Tottenham are now as good as Arsenal! Arjen Robben insists signing of Rafael van der Vaart will bridge gap between bitter rivals



Bayern Munich star Arjen Robben has insisted Tottenham are now finally as good as their north London rivals Arsenal.

Robben, a Dutch team-mate of Rafael van der Vaart, believes Spurs have bridged the gap between the clubs with their signing of the midfielder from Real Madrid.

Robben said: 'Before Rafa signed, I’d still have had Arsenal down as the stronger team - but now I don’t think there is anything between them.



Making his move: Rafael Van der Vaart

'With Rafa on board, Spurs really do have one of the very best midfield players in the Premier League, maybe even the best.'

Robben admitted he wanted Van der Vaart to join him at Bayern, and is sure Tottenham have made a shrewd move.

He told the Daily Star Sunday: 'I don’t know why he didn’t join Bayern in the end. I really wanted him but Spurs have bought a gem.

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'In terms of his vision, his range of passing, his ability to split a defence and his eye for goal he is as good as Cesc Fabregas, Steven Gerrard and of course Frank Lampard.

'He is that bridge for Spurs that makes them go from a very good Premier League club to a team capable of taking on and beating any side in Europe on their day.

'When you consider the amount of money Real Madrid and Manchester City have spent on players, it’s almost unbelievable to think what Spurs reportedly paid for Rafa.

'Madrid almost gave away one of the best players in the world – but that’s their style.

'They got rid of me and Wesley Sneijder in the same summer and I went on to win my domestic league and get to the Champions League Final while Wesley went on to win the Treble and become the best player in the world.

'Madrid’s mistake will very much be Spurs’ gain.'

We're coming to get you! Arjen Robben believes Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger now has plenty of reason to fear Harry Redknapp's Tottenham



Robben also believes that Arsenal star Robin van Persie had been trying to tempt Van Der Vaart into a move to the Emirates.

'I knew of his interest in England and that van Persie had been speaking with him about how great life in London was. I think when Robin was trying to convince him how great London and the Premier League was, it was as though he was trying to convince him to join Arsenal.

'It’s kind of backfired on Robin a little bit now, though, because he has signed for their biggest rivals.'

Meanwhile it has been revealed that Robben could be out of action until after the Bundesliga winter break.

The 26-year-old tore a muscle in his left thigh in a World Cup warm-up match, and even though he came back to play in the tournament he now seems to have aggravated the injury.

'It is more than questionable whether Arjen will be able to play for us in the Bundesliga's round of matches before Christmas,' Bayern's director of sport Christian Nerlinger said.



'The healing process is unsatisfactory. It will take a long time before Arjen is fit again.'

