"If you look at the last four or five years, Arsenal have always got ahead of us slightly. But now I think it's certainly even and if you look at the squads, I think that our bench is probably a little bit stronger than theirs at the moment ... We want to get into the Champions League and certainly the players have that feeling. If we want to achieve that aim of getting into the top four, these are the games that you want to be winning. "

In light of the 3-0 drubbing at the hands of that other team from North London, Robbie Keane's pre-match pronouncements now look more than a little foolish. Although Harry Redknapp has tried to put a brave face on the performance and the result, Spurs were, frankly, fortunate not to lose by a bigger margin - a fact not lost on the Arsenal boss.

Harry Redknapp felt that Spurs were hit by a "sucker punch" from Stoke on Saturday, and it is true that the visitors capitalized on one of very few meaningful attempts on goal. The fact remains, however, that this is the kind of fixture from which Spurs must take maximum points if they have aspirations to challenge for a place in the top four. The late Glenn Whelan strike gave Stoke their first away win of the season and, especially outwith the Britannia Stadium, they are little more than a workmanlike side.

Saturday's visit to Portsmouth was remarkable in that each side fielded three players who were facing a former club. Most of the media hype had, of course, focused on Harry Redknapp's return to Fratton Park but in the event the manager got a relatively easy ride from the home fans, at least partially as a result of his having said all the right things prior to the match. Defoe, Kranjcar and Crouch (who suffered added abuse as an ex-Southampton forward) were not let off so lightly but, like the three former Spurs players in the Portsmouth line-up, all had a role to play in what was an exciting if not entirely comfortable victory.

Spurs moved up to third in the Premier League with a point from the game against Bolton at the Reebok Stadium. This is a ground where Spurs have never won and, in truth, a draw was about as much as could be hoped for on Saturday’s display. Bolton dominated the first half and Spurs were fortunate to go in at the break on level terms. The second half was better but if Spurs hope to maintain a place in the top six - never mind the top four - then this is the kind of fixture where anything less than a win must be regarded as a disappointment.

Robbie Keane has come in for some criticism in recent weeks - not least here - but he answered his critics in the best possible way on Saturday, with four goals at White Hart Lane. In fairness to the player, his most ineffective performances have been when he has been deployed on the left hand side of midfield, which is clearly not his natural position. Against Burnley, Niko Kranjcar started for once, played well and freed Keane up to do what he does best - score goals.

Two games in a row against the "big four", two defeats. Like Man Utd, Chelsea are another team against whom Spurs have an appalling record, having failed to win at the Bridge in almost two decades. Chelsea went into the game on Saturday on top of the table and in top form, and yet for the first twenty minutes or so, Spurs created the better chances. The game seemed to turn on the injury to Ledley King and a hotly disputed penalty decision. Chelsea eventually ran out easy winners.

All good things must come to an end. And it was no surprise that the winning run ended against Man. Utd., a team that Spurs haven’t beaten in the league since 2001. For all of the early media misgivings about the post-Ronaldo United following the blip at Burnley, this is still a side that have lost just one of their last 13 Premier League games. Their victory at White Hart Lane was well-deserved

Despite a fourth successive league win, Spurs relinquished their place at the top of the table to London rivals Chelsea on goal difference. The loss of top spot pales into insignificance, however, in light of the broken leg suffered by Luka Modric following a tussle with Birmingham’s Lee Bowyer. The influential midfielder will now be out for at least six weeks and so will miss important games with Chelsea and Man United, as well as Croatia’s World Cup qualifier against England.

Top of the table. Nine goals scored by six different players within a settled side. Maximum points from the first three games - the first time Spurs have ever achieved this in the Premier League. In fact, the last time Spurs opened a campaign with three wins, they went on to win the Double in the 1960/61 season. An omen perhaps?

Spurs won their opening fixture of the new season in convincing style, outplaying a Liverpool side that has aspirations of winning the Premier League title. In the aftermath of the 2-1 victory, a lot of the attention has focused on Liverpool’s failings, and the loss of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid. This does scant justice to a Spurs display that was full of creativity and commitment.

The opening half hour highlighted that latter quality, with Spurs closing down their Liverpool counterparts and denying them time to settle on the ball.