Premier League: Why Tottenham Is Ahead of Arsenal at Top of Table Despite Similar Stats

• North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal are joint top of the Premier League table
• The two sides are tied on 20 points each after eight games, but Spurs are placed first
• They have met in the first derby this season and shared points after a 2-2 draw

Who would have thought at the beginning of the season that by game week eight, two North London clubs - Arsenal and Tottenham would be joint top of the Premier League table?

Tottenham started the season with a new manager, Ange Postecoglou and without ace striker Harry Kane, who left for Bayern Munich. At the same time, Arsenal retained most of their team for last season with new additions.

The Gunners were close to clinching a first title since the 2004 Invincibles last season, but a late collapse allowed Manchester City to win their third consecutive title.

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Per The Athletic, Spurs failed to reach European places after finishing eight, a season they had three managers oversee games in their dugout - Antonio Conte, Cristian Stellini and Ryan Mason.

Why Tottenham are top of Arsenal

The two city rivals have had identical stats this season and sit first and second on top of the league table with 20 points apiece, but one would wonder why one is first, and the other is second, and to think T is top while A is second.

According to Football London, the Premier League tiebreaker rule considers goals scored first before any other metric, and that is where the Whites edge the Reds.

Postecoglou's men have scored 18 goals, while Mikel Arteta's men have scored 16. Both have the same goal difference of 10, conceding eight and six goals, respectively.

Spurs have also edged their rivals in individual awards this season, with the former Celtic boss picking up the August and September manager of the month, while James Maddison and Heung-min Son have picked up the player awards.

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Postecoglou's response to Kane's transfer

Sports Brief reported on Postecoglou's response to Kane's transfer fee and how it would be spent after he was asked by a journalist ahead of Spurs' season opener against Brentford.

He confirmed the club were braced for Kane's departure, and their transfer strategy has been planned around him leaving, but the fee won't be spent like his wife is giving him a shopping list to buy groceries for the kids.