The current gulf between the two north London rivals was highlighted in the English League Cup on Tuesday (local time), with Arsenal fielding almost an entire second-choice line-up and still overwhelming fellow Premier League team Ipswich in a 4-2 third-round win.
Max Dowman, a 16-year-old prodigy, enhanced his budding reputation with a goal early in each half for Arsenal, and Noni Madueke and Mikel Merino also netted for the English champions as they soared into a 4-0 lead.
"He is only 16 years old and we have to be careful," Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said of Dowman, an attacking midfielder who last year became the youngest player in Champions League history, at age 15 years and 308 days.
"We don't want to stop him, but we need to develop him. We're fully aware of what he needs, and he will have full opportunities to play."
It was a sixth straight win across all competitions to open the season for Arsenal, who are showing impressive depth that should enable Arteta's squad to challenge on multiple fronts.
"That's what we want, to face every game, every competition with the same mentality, attitude and desire, and so far we are doing it," Arteta said.
Then there's Tottenham, who aren't getting much return on their incredible $US400 million ($A560 million) outlay on new players in the summer transfer window.
At least Spurs scored. They haven't managed that in four Premier League games so far this season.
A 3-1 loss in pouring rain at Liverpool means Spurs' only victory in six games this season was against second-tier Charlton in the previous round of the League Cup.
They have played four matches in the Premier League - drawing two and losing two - and have yet to score a single goal.
Conor Gallagher's header at a corner in the 69th minute gave Tottenham hope after goals by Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo put Liverpool 2-0 ahead.
Dominik Szoboszlai's long-range piledriver in the first minute of stoppage time ended any chance of a comeback by the visitors, who racked up 17 mostly wayward shots.
"We have to shoot more times and we have to shoot better," Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi said. "We have to finish better the clear situations.".
Tottenham aren't playing in European competition this season, so their only realistic chance of silverware lies with the FA Cup starting in January.
Premier League teams Fulham and Brentford also advanced to the fourth round on Tuesday.
Fulham won 3-2 at second-tier West Ham, and Brentford beat third-tier side Reading 2-1.
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