Spurs have struggled to get one over their bitter north London rivals in recent years, but its decision to act like a serious club means the Lilywhites have scored a very early-season victory over the Gunners.
Arsenal are Premier League champions. It stung. It hurt. A neurotic fanbase will likely only become more unbearable, but hey, at least there wasn't a European crown to complement their domestic triumph. We can be grateful for that.
Plus, the World Cup has helped quickly wash away the near-tragedy of 2025/26. While Arsenal ascended to the Premier League's summit, we came perilously close to the most humiliating fate. Fortunately, Roberto De Zerbi saved us in the nick of time, and the Italian has helped encourage the Lewis family to loosen the purse strings in a way that, for supporters, resembles cavemen discovering fire.
As a bonus, Spurs' midfield overhaul has compromised Arsenal's own transfer plans.
Tottenham's Tonali splash has left Arsenal scrambling
We've probably overpaid the odds to sign Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali for a combined £185m, but how else are Spurs expected to return to a more familiar domestic standing if they continue to operate as they have done over the past few years?
No signing is ever a guarantee, but the club have attempted to minimise risk by acquiring two high-class midfielders with Premier League experience. Should Fernandes and Tonali help us return to the Champions League in short order, then the huge outlay will absolutely be worth it.
Spurs beat Real Madrid and Manchester United to the signing of Fernandes, while Arsenal were among the teams interested in Tonali. However, the Gunners refused to finance the deal and instead pivoted to his teammate, Bruno Guimarães.
In truth, I prefer Guimarães over Tonali, and I'd still be clenching my fist now if Arsenal secured his services for just £55m. However, our impressive swoop for Tonali means Newcastle United almost certainly won't sanction the sale of another key figure.
According to Fabrizio Romano, speaking on his YouTube channel, the Magpies, who turned down the Gunners' opening proposal, have no intention of letting Guimarães go.
"It's not going to be an easy one at all because Newcastle again made money with [Anthony] Gordon, made money with [Sandro] Tonali, and they already told Bruno Guimarães and they told people close to him that they want to keep the player," Fabrizio commented.
Newcastle had been expected to undergo a reset this summer, but the departures of Gordon and Tonali are surely as far as they go. An already sceptical fanbase will question the direction the club's heading if they let their slick Brazilian walk, too.
If Arteta wants his midfield to evolve, he's going to have to look beyond Tyneside. And with Spurs recent work only inflating the market, they'll surely be forced into overspending themselves so Declan Rice so get the respite he so desperately needs.
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