Arsenal in danger of being left behind by Tottenham in the latest north London derby at the Emirates Stadium Wenger eventually decided against recruiting the raw, rangy Welsh kid, being perfectly happy with his then left-back options in Ashley Cole and Gaël Clichy. Bale has since moved on, joining Spurs, and now moved up, assuming a more attacking assignment with such thrilling intensity that the world's top two sides, Real Madrid and Barcelona, start to flutter long eyelashes in his direction. Amid all the understandable adulation lavished on the Players" Player of the Year, it needs remembering that it required Harry Redknapp to accelerate his progress. He is no overnight sensation. During his early, question-strewn months at the Lane, Bale really laboured. Plenty of hard graft has been put in by player and coaching staff. Well-prepared and well-motivated, Bale embodies Spurs: being built into something special. Redknapp appreciates Bale's versatility, encouraging him to cut inside, taking on centre-backs as he did so ruthlessly at Carrow Road. Blessed with touch, pace and balance, and his "lesser" right foot improving, Bale represents a nightmare for opponents, materialising and vanishing in a blur. While Bale roams freely, his old wall-decorating partner struggles in a straitjacket, pulling frustratedly at the seams, desperate to break free. Walcott has spoken to Wenger about his desire to play through the middle, liberating him from his beat of taking on left-backs and getting crosses in. Walcott's delivery still requires work, though. A significant part of his role against Spurs will be to help Bacary Sagna in dealing with Bale and the overlapping Benoît Assou-Ekotto. There are reasons for Arsenal fans to be cheerful; whatever their level of vexation with Walcott, they have a new darling in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, whose duel with the England right-back, Kyle Walker, might just carry a message to Stuart Pearce. Arsenal need more of the can-do exuberance of young Oxlade-Chamberlain, whose grounded approach to his profession and rising profile also indicates why he could achieve much in the game. It also reflects the good advice down the years of his father, Mark Chamberlain, one of the more sensible voices ever to be heard in an England dressing-room. Whatever the outcome of the latest tribal dispute in north London, the feeling remains that power shifts along the Seven Sisters Road. Wenger does make a valid point when arguing that "if you look at the consistency we have produced, there is no comparison" between Arsenal and Spurs. Redknapp echoed those sentiments in praising Wenger for his "amazing" record of qualifying for the Champions League 15 times. But the past is another country; Wenger fights Redknapp in the here and now, and the force is with Spurs. Ten points. Mind the gap. Mindful of the need to maintain that gap, Redknapp will keep the cockerel from crowing too loudly but he does know that Spurs are enjoying a superb season, producing some exquisite football in climbing to third and that it is "not impossible" to catch the Manchester heavyweights. There is a new belief to Spurs, a toughness also required for the sapping assaults on the high ground of the Premier League. Visit Spurs Lodge and the body language of all present exudes a quiet confidence. There are smiles and handshakes, banter and serious conversations. Camaraderie fills the air. There is the obvious quality of Redknapp's backroom staff. Striding between buildings, finalising the day's sessions, are individuals like Joe Jordan, Kevin Bond, Tim Sherwood, Clive Allen and Les Ferdinand, not just highly respected football people, who would surely win the training-ground five-a-sides, but also engaging characters. Spurs Lodge must be a good place to work. On Friday, Tony Parks could be spotted walking down a path towards training. Moments later, Pat Jennings emerged from a nearby door. Goalkeepers are also well looked after here. One of the criticisms of the Arsenal set-up is whether Wenger has enough staff around him, offering advice, even absorbing some of his punishing workload. The club face a busy close season, addressing issues from the calibre and balance of parts of the squad to the support network around Wenger. It's time for the majority shareholder Stan Kroenke to become more involved. Wenger needs help, and a nudge in the right direction. A French compatriot represents a cavalry of sorts for Wenger, riding to his rescue, if not completely saving him. Michel Platini, the president of Uefa, has devised Financial Fair Play rules which will allow prudent clubs like Arsenal to stay in Europe while others like Manchester City and Chelsea risk expulsion. Unfortunately for Wenger, Uefa would not expel such sure-fire television ratings magnets. Also unfortunately for Wenger, Arsenal might not qualify for the Champions League anyway. Dismissing the suggestion that he has £50 million to spend, Wenger voiced his frustration that "we run the (business) model that should be absolutely normal and we look crazy." Yet the failure to invest properly means Arsenal could lose out on the £30 million-plus on offer simply for another year's membership of the Champions League. Arsenal operate a false economy. Redknapp buys judiciously, rarely committing major sums in fees. Scott Parker is a steal at £5 million. Ryan Nelsen and Louis Saha are thirtysomethings with points to prove, who will fill in when required. Emmanuel Adebayor, one of the loan signings of the season, always gives the impression of being born on a mission, occasionally an angry one, but he has created and scored. Adebayor's 28th birthday on Sunday could be marked by fireworks if he scores against a club whose fans now revile him. All around Spurs there is pace and purpose. Anyone compiling a composite XI from the two sides, applying the criterion of current form, could realistically make a case only for Van Persie of the Arsenal contenders. Wojciech Szczesny, Sagna and Laurent Koscielny would have legitimate claims except for the sight of Arsenal's ramparts going up in flames this season from Manchester to Milan. It is impossible to make a case for Arsenal's defence. Bolstered by Brad Friedel's experienced presence, Spurs backline are racking up clean sheets while Walker and Assou-Ekotto lend energy to Spurs" surges into the opponents" half. Luka Modric and Rafael van der Vaart sprinkle magic over the final third. Spurs are upwardly mobile and their neighbours must react quickly or risk being left behind.