LONDON -- While the challenge facing Arsenal or Tottenham Hotspur is the same, it's restoration to their former glory. However, Sunday's 3-1 Gunners victory suggests that only one of these old rivals knows how to do this. Although it is too early to determine the limits of any team's ambitions, the way this match played out made it clear that Arsenal is looking towards the future and Spurs are still stuck in the past.
Six signings were made by the Gunners during their 140 million-dollar summer spending spree. Four of them began on Sunday, in a team with an average age of just over 24. Their profile was further boosted by the inclusion Emile Smith Rowe (the club's brightest talent) and Bukayo Saka (the club's epitome for spirit and perseverance).
They started with a purpose Spurs had never heard of. Spurs' attitude was further exacerbated when they tried to beat Arsenal with a bizarre game plan that apparently did not include a midfield. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was completely overwhelmed by the home team's avalanche of central pitch space. Tanguy Ndombele, Dele Alli and Dele Alli were seen leaving the pitch's central area too often.
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Spurs showed some signs of improvement in the second half, but Arsenal was already leading by three goals. Saka, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Smith Rowe and Pierre-Emerick Rowe all scored within 34 minutes. This is the fastest ever score in a north London derby. Son Heung-Min was able to make a 79th minute consolation goal to help bring some respect to the scoreline in a half where substitutes Oliver Skipp, Emerson and later Emerson provided some impetus. But don't let that fool you: Spurs were virtually absent during the games that really mattered.
Harry Kane finally appeared. It was a far cry from his best but it was an improvement over what had gone before. After a great first touch, Aaron Ramsdale tried a low shot outside the box, before he lifted another attempt wide of the goal. But he still hasn't scored a Premier League goal yet this season.
Kane's applause at an almost empty Spurs team at full-time summed up the current malaise. A player who doesn’t want to be there trying to recognize supporters who have already left disillusioned by the team's approach. Kane didn't get the move to Manchester City that he wanted in the summer, but his mind seems to be elsewhere if he is still alive.
This is still a pressing issue for Nuno Espirito Sato to resolve. In May, Chairman Daniel Levy stated that Spurs would hire a coach to replace Jose Mourinho. He would "return football to the style we are famous for -- free-flowing and attacking while entertaining."
After pursuing several candidates to the advanced stage, including Hansi Flick and Erik ten Hag, Paulo Fonseca and Antonio Conte, Nuno was left with a lot of confusion. Spurs are caught between the pragmatism and the enterprise of Mauricio pochettino, and don't know what kind of team they want to be.
Nuno bluntly stated, "A lot of things went wrong," "The game plan failed because we didn’t make it clear."
The results of boardroom machinations don't always reflect in the results directly. The presence of Daniel Ek, Spotify owner, and Arsenal legend Thierry Henry at Emirates Stadium was a reminder that many people still want to see the change of ownership despite Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE). But the correlation at Spurs has been clear.
Tottenham was defeated 3-1 by Arsenal in Sunday's north London derby at Emirates. Getty
KSE remained faithful to Mikel Arteta despite a difficult start, believing in the vision of the Spaniard for the future. Although there are no guarantees that this buoyancy will last -- confidence is more volatile in these parts of the country than others -- Arteta can now show that he can point to a tangible return to support his talk about a "process" or "transition" management buzzwords. Without performing, they can feel hollow.
Under his leadership, Arsenal won the FA Cup 2020. However, this was achieved using a safety-first defensive setup to counter the best sides. They defeated Tottenham with a victory that was quite the opposite. They were on the front foot all the way, dominating their bitter rivals with a winning combination of quality and control, to the delight of red-clad fans.
Arteta stated that when you're trying to rebuild something and doing the right thing, you must stay true to your values." BBC Sport interviewed Arteta. "Now, we are building the connection with our fans."
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However, history has taught us a lesson. Arsenal beat Spurs in March, but they won only one of their five remaining games to end their chances of qualifying for European competition. They were 2-0 down in September and drew with Spurs, but won four of their next 22 matches. This run cost Unai Emery's job as manager.
Next month, Arsenal will face Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion before a home match against Aston Villa. The international break will be followed by a trip to Leicester City. This run is not without risks, but it offers the possibility of further success.
Spurs will have to contend with games against Villa United, Newcastle United, West Ham United, Manchester United, and Manchester United in the Europa Conference League. Nuno is already racing against the clock to create an identity for the team. In just 10 competitive games, he managed Spurs. They finished the day at Arsenal level after a difficult 90 minutes. But it already feels like the pressure is on.
Both sides are not where they want to go at the moment, but one side is ready to climb right now.
