Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino has delivered his verdict on the current Premier League title race, singling out Arsenal and Mikel Arteta for particular praise while assessing his old club's chances.
Pochettino's Verdict on the Premier League Title Race
Speaking to talkSPORT, Pochettino described the league as "very open" but was clear in his assessment of which team currently sets the standard. "I think the most solid team today about result and performance is Arsenal," he stated. "Mikel Arteta is doing an amazing job, and is the most regular and solid team so far."
This endorsement comes as Tottenham find themselves eight points behind their North London rivals in the table, a significant gap despite the chaotic nature of the season where most teams have been inconsistent. Intriguingly, Spurs are only two points away from second place, highlighting the compressed nature of the league behind the Gunners.
Can Spurs Bridge the Gap to Arsenal?
Pochettino acknowledged the challenge facing his former club, suggesting that the title picture remains a "question mark." He emphasised that the evolution of the league in the coming months will be crucial, leaving everything open for the teams fighting for the top four.
The analysis was supported by pundit Jamie O'Hara, who provided a detailed comparison of the two squads on Sky Sports. While O'Hara argued that Spurs' centre-back pairing of Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero is on par with, or even superior to, Arsenal's Gabriel and William Saliba, he conceded a critical difference. "The reason being, Arsenal defensively are incredible as a unit, as a team. Spurs are not," O'Hara clarified.
He further highlighted that Arsenal's midfield possesses greater settled depth, allowing for rotation without a drop in quality, an advantage Thomas Frank does not yet have at Tottenham.
The Foundation for a Tottenham Challenge
Despite the points deficit and identified gaps, there is belief that Spurs have a core to build upon. O'Hara's praise for the defensive duo suggests a strong foundation. The potential for the squad is evident, with the pundit even suggesting that a key signing, such as Ivan Toney, could make closing the gap to Arsenal a more achievable task for manager Thomas Frank.
Pochettino's comments ultimately paint a picture of a league where Arsenal are the current benchmark for consistency and organisation, a status his former team Tottenham are striving to reach as the season progresses.
