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Arsenal outgun Ipswich, but Tottenham misery continues
Steve Douglas •  September 16th, 2026 10:52 am
Max Dowman | Photo: AP
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 English League Cup on Wednesday (NZ time), with Arsenal fielding almost an entire second-choice line-up and still overwhelming fellow Premier League 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.
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.
Then there's Tottenham, who aren't getting much return on their incredible $US400 million ($NZ694m) outlay on new players in the summer transfer window.
Alexis Mac Allister (left) opened the scoring for Liverpool in their win over Tottenham | Photo: AP
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 League 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.
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 Wednesday.
Fulham won 3-2 at second-tier West Ham, and Brentford beat third-tier side Reading 2-1.
