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Arsenal can’t stop winning. As for big-spending Tottenham, just scoring a goal is a feat in itself this season.
The current gulf between the two north London rivals was highlighted in the EFL Cup on Wednesday (AEST), with Premier League champions Arsenal fielding almost an entire second-choice line-up and still overwhelming fellow top-flight 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.
Dowman became just the second 16-year-old to score two goals in a game for a Premier League side in all competitions, after England and Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney in October 2002 for Everton against Wrexham, also in the League Cup.
It was a sixth straight win across all competitions to open the season for Arsenal, who are showing impressive depth that should enable Mikel Arteta’s squad to challenge on multiple fronts.
Goals galore in East Anglia 🙌
Watch the highlights from our Carabao Cup win 🍿 pic.twitter.com/KgcZF5bmIh
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 15, 2026
Then there’s Tottenham, who aren’t getting much return on their incredible $US400 million ($A560 million) outlay on new players in the transfer window.
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 EFL 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.
Take a bow, Dom 🫰✨ pic.twitter.com/IILXCZ5AR5
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 15, 2026
Dominik Szoboszlai’s long-range piledriver in the first minute of stoppage time ended any chance of a comeback.
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.