Redknapp: Arsenal in different league to Spurs - and could be next season

Former England midfielder Jamie Redknapp declared Arsenal are in a different league to Tottenham following the Gunners' emphatic 4-1 victory over their north London rivals at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, February 22, 2026, warning that the gulf between the teams could become literal with Spurs facing a potential relegation battle. The comprehensive defeat marked a harsh reality check for Tottenham under new manager Igor Tudor, who had confidently vowed his team would '100 per cent' avoid relegation this season. The result leaves Spurs in 16th place in the Premier League, just four points above the relegation zone, with 11 games remaining in the campaign. Arsenal, on the other hand, capitalized on their rivals' struggles with doubles from Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze, moving five points clear at the top of the table and prompting Arsenal supporters to chant 'we'll never play you again' from the away end. Redknapp, analyzing the match for Sky Sports, was scathing in his assessment of Tottenham's performance, describing it as a 'complete mismatch' where 'Arsenal were so classy' and 'so much better than Tottenham; it was like two different leagues.' He added that 'if Tottenham aren't careful, they might be in a different league' and criticized the team for being 'devoid of personality' and needing to 'show some character' after failing to win a Premier League game in 2026. Tudor acknowledged the significant gap between the teams, admitting 'there was too much gap between the two teams' and emphasizing the need for 'work' and 'humility' to address what he called 'too many bad habits in the past.' Despite the defeat, the new boss maintained his belief in the squad's quality, stating 'nobody can tell me we don't have quality' while acknowledging the necessity of a 'mental switch' to improve their performance. Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven concurred with Redknapp's assessment, admitting 'Arsenal overall was the better team' particularly after taking a 2-1 lead early in the second half. When pressed about the relegation concerns with just 11 games remaining, van de Ven focused on the immediate challenge: 'We just need to win the games. Step by step we need to look, next up is Fulham and that's the most important one for us.' The result underscores the stark contrast between the two north London clubs, with Arsenal demonstrating championship credentials while Tottenham faces an increasingly desperate fight to preserve their Premier League status.