Bale blow! Tottenham would be ninth in Premier League without Gareth Bale's goals this season Currently, Spurs are in pole position for an automatic spot in Europe's top-flight competition next season, sitting third in the table and with a healthy goal difference of 17. However, if you exclude Bale's 17 goals in the league, Spurs would find themselves ninth in the table and 14 points adrift of rivals Arsenal in fourth place with seven matches to play. Spurs would have won seven games less and would also be at a disadvantage for even snatching a Europa League spot (if they do not win this season's competition), with a -1 goal difference. Spurs have only played eight matches without Bale this season and have won half of those games. Similarly two seasons ago, Tottenham were without the Welshmen for eight games then but held a 63 per cent win ratio. With Jermain Defoe (14 goals in all competitions) also sidelined through injury and not expected to return until later this month, Spurs's next top goalscorer is Clint Dempey, with eight, while defender Jan Vertonghen has struck seven goals in all competitions.