---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Have Tottenham closed the gap on Arsenal?…"
description: "\"Have Tottenham closed the gap on Arsenal? Last time I checked they were still 4 miles and 11 titles away\" — Arsene Wenger"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e8/arsene-wenger-3518_arsenal_have-tottenham-closed-the-gap-on-arsenal_1531601.png"
---

#  Have Tottenham closed the gap on Arsenal? Last time I…

![“Have Tottenham closed the gap on Arsenal? Last time I checked they were still 4 miles and 11 titles away” quote by Arsene Wenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e8/arsene-wenger-3518_arsenal_have-tottenham-closed-the-gap-on-arsenal_1531601.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e8/arsene-wenger-3518_arsenal_have-tottenham-closed-the-gap-on-arsenal_1531601.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e8/arsene-wenger-3518_arsenal_have-tottenham-closed-the-gap-on-arsenal_1531601.png)

> “Have Tottenham closed the gap on Arsenal? Last time I checked they were still 4 miles and 11 titles away”

[Arsene Wenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-wenger/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker humorously questions whether Tottenham has narrowed the competitive distance with Arsenal, noting a large gap in both geography and achievements.

**In simple terms:** Questioning Tottenham's progress compared to Arsenal.

Key Takeaway

Consider the real gap before assuming closeness.

Themes

sports rivalry competition humor

Mood

playful critical

Type

humorous observational

When to use this quote

- fan debates
- media analysis
- team performance reviews

Key Concepts

football dynamics league standings

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you measure true progress in sports?
- What factors truly close a competitive gap?

A Different Perspective

The joke may downplay actual improvements or overstate the rivalry.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Tottenham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tottenham/)

## Related quotes

> [I think Charlie George was one of Arsenal's all time great players. A lot of people might not agree with that, but I personally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-greaves/i-think-charlie-george-was-one-of-arsenal-s-all-time-great-players-a/)

[Jimmy Greaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-greaves/)

> [Obviously I love Arsenal. But it's time for me to make it there or go somewhere else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emiliano-martinez/obviously-i-love-arsenal-but-it-s-time-for-me-to-make-it-there-or-go/)

[Emiliano Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emiliano-martinez/)

> [Tottenham tried to sign me but I held off and came to Arsenal because Arsene Wenger was here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-petit/tottenham-tried-to-sign-me-but-i-held-off-and-came-to-arsenal-because/)

[Emmanuel Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-petit/)

> [It's incredible considering the public perception that he was tight fisted and he was more than prudent, and lacked ambition to take Tottenham to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hansen/it-s-incredible-considering-the-public-perception-that-he-was-tight/)

[Alan Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hansen/)

> [It was Tottenham at home. I thought: 'Please don't go on about Tottenham, we all know what Tottenham are about. They are nice and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-keane/it-was-tottenham-at-home-i-thought-please-don-t-go-on-about-tottenham/)

[Roy Keane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-keane/)

> [I had twelve years as a Tottenham player under Bill Nicholson and could not have wished to have played for a better manager. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-kinnear/i-had-twelve-years-as-a-tottenham-player-under-bill-nicholson-and/)

[Joe Kinnear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-kinnear/)

> [Look at Tottenham. You spend over £100-odd million, you'd expect to be challenging for the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-rodgers/look-at-tottenham-you-spend-over-100-odd-million-you-d-expect-to-be/)

[Brendan Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-rodgers/)

> [Tottenham ice their sublime cake with the ridiculous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drury/tottenham-ice-their-sublime-cake-with-the-ridiculous/)

[Peter Drury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drury/)

> [Tottenham Hotspur has a huge following across the world and I have great admiration for the passion the fans show for this team. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mauricio-pochettino/tottenham-hotspur-has-a-huge-following-across-the-world-and-i-have/)

[Mauricio Pochettino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mauricio-pochettino/)

> [Clint Dempsey scored a last-minute winner to earn Tottenham a 1-1 draw against United.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-brazil/clint-dempsey-scored-a-last-minute-winner-to-earn-tottenham-a-1-1/)

[Alan Brazil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-brazil/)

> [Tottenham are trying tonight to become the first London team to win this cup. The last team to do so was the 1973 Spurs team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-ingham/tottenham-are-trying-tonight-to-become-the-first-london-team-to-win/)

[Mike Ingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-ingham/)

> [I think if Tottenham are going to be top four side, the fans and the club will need to get away from the philosophy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-hansen/i-think-if-tottenham-are-going-to-be-top-four-side-the-fans-and-the/)

