TEAMtalk

North London focus: Who are top dogs?

Wednesday 11-April-2012 12:06

Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal can challenge the Manchester clubs for the Premier League title next season, while Ledley King insists Tottenham are not a club in crisis, despite just five Premier League wins in 15 games in 2012.

So which one of these bitter enemies is in better shape as we close in on the end of this season and start looking ahead to next?

In what has been a complete turnaround from previous campaigns, Arsene Wenger's Gunners have actually grown stronger as the season has progressed, overhauling their rivals to jump into third spot in the Premier League table.

They normally burst out of the blocks and see off all comers before eventually fading out of the title race and finishing comfortably in the Champions League positions, but this season has been totally different and if Wenger can somehow marry the two then that long, long wait for a trophy could be over sooner rather than later.

The returning Jack Wilshere will feel like a new signing, while the expected summer arrival of Lukas Podolski will give the Gunners more potency in attack and take some of the strain off talisman Robin van Persie. But that's where my debate begins because if Van Persie decides he's waited long enough to lift some silverware and leaves then there really isn't anything between the sides going forward in my opinion.

True there are plenty of ifs, buts and maybes regarding the future of Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp and some of Spurs' top players should Champions League qualification not be achieved (although the incredibly stubborn Daniel Levy would have to be breached first). But having realistically challenged both Manchester clubs in the first half of the season they showed that with the addition of one or two world class signings a first top flight title success in more than 50 years is not as far away as it once seemed.

However to make that next step, Tottenham need to find a long-term replacement for inspirational skipper Ledley King, who has looked a shadow of his former self since the turn of the year, and bring on board a prolific central striker to supplement some of their outstanding attacking talent.

Spurs, despite their recent loss of form, have played some of their best stuff this season in a 4-3-3 but the on-loan Emmanuel Adebayor has proven to be far too inconsistent, Jermain Defoe cannot play on his own up front and Louis Saha's best days are almost certainly behind him. Athletic Bilbao's Fernando Llorente would be a perfect fit in that formation.

So which club is in the ascendancy? Now and looking forward.

Arsenal fans will point to the table and the 5-2 battering of Spurs at The Emirates back in February and say there is no contest, but for much of the season Harry's men have been the dominant force and are still in the hunt for a trophy.

So what little gap existed before has now been shut in my eyes and summer transfer activity will more than likely provide us with the direction both clubs are taking.