As Arsenal meet Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium tomorrow, the sense of an ever-changing power shift in North London continues to grow. But have Spurs overtaken their bitter rivals yet? Does Arséne Wenger's side still have the edge? How close is the gap between the two?
Ultimately, it comes down to trophies. Winning is the purpose of any football club, and trophies are the proof that a club's model is successful. Wenger's side has the edge in this department, having won three of the last four FA Cups, and until Spurs can land that elusive first piece of silverware it will hang heavy around their necks.
Mauricio Pochettino has done an outstanding job at Spurs since taking over in 2014, making a then-average set of players fitter, hungrier, adding a mixture of new signings and youthful promise to great effect to create a team that is now on the cusp of breaking into Europe's elite. However, until that first trophy is landed they will remain alongside the modern day also-rans.
Moving in opposite directions
In terms of the current squads and respective ambitions on the two north London rivals, there is no doubt whatsoever that Spurs have the advantage. They have a young, hungry manager and an exciting squad pulling largely in the same direction. Theirs is a tale of annual improvement, and of great promise.
Arsenal, on the other hand, find themselves spiralling in the opposite direction. Fans divided, players unhappy and the manager seemingly unable to lift them out of the Groundhog-day repetition of recent seasons. Out of the Champions League for the first time under Wenger's tenure, it will have been painful for Gunners fans to have watched Tottenham's dazzling 3-1 win over Real Madrid earlier on in the group phase.
With Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez's futures up in the air, these are troubling times.
Tottenham will more than likely highlight the gulf between the two with a victory on Saturday, although nothing can be taken for granted given Pochettino's woeful record away to the Premier League's 'big six' (one win in 16). The power shift is happening, and happening quickly, in North London, but the famous Spurs inferiority complex will always remain until promise and positivity translate into substantial results.
They need a trophy, and they need one soon, or they will risk the break-up of potentially their best side for several decades.
Tottenham's time is now, and they must seize on it. For Arsenal, Saturday is a chance to cling to their old dominance for just a little while longer.
