Tottenham have overtaken Arsenal as north London’s dominant force, former Spurs boss Tim Sherwood says.

Spurs finished above their local rivals for the first time in 22 years last season, a 2-0 derby win in April breaking the curse of ‘St Totteringham’s’ and helping prevent the Gunners from reaching the top four.

Sherwood believes that his former club have now left Arsene Wenger’s side in their wake, and sees no reason why they cannot be the team to chase down runaway leaders Manchester City, who are eight points clear ahead of the Premier League’s return this weekend.

“[It is] definitely shifting, I think you’d be a mad man to say that it’s not,” Sherwood told Omnisport on behalf of Tag Heuer.

“I think Pochettino’s building something very special there, it’s going to be very important he keeps hold of his best players and it’s very important for Tottenham that they keep hold of him because he’s done a brilliant job.

“He’s had three and a half years to build something, he’s strengthened where he thinks they need strengthening, they’ve got a thick enough squad now.

“I think that they have got the little bit of depth they needed, if they keep their players fit there is no reason why they can’t challenge right down to the wire even with such a good side like Man City this season.”