LONDON (AP) ¿ Tottenham spent about three times more than Arsenal this off-season and will still be the underdog when it hosts its north London rival in the Premier League tomorrow.

Spurs have just one win from their first five matches despite spending almost £40 pounds (US$80.7 million) on new players, while the Gunners are unbeaten and look likely to challenge for the title they last won in 2004.

It wasn't meant to be like this for Tottenham, which was outspent only by Manchester United and Liverpool in the off-season. The club was hoping to challenge Arsenal for a place in the top four of the Premier League but is already six points behind.

Even a draw with Arsenal could leave Tottenham still further off the top of the table since Liverpool, Chelsea and Everton, who are all tied with Arsenal on ten points, are also in action tomorrow.

Leader Liverpool is at Portsmouth, Chelsea hosts Blackburn, and Everton hosts Manchester United.

Uncertainty over coach Martin Jol's position and injuries to key players have hit Tottenham, leaving it even more desperate for a first win over its fierce rival for eight years.

"This match means everything," Tottenham assistant manager Chris Hughton said. "Arsenal are still our biggest rivals and even though the makeup of the team has changed, whenever I hear them speak it's still the big game.

"Taking everything into account, it's a very big game for us."

Having lost its first two games to Sunderland and Everton, Tottenham seemed to have got over its problems with a 4-0 win over Derby. But a 1-0 loss at Manchester United and a disappointing 3-3 draw with Fulham followed.

Players including Ledley King, Michael Dawson, Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon missed the start of the season because of injuries, but Bale and Dawson have returned and Spurs led 3-1 at Fulham before defensive mistakes let the home side back into the match.

Lennon could be back in the team to face Arsenal.

"We're playing well enough but the results could have been better," Hughton said.

And while Tottenham's board was embarrassed by the revelation that it had discussed hiring Sevilla coach Juande Ramos to replace Jol after the first two games, Arsenal has just signed Arsene Wenger to a new four-year contract to extend his 11-year stay. "That is probably their main quality, that there is a lot of continuity at that club," Jol said.

Wenger has led Arsenal to three Premier League titles and seems set to defy preseason predictions that the sale of Thierry Henry to FC Barcelona would lead to his team's demise.

The Gunners scored two goals in the last six minutes to beat Fulham 2-1 in its opening match and trails Liverpool only on goal difference as it protects its 18-match unbeaten streak against its rival.

Liverpool will be trying to continue its best ever start to a Premier League season when it plays at Portsmouth, although manager Rafa Benitez may need to shuffle his line-up again to rest players after international matches the past week. Captain Steven Gerrard was a key figure in England's 3-0 wins over Israel and Russia, but may be rested to ensure he is fully healed after a broken toe threatened his involvement in those matches.

Chelsea will still be without key midfielder Frank Lampard because of a thigh injury as it tries to get over its surprise 2-0 loss at Aston Villa two weeks ago. Blackburn, though, is one of just four unbeaten sides and drew 1-1 with Arsenal last month.

In tomorrow's other Premier League matches, Birmingham hosts Bolton, Sunderland hosts Reading, West Ham hosts Middlesbrough, and Wigan hosts Fulham. Villa is at Manchester City on Sunday, while Newcastle is at Derby in Monday's game.