Stephen Carr urges Tottenham to reset their target after winless start

Tottenham have three points from six Premier League games, and Stephen Carr believes the first task is to rebuild towards Europe—not measure themselves against Arsenal. Spurs are 19th after three draws and three defeats; Arsenal are second on 15 points. For Carr, the gap makes the north London comparison a distraction rather than a useful target for Roberto De Zerbi’s side.

The former Tottenham defender, who made more than 200 Premier League appearances for the club and was part of the 1999 League Cup-winning team, told BetVictor that Spurs should aim to return to the level they reached under Mauricio Pochettino. Champions League qualification, rather than catching Arsenal, is the benchmark he wants the club to set.

“Arsenal fought for the title last year while Spurs could’ve easily been relegated; there is a massive gap,” Carr said. He argued that Arsenal’s consistency has widened the difference between the clubs, while insisting the rivalry itself will remain part of the supporters’ outlook and the teams’ meetings. His point is about priorities: Tottenham need to restore their own progress before comparisons with their neighbours become meaningful.

Carr’s target is more cautious than his initial expectation that De Zerbi could lead a top-four challenge. He now says results need to improve quickly. Heavy investment in both the squad and the manager has raised expectations, particularly after a previous season in which Tottenham feared relegation.

De Zerbi has said the pressure comes from himself, not the club’s hierarchy. Carr does not think the manager is free of pressure, but he also does not expect an immediate dismissal after the club backed him so heavily. He warned that defeats can make supporters anxious and create a nervous atmosphere in the stadium, making it harder for new players to settle.

That adjustment is part of the challenge. Carr said statistics indicate that adapting to the Premier League can take up to nine months, though managers rarely get that much time. He was not questioning the quality of Tottenham’s foreign arrivals; his concern was that they may need time just as the club needs results.

There is some encouragement in the supporters’ view that performances are improving, and in underlying metrics that suggest 19th may not reflect the team’s level. But neither changes the immediate requirement to win. A three-week break gives De Zerbi time, although many players will be away on international duty. Tottenham’s next test is to turn any progress in performance into better results, while keeping Europe—not Arsenal—as the measure of their longer-term recovery.