” said Bentley. “Sometimes my efforts have been lacking at times because I haven't been fully focused on football. I think I've got that right now and against Everton I worked hard and my ability came out.”
Reader views (24)
Captain Black Of The Mysterons is right....
Spurs have no debt at all and are run within their means.
ManU are 500 mill + in debt
Chelsea have spent 500 mill + (in the form of a loan)
Arsenal spend nothing on the team but (due to the stadium) are 200 mill + in debt.
How can you compare like for like? If we spent 250 million on players next summer we would win everything but all we would be is some oil barons hobby.
Spurs are better than that.....
- Mark, St Albans
Rob gooner, my point is if Keano is such a flop how come he scored such an unstopable goal against you?
If he can do it once.....
As for liverpool, I didn't see him play badly once for them but the manager didn't want him. More fool him...
- Mark, St Albans
Danny, at least the Goons didn't get to where they are by dint of a rich oligarch because before he came along, your lot were on the brink of financial ruin.
Your players have brought you success, yes, but your Chairman has bought that success; without him you could not have done what you have. Mancs and L'Arse cansay thay got there under their existing financial power.
- Captain Black Of The Mysterons, Broxbourne
Ashwin: another youngster? If you look at your question it is "loaded", as comparing the performance of 1 team against that of 2 is unreasonable as the performance of 1 of those 2 could always be better than that of Tottenham.
That said, however, if we take the league as a benchmark, in the following seasons, excluding the period 1960-1979, Spurs have finished above both Arsenal and Chelsea as follows:-
1981/2, 1982/3, 1984/5, 1986/7, 1989/90, 1992/3 and 1994/5. In the period since 1960, Chelsea have been relegated 3 times and were only promoted during that period in 1963. Spurs were once relegated in the 70s and the Goons never, save for an issue with a brown paper bag in the early 19th century.
- Captain Black Of The Mysterons, Broxbourne
Captain Black Of The Mysterons,when you were watching all your puppets I was watching all those wins by Arsenal so many I can't remember the dates,I do though remember one Boxing Day victory so does Liam Brady 5-1 it was not supprising you did not mention that.
- Peter, Essex
- Ashwin, south west london: I think you are deluded "mate"! Only 5 year old Chelsea fans think that their rivalry with Arsenal is bigger than ours. From a club that has no history, few fans and less trophies than us should go and keep quiet.
Shhh, like the library...
Oh, and to Mark from Loughton. Those players are no where near the greats at Spurs.
- Mike Patton, London
Mark St Albans - So Robbie Keane was a huge success at Liverpool because he scored the equaliser against Arsenal! Now who is talking 'silly'.
- Rob Gooner, North London
Sean, I've been supporting Spurs since 1960, so I can tell you that the statement that there has always been a gulf between the two clubs is right to some extent but not always one-way. In the very late 1950s and for the greater part of the 1960s the sway was held by Spurs.Moreover, there have been times since 1960 that there has been nothing between the two clubs.
Can none of you [Goons] recall the 5 - 0 Tottenham win at WHL? Or the 3-1 win at Wembley in 1981? Sure, under Wenger the Goons have had it over us most times but there have been occasions when the gap has been closed, albeit temporarily, such as a certain 5 - 1 victory at WHL two season ago, where despite inane comments from Gooners that it was their reserve team it was nothing of the sort.
In the EPL a minute gap in class can sometimes result in a very good win/very bad defeat. The gap between Spurs and the Goons is not as close as Spurs supporters would like but it's appreciably closer than Gooners care to admit.
- Captain Black Of The Mysterons, Broxbourne
Spurs fans are easily the most optimistic and deluded of them all. They were full of their idle boasts against Chelsea earlier in the season and we all know what happened. I am a Chelsea fan and Arsenal definitely consider us their biggest footballing rivals in London. I think we would have to go back to the heydays of Greaves, White, Mackay, Gilzean et al to find a time when Spurs were genuinely stronger than any other London team. Harry and his spivs just flatter to deceive and I woudn't be surprised if they also lose to Fulham this season.
- Ashwin, south west london
robbie keane and mike patton's comments above are a load of tripe.being a chelsea fan tottenham are nowhere near the level of arsenal and chelsea.and mikes comments saying you used to win trophies with panache makes me laugh as its a typical spurs fan comment,yes you were a great team who won lots of trophies,but what you won since 1990,1 fa cup and 1 league cup (and yes you did beat chelsea)but the problem is that football evolves and spurs just cannot take it that chelsea and arsenal are the power force of london football now.i agree redknapp has done a great job,but 5th or 6th placed finish beckons for you boys again.when you win a premier league,some people may take you seriously.but i cannot see that for a long time yet...
- Danny Mcallister, helsinki,finland
Rob Gooner..
"coming from a player who was a massive flop at a genuine top four club."
Do you remember the cracker this flop of a player scored against you while playing for liverpool last year?
Do me a favour and dont talk silly....
- Mark, St Albans
Spurs fans always go on about how boring we played before Wenger but none of them know the history of Arsenal with the great sides of the 30s, 40, 50s. Funny how we have won championship(s) in every decade (except 60s)since the 30s. Spurs have 51, 61. Bless. Get a life you idiots and stop listening to your grandads tales. Even Jimmy Greaves once said that in the 60s they stil felt inferior to The Arsenal.
