Arnesen puts faith in remodelled Spurs

TECHNICAL director Frank Arnesen has insisted the real work at the north London club begins now that Tottenham have their new squad in place.

Former Denmark striker Arnesen, recruited from PSV Eindhoven in June to replace David Pleat, has overseen 13 new signings plus the arrival of new head coach Jacques Santini in his first two months at the club.

Add goalkeepers Paul Robinson and Marton Fulop to the mix - they arrived in May - and Spurs’ tally of fresh faces is 15 since the end of last season.

Seven have already made their Premiership debuts - veteran Moroccan defender Noureddine Naybet, Swedish left-back Erik Edman, midfielders Sean Davis and Champions League winner Pedro Mendes, tough French right-back Noe Paramot, Cameroon winger Thimothee Atouba and the £2 million signing, former Leeds keeper Robinson.

England cap Michael Carrick looks certain to make his bow against Norwich a week on Saturday.

And Spurs are still unbeaten after four games - two wins, two draws - to stand fourth in the table.

Now with the transfer window closed until January, Arnesen reflects: “We had let a lot of players go and we needed replacements.

“It was a big challenge for us from the beginning and I’m delighted with what we have done up to now. I think we have signed good players with a lot of skill, talented young players and there is a lot of ambition in the squad.

“It is just the start. Once you have the players in they then have to adapt to the new style of coaching and to being Tottenham players. Then it’s about building a team. At the moment we have individual players and they have to get used to the way we like to play football,” he said.

“That is the next step and what we are doing every day, whether we are winning or losing. That’s how you learn players’ strengths and weaknesses.

“A big part is already done and that’s getting the players in. It has been very busy but I knew that would be the case. I knew it would be like that until transfer deadline day and now I can concentrate more on the club, not just players in and out.

“It has been a lot of work but at the same time, it’s been fantastic,” said Arnesen.