Arsenal,Spurs reluctant to spend,made to pay

North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur were given stark reminders at the weekend that in the money-fuelled Premier League you stand still at your peril.

North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur were given stark reminders at the weekend that in the money-fuelled Premier League you stand still at your peril. Both have suffered summers of discontent with their best players anxious to leave and a lack of major signings and both were still shell-shocked on Monday after humiliating defeats against teams they are supposed to be competing with.

They also seem to have been left behind by Liverpool who have spent freely to revamp the under-achieving side inherited by Kenny Dalglish last season and who now,along with Chelsea,look best placed to challenge City and United for the title. Arsenal,who have sold skipper Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona and Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy to Manchester City since finishing fourth last season,were outclassed 8-2 by champions Manchester United at Old Trafford.

It was the proud clubs heaviest league defeat since 1927 and raised further questions about manager Arsene Wengers philosophy of evolving teams rather than making the kind of marquee signings that have transformed Manchester City into title contenders.

Depleted squad

United would hardly have been quaking in their boots after a glance at Arsenals lightweight starting line-up which was woefully ill-equipped to cope with the rampant Red Devils who have been bolstered by the signings of England midfielder Ashley Young and defender Phil Jones.

Nevertheless,with just three days before the transfer window closes,Arsenal are running out of time to put together a squad capable of challenging for silverware.

Things are hardly any more encouraging a few miles away at Tottenham who sit bottom of the league with no points from two games,albeit against United and City. While there were a few positive signs in the 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford,Sundays 5-1 home drubbing by Manchester City showed just how far Spurs have fallen behind the side they pipped to the Champions League in 2009-10.