- Dr, London
Mike Patton - Nice one Mike. Route One football - do me a favour.One nil wins maybe (71 and 91)but never route one.You're deluded mate. Your trophy haul pales into insignificance by comparison. What about Brady, Alex James, Frank Stapleton,Charlie George,Alan Ball, Charlie Nicholas,Ian Wright, George Eastham, Joe Baker, Tommy Lawton, Dennis Bergkamp. We've won the title more times at WHL than you have!
- Mark, Loughton
I agree with most of the comments here. Keane should keep his head down and mouth shut.
Thanks Robbie (you know...the Liverpool reject...the same guy kissing the Spurs badge just weeks after being shown the door by his 'boyhood heroes' at Anfield) for stoking the flames and winding up the Gunners. There is a gulf in class between the two clubs, always has been and always will. The truth hurts lads but nationally and locally Chelsea have well and truly replaced Spurs as Arsenal's main rival...fact.
- Sean, Cork, Ireland
-------- always been a gulf in class
"Sorry" Sean but "There is a gulf in class between the two clubs, always has been and always will" is complete and utter tripe.
Most of Spurs hisotry has been winning trphies in style and panache whilst Arsenal played the route one football along ala Bolton and Blackburn. You and these so called "gooners" have such short attenton spans; before Wenger, you could only attract the likes of Bould, Smith, Merson whilst Spurs bought/nurtured Gazza, Klinsmann, Greaves, McKay, Lineker, Waddle, Jennings, Blanchflower, Ramsey, Gilzean, Mullery, Chivers, England, Smith, Ardiles, Villa, Jones, Hoddle, Burgess etc. Your great players are mostly taken from Wengers period at the club.
I take it you have been "supporting Asrenal" since 1996?
- Mike Patton, London
I think Spurs have been saying they are close since about 1988......
I remember Sheringham saying it and Bergkamp responding with "They aren't even our biggest game anymore" kind of sums up the level in class of both player and club
- Livers, Bermondsey
Usual tripe coming out of Tottenham, strangely enough coming from a player who was a massive flop at a genuine top four club. In fact I cant recall the last time Tottenham beat us in a League match. If Robbie Keane truly believes that the Tottenham squad is on par with the Arsenal squad he is truly deluded. Despite playing Champions League matches mid-week, while Tottenham players are resting or concentrating on the serious business of yet another Carling cup campaign, we are already ahead of Tottenham with a home match against Bolton in hand. After the weekend I expect Tottenham & Robbie Keane will be back in 6th position, a more likely final league position for them this season. The players I would imagine on par with Arsenal's or able to be in their squad are: Gomes (vastly underrated), King (when fit, unlikely due to the degenarative injury), Lennon, Modric & Defoe. The rest are mediocre at best & not top four material. With Lennon, Modric & Defoe not playing and King a doubt (I think he will play, together with Woodgate) I cant agree in any way with Robbie's nonsense.
- Rob Gooner, North London
Robbies saying it how he see's it and he's dead right.
The difference has partly been the mental attitude to big games and Spurs no longer fear anyone.
I think we will draw away and win at home this year against arsenal.
- Mark, St Albans
I agree with most of the comments here. Keane should keep his head down and mouth shut.
Thanks Robbie (you know...the Liverpool reject...the same guy kissing the Spurs badge just weeks after being shown the door by his 'boyhood heroes' at Anfield) for stoking the flames and winding up the Gunners. There is a gulf in class between the two clubs, always has been and always will. The truth hurts lads but nationally and locally Chelsea have well and truly replaced Spurs as Arsenal's main rival...fact.
- Sean, Cork, Ireland
Keane is correct Tottenham have improved under Rednapp but to say they are "on par" with Arsenal is laughable,Arsenal are years ahead of Tottenham in all departments ,squad,stadium,supporters.Granted anything can happen in a derby game as West Ham showed on sunday but if you look at the record Arsenal have against their poorer neighbours in the last twenty years its all there in black and white.I personally think that Arsenal will beat Tottenham and bring the egos of their players and supporters back to reality COME ON YOU GUNNERS........
- Jim Ex Pat,Islington N1, thailand
I tend to agree with the fat bob. Our bench does look as good as Arsenals these days. And I actually think the Gooners playing their reserves in the Carling Cup has done them no favours.. just got them used to being knocked out.
- Tony, London
Why oh why do our players have to come out with provocative statements like this?
I fear that a rested and almost full strength Arsenal side will prove to be far too strong for us on Saturday, especially as we'll be without our paciest and most creative players. The truth is that though 'Arry is doing a great job, there's still a noticeable gulf in class between the 2 squads.
- Iain, Covent Garden
as usual keane is talking out of his backside. spurs played virtualy a first team against Everton, most of whom played at the weekend. Even Redknapp said he will play his strongest squad in the Reserves, sorry carling,cup.
No arsenal player who played at the weekend will play against Liverpool, this is arsenal's youth squad, probably the third team,the average age will be 20 ish. Spurs would have to play the dinner ladies to field an equivalent squad!!
- Tony, london
Oh, dear, Robbie. Please wait until after the game on Saturday before ranting on. It only serves to help the opposition.
- Captain Black Of The Mysterons, Broxbourne
Fame, Money, Bright lights and early 20s a very difficult balancing act for young millionaires with huge ego's and a manager building a team. People need to understand that these guys have everything so early, it must be very hard to train and go to bed with a glass of milk like a saint every night, when you have an Aston Martin and upward of £200K a month coming in? Bentley has perhaps had the best wake up call happen to him in the last 12 months and no better manager to bring the best out of him yet.....
- Russell, london