[Alan Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-hansen/)

> [Bill eventually became Mr Tottenham Hotspur, and produced such a dazzling team at White Hart Lane that they won the double and played the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-clough/bill-eventually-became-mr-tottenham-hotspur-and-produced-such-a/)

[Brian Clough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-clough/)

> [When they used to come to Tottenham we'd play Who's Gonna Drive You Home? Just to wind them up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-waddle/when-they-used-to-come-to-tottenham-we-d-play-who-s-gonna-drive-you/)

Chris Waddle

> [I didn't get paid for my first gig supporting Usher Raymond in the Temple in Tottenham when I was 17 or 18. I bugged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemar/i-didn-t-get-paid-for-my-first-gig-supporting-usher-raymond-in-the/)

[Lemar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemar/)

## More by Arsene Wenger

> [As a club, we have an educational purpose: to give back to those people who love Arsenal so that they learn moral values from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-wenger/as-a-club-we-have-an-educational-purpose-to-give-back-to-those-people/)

[Arsene Wenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-wenger/)

> [He made the impossible possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-wenger/he-made-the-impossible-possible/)

[Arsene Wenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-wenger/)

> [Everyone plays the ball over the top and, at the moment, we only concede goals from crosses or balls over the top. I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-wenger/everyone-plays-the-ball-over-the-top-and-at-the-moment-we-only/)

[Arsene Wenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-wenger/)

> [Spare me the articles about how nice Shawcross is because that was a horrendous tackle. People say we don't fancy the physical side of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-wenger/spare-me-the-articles-about-how-nice-shawcross-is-because-that-was-a/)

[Arsene Wenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-wenger/)

> [For me, motivation is a person who has the capability to recruit the resources he needs to achieve a goal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-wenger/for-me-motivation-is-a-person-who-has-the-capability-to-recruit-the/)

[Arsene Wenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-wenger/)

> [I think generally the Japanese players have more intensity in practice but generally I do the same things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-wenger/i-think-generally-the-japanese-players-have-more-intensity-in/)

[Arsene Wenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-wenger/)

> [I would be much more annoyed if we hadn't won the game. As a manager, you have to see the positives and I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-wenger/i-would-be-much-more-annoyed-if-we-hadn-t-won-the-game-as-a-manager/)

[Arsene Wenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-wenger/)

> [We played a whole season unbeaten but you did not see me every week jumping on the tables. Once it's over it's over and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-wenger/we-played-a-whole-season-unbeaten-but-you-did-not-see-me-every-week/)

[Arsene Wenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-wenger/)

> [Everybody has a different opinion in this league and nobody is a prophet. I personally don't know who will win the league. I managed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-wenger/everybody-has-a-different-opinion-in-this-league-and-nobody-is-a/)

[Arsene Wenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-wenger/)

> [People who work make the world live better and to reward these people well is normal. Yet they are not the people who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-wenger/people-who-work-make-the-world-live-better-and-to-reward-these-people/)

[Arsene Wenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-wenger/)

> [I believe the target of anything in life should be to do it so well that it becomes an art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-wenger/i-believe-the-target-of-anything-in-life-should-be-to-do-it-so-well/)

[Arsene Wenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-wenger/)

> [I think in the future we need to look at our youth department to provide more players for the first team think it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-wenger/i-think-in-the-future-we-need-to-look-at-our-youth-department-to/)

[Arsene Wenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-wenger/)

> [Your first touch sets you free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-wenger/your-first-touch-sets-you-free/)

[Arsene Wenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-wenger/)

> [I am still hopeful we can go through the season unbeaten - a frightening thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-wenger/i-am-still-hopeful-we-can-go-through-the-season-unbeaten-a/)

[Arsene Wenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-wenger/)

> [I believe I do my job the way I have to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-wenger/i-believe-i-do-my-job-the-way-i-have-to-do-it/)

[Arsene Wenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-wenger/)

[Explore all 128 Arsene Wenger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-wenger/)

## More Arsenal quotes

> [I have always followed Arsenal in the Premier League. At some points they were really good, but also had some difficulties like a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gervinho/i-have-always-followed-arsenal-in-the-premier-league-at-some-points/)

[Gervinho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gervinho/)

> [What do folk always say about Arsenal? They can pass you to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-adam/what-do-folk-always-say-about-arsenal-they-can-pass-you-to-death/)

