Why are Tottenham top of the Premier League – might be a popular question at the moment – as they have the same points (and goal difference) as their bitter rivals Arsenal. Let’s explain why.
Tottenham and Arsenal Have The Same Points After Week 8, But Why Are Spurs Top Of The Premier League?
Spurs and Arsenal have both had top starts to their 2023/24 Premier League campaigns and after ‘week 8’ will head into the latest international break unbeaten on 20 points each.
Strangely, the sides also have the same goal difference (10) and have both have won six and drawn two – so just why are Spurs topping the table and not Arsenal?
Some might think that when things are this tight, it would simply go on alphabetical order and with Arsenal coming top of that matchup, why are they not propping up the ‘week 8’ Premier League table?
However, despite Spurs and Arsenal’s goal difference being exactly the same – 10 each – the make-up of getting to this GD10 is slightly different for each team.
Spurs Are Top Because They’ve Scored More Goals Than Arsenal
Tottenham have scored 18 goals and conceded 8, while Arsenal have scored 16 and conceded 6.
Okay, Arsenal fans might argue that letting in less goals is better than scoring more – but the Premier League rules state that if two (or more) sides are equalled on the same points and goal difference, it will then be decided on which team has SCORED THE MOST GOALS.
- 1st Tottenham: 20pts (Scored 18, Conceded 8: GD 10)
- 2nd Arsenal: 20pts (Scored 16, Conceded 6: GD 10)
These extra two Spurs goals scored are enough to give them the bragging rights over Arsenal heading into the international break – with the Premier League action set to resume on Saturday 21st October.
The good starts for both sides have also seen the best UK football betting sites cut their prices in the Premier League outright betting market – with Spurs now on offer @ 10/1 and Arsenal @ 7/2.
However, both are still behind the favourites Man City @ 8/11.
Next up for Tottenham is a home match with Fulham on Monday October 23rd, while Arsenal will take on Chelsea away on Saturday 21st October.
What Would Happen If Two Teams Had Scored The Same Goals Too?
Arsenal and Spurs are both on the same points and equal goal difference, but what if they also had the same goals scored?
League positions are then decided on head-to-heads points, then head-to-head away goals.
Therefore, with Arsenal and Spurs drawing 2-2 at the Emirates on 24th September and Tottenham getting two away goals – they’d still be top.
RELATED: Premier League Outright Odds: Man City Drift, While Arsenal & Spurs Shorten After Week 8
Premier League Table (After Week 8)
See below the latest 2023/24 Premier League table after week 8, with the next set of games to be played on Oct 21st.
- 1st: Tottenham 20pts
- 2nd: Arsenal 20pts
- 3rd: Man City 18pts
- 4th: Liverpool 17 pts
- 5th: A Villa 16pts
- 6th: Brighton 16pts
- 7th: West Ham 14pts
- 8th: Newcastle 13pts
- 9th: Crystal Palace 12pts
- 10th: Man Utd 12pts
- 11th: Chelsea 11pts
- 12th: Fulham 11pts
- 13th N. Forest 9pts
- 14th: Wolves 8pts
- 15th: Brentford 7pts
- 16th: Everton 7pts
- 17th: Luton 4pts
- 18th: Burnley 4pts
- 19th: Bournemouth 3pts
- 20th: Sheff Utd 1pt
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