Tottenham are still trailing in Arsenal's wake... but not by much
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Robbie Keane claims that Tottenham have caught up with Arsenal - and are ready to overtake them in the Champions League places.
Keane says Tottenham's squad is a match for Arsenal man for man and that Harry Redknapp can even choose from a stronger bench than Arsene Wenger.
If you look through the squads then you have to say that Keane might have a point. Tottenham have four international strikers in Keane, Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko.
But I'm sorry, Cesc Fabregas is still ahead of the ever-improving Tom Huddlestone, even if the Hudd is ahead of Jermaine Jenas now. Wilson Palacios v Alex Song. That's tight, as Song has improved but Palacios is a terrific anchorman.
Andrey Arshavin or Luka Modric? Have you seen Arsenal recently? There can only be one winner and he's Russian. Robin van Persie is technically gifted, while Defoe is a poacher.
In defence, Thomas Vermaelen and William Gallas have been terrific, but Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate are top class. Arsenal's full-backs look much better. Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy beat Vedran Corluka and Benoit Assou-Ekoto.
But it is very tight. Much tighter than Arsenal's recent success and Tottenham's failings would suggest. Spurs last finished above Arsenal in 1995. Arsene Wenger took over the following year.
The closest Tottenham have come to eclipsing Arsenal was in 2006 when a dodgy batch of lasagne ended Martin Jol's Champions League aspirations.
But Tottenham sacked Jol not long after and chairman Daniel Levy has spent the last couple of years just trying to get back to where they were.
That's what worries me about Tottenham. As soon as they get anywhere, they press the self destruct button.
I was fascinated to read Levy say this week that appointing Redknapp was the best thing he's ever done.
Let's hope that Levy really believes that and keeps sight of that statement. Because Tottenham have a stupid habit of getting themselves into a great position - and then blowing it.
You can't argue with Redknapp's record at Tottenham. Steered them away from relegation one season and turned them into Champions League challengers the next.
Tottenham may still just be behind Arsenal. But they are not any further behind than Martin Jol was before a mixture of bechamel sauce and pasta put paid to that.
The club needs a steady hand now, and atience and support from the boardoom. If they can provide that then Tottenham can break into the top four. And Arsenal, for one, will be nervous.
If they don't, then it is the board who need to show restraint but also ask themselves about their failings rather than always look at the manager to apportion the blame.
The North London derby has rarely been more competitive and don't bet against Tottenham upsetting the odds.
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