[Charlie Adam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-adam/)

> [Don't put too much pressure on Jack Wilshere... in years to come I think he will be an Arsenal great like Liam Brady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-merson/don-t-put-too-much-pressure-on-jack-wilshere-in-years-to-come-i-think/)

[Paul Merson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-merson/)

> [As a club, we have an educational purpose: to give back to those people who love Arsenal so that they learn moral values from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-wenger/as-a-club-we-have-an-educational-purpose-to-give-back-to-those-people/)

[Arsene Wenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-wenger/)

> [I want to stay at Arsenal for as long as I can, stay at the highest level and push this club back to where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-white/i-want-to-stay-at-arsenal-for-as-long-as-i-can-stay-at-the-highest/)

[Ben White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-white/)

> [My wish was to finish my career at Arsenal, but there are always banana skins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kolo-toure/my-wish-was-to-finish-my-career-at-arsenal-but-there-are-always/)

[Kolo Toure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kolo-toure/)

> [I was at Arsenal as an 11-year-old. I really enjoyed it but I was at school and my dad used to drive me there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-noble/i-was-at-arsenal-as-an-11-year-old-i-really-enjoyed-it-but-i-was-at/)

[Mark Noble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-noble/)

> [Captaining your country, going out at Wembley, captaining Arsenal to 10 trophies, playing your first game - they're all amazing things. But, phew, saving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-adams/captaining-your-country-going-out-at-wembley-captaining-arsenal-to-10/)

[Tony Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-adams/)

> [I was always respectful to Arsene and I think he respected me for that. We had a good relationship and understanding. We spoke a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lukasz-fabianski/i-was-always-respectful-to-arsene-and-i-think-he-respected-me-for/)

[Lukasz Fabianski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lukasz-fabianski/)

> [If you think about it, Washington's overwhelming power in the world is founded on death, the awesome arsenal for killing people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-greider/if-you-think-about-it-washington-s-overwhelming-power-in-the-world-is/)

[William Greider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-greider/)

> [A club like Arsenal is a fabulous club, it is a well-run club.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-phelan/a-club-like-arsenal-is-a-fabulous-club-it-is-a-well-run-club/)

[Mike Phelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-phelan/)

> [I don't think there was a danger of chaos at Arsenal. We have a fantastic manager who knows how to run the club. All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wojciech-szczesny/i-don-t-think-there-was-a-danger-of-chaos-at-arsenal-we-have-a/)

[Wojciech Szczesny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wojciech-szczesny/)

> [I was at Arsenal but I didn't like the manager of the under-10s at the time so I went to West Ham where my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonjo-shelvey/i-was-at-arsenal-but-i-didn-t-like-the-manager-of-the-under-10s-at/)

[Jonjo Shelvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonjo-shelvey/)

> [ The best player I ever played against was Paolo Maldini. We \[Arsenal\] played against Milan in the European Supercup \[in 1995\]. Maldini marked me… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-merson/the-best-player-i-ever-played-against-was-paolo-maldini-we-arsenal/)

[Paul Merson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-merson/)

> [The true beauty of nature is her amplitude; she exists neither for nor because of us, and possesses a staying power that all our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/the-true-beauty-of-nature-is-her-amplitude-she-exists-neither-for-nor/)

[Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/)

Browse all 705 Arsenal quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Have Tottenham closed the gap on Arsenal? Last time I checked they were still 4 miles and 11 titles away",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Arsene Wenger"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-wenger/have-tottenham-closed-the-gap-on-arsenal-last-time-i-checked-they/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Arsenal"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-wenger/have-tottenham-closed-the-gap-on-arsenal-last-time-i-checked-they/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e8/arsene-wenger-3518_arsenal_have-tottenham-closed-the-gap-on-arsenal_1531601.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e8/arsene-wenger-3518_arsenal_have-tottenham-closed-the-gap-on-arsenal_1531601.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5e8/arsene-wenger-3518_arsenal_have-tottenham-closed-the-gap-on-arsenal_1531601.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Have Tottenham closed the gap on Arsenal? Last time I checked they were still 4 miles and 11 titles away” — Arsene Wenger",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Arsene Wenger",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsene-wenger/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Have Tottenham closed the gap on...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-wenger/have-tottenham-closed-the-gap-on-arsenal-last-time-i-checked-they/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsene-wenger/have-tottenham-closed-the-gap-on-arsenal-last-time-i-checked-they/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
