Ray Parlour has described Arsenal as a club that’s stayed still while those around them have improved.

Despite the Gunners beating Spurs 2-0 on Saturday, Parlour has used Arsenal’s north London rivals as an example of one club that’s developed and improved while his former team have stayed still.

“Arsenal need to be playing Champions League football,” Parlour told Newstalk.

“Spurs have improved. Lots of teams have improved. Arsenal have stayed still.”

I get what Ray is saying. While the result this weekend definitely gave Arsenal a much-needed boost, we’re still a point behind the very team we were thrilled to have defeated. We’re 12 behind Manchester City at the top and currently sit in sixth, level on points with Burnley and Liverpool.

At the beginning of the season, who would have predicted that a trip to Turf Moor in November would be such a big fixture?

As Ray says, the other big teams have improved, not just in terms of personnel but tactics. They’ve adapted with the times whereas Arsene Wenger hasn’t. He’s shown he’s capable of change, like when he switched up the formation to 3-4-3 against Middlesbrough last season, but is he really that open to it?

This season, the aim is the top four. Although we should be reaching for the title, that’s not happening. The Europa League would be nice though…