There have been a lot of envious green eyes pointed in a north-easterly direction at that lot up the road this summer. The sole reason behind this is the near £90m they have spent on incoming transfers, whilst Arsenal have spent just £0m.

True, our transfer window has not gone well with our only signing being that of Postman Sanogo. However, rest assured that there is NOTHING to worry about, and infact their transfer window this summer is reminiscent to our transfer window in the summer of 2012.

Gareth Bale is leaving Tottenham this summer. The deal is done. Both parties are keeping quiet. Spurs recently signed an agreement with Real Madrid this summer. The agreement is akin to being a loser and becoming Facebook friends with the school quarterback. However, the agreement is currently helping Spurs.

By not completing the Gareth Bale deal early, Real Madrid are allowing Tottenham to get in their replacements in without yet having to pay inflated prices. How else could they afford to spend near £90m once the Willian deal is done?

And they have bought his replacements. In has come Brazilian international’s Paulinho and Willian, France international Ettiene Capoue and Spanish international Roberto Soldado. Or when I say ‘internationals’, they have 38 caps between them, despite all being 25+.

In 2012, Arsenal sold Robin Van Persie. Like with Tottenham, we bought our replacements before letting him go. In came Santi Cazorla, Olivier Giroud and Lukasz Podolski. Yet we as Arsenal fans were not happy. We had let go our star player, and whilst we were happy with the players coming in, we failed to get true quality to replace the Dutchman.

You see, like Gareth Bale, Robin Van Persie is a special player. Like Theirry Henry. Cristiano Ronaldo. He has the special ability to create something out of nothing. To win a game on his own. How many points did Arsenal get through a bit of individual magic from Van Persie or Henry? How many did Manchester United get through Ronaldo? And, whilst Bale is not on these 3’s level, how many points did Tottenham get through Gareth Bale last season?

He scored 22 goals, and was top scorer by 11 league goals (Jermaine Defoe second with 11). But what for his stats:

• Tottenham WITH Bale: 2 points per game
• Tottenham WITHOUT Bale: 1.1 ppg
• Tottenham WITH Bale Scoring: 2.6 ppg
• Tottenham WITHOUT Bale Scoring: 1.3 ppg

Gareth Bale is an individual match winner. The statistics show it. And like Robin Van Persie, it is his consistency that takes him up a level. A player like Willian scores a ‘worldie’ 2 or 3 times a season. Soldado is like Oliver Giroud. Good in the 6 yard box, but will create little for himself. And Paulinho and Capoue are hard working midfielders.

By losing Bale, they not only lose his wonder goals. They lose his consistency. And that is very hard to replace. As Arsenal showed getting in Cazorla, Podolski & Giroud, you might be able to strengthen the over all team, but football game’s are won in moments. And if you lose the man who has the most moments, you will undoubtedly be worse off.

Last season, Robin Van Persie scored a lot of key goals for Manchester United. Everytime it seems he was either scoring the equaliser, the winner, or the 1st goal. He could of been doing that for Arsenal. Gareth Bale was doing much the same at Spurs. Often scoring the key goal in the match. With freightening consistency.

With Bale (all but) gone, I do not foresee any of the current Spurs side replacing his consistency. Yes, Willian will have his moments. As will Lennon. As will Adebayor & Defoe (if they keep them – more later), but Bale had 15 or so games last season where he had moments where he dragged Tottenham forward. They will miss that.

A Spurs fan recently said to me ‘I actually think Spurs have bought in some proven quality.’ I do not know what he was smoking over their, but his definition of proven quality is very different to mine.

Roberto Soldado – A striker who was bombed out of Real Madrid for just €4 million who can not get in the Spanish team ahead of Fernando Torres (14 league goals in the past 2 years). Yes, he might of got 24 league goals last season. But Lionel Messi got 46. Big John Hartson once got 25 league goals for Celtic!

Ettiene Capoue – Once on Arsenal’s radar, if he was so good, why didn’t Arsenal buy him? Or Newcastle? He has 7 caps for France at 25. Diaby has 16 (although when did Diaby turn 27???)

Paulinho – Some no mark from Brazil who was so good that when playing in Lithuania, his side got relegated and, after a ‘single successful; season’ in Poland, so many top European sides were after him that he went back to Brazil. Lets be honest, all everyone has seen of him was against England in a friendly. 25 and only just making his ‘big money’ move to Europe? OK.

Willian – Another Brazilian, who was so good that he followed other brilliant Brazilians into Europe playing for the likes of Barcelona, Inter Milan, Shakhtar Donetsk & Anzhi Makhachkala. Elano MKII

Big fee’s does not mean you are buying top quality. Just ask David Bentley (Similar fee to Paulinho), Gervinho (Similar fee to Capoue), Shevchenko (Similar fee to Soldado) and Veron (Simialr fee to Willian).

And then we have the players Tottenham have let go. Their 4 top scorers last year were:

Gareth Bale – 22
Jermaine Defoe – 11
Clint Dempsey – 7
Emmanuel Adebayor – 5

Now Dempsey has already gone. Bale is on his way. And Spurs will reportedly listen to bids for Jermaine Defoe. that leaves them with just Emmanuel Adebayor. Who some quarters say might also be off (but is unlikely too due to high wages.) That leaves Spurs trying to find 39 goals in comparison to last season. They only scored 66. And there incoming players?

Soldado – 24
Paulinho – 7
Capoue – 7
Willian – 3

Now many will be surprised about Willian. You would think he had more. Well great goals are always remembered. To think, some stil lthink Cheick Tiote has a great shot because he scored a banger v us. That to date is still the only goal he has scored in what is now his 4th season at Newcastle.

Anyway, that was a side note. There incoming players scored 40 league goals last season. But the difference is they were scored in easier leagues to score in (Brazil, Russia/Ukraine, Spain, France). And take into account Capoue had only scored 5 league goals previous, and all of last years came from corners (so only him or Vertonghen can score).

Yes, Spurs have spent a lot of money. Yes, they have a bit more quality in some areas (Paulinho & Capoue are a step up from Parker and Huddlestone) but what they now lack is the start quality. And it is that star quality which gets you into the title race. It is that star quality which spurs now lack which means they are still not as good as us. Arsenal went backwards last season when they lost their game changer. Spurs will go backwards this once Bale is wearing the white of Real Madrid.

Whilst some might say Spurs have ‘strengthened’ simply having more expensive players in their squad does not mean they are stronger.

Let me take you back to my original thoughts. In the summer of 2012, Arsenal sold Robin Van Persie, but signed Santi Cazorla, Lukasz Podolski & Olivier Giroud. Had we moved #forward? Were we #Stronger? Were you happy? If the answer to all is NO, then why are you worrying about that lot up the Seven Sisters Road?

Keenos
Follow @KeenosAFC