Premier League: Arsenal beware - this is the tightest season in 11 years

Just 10 points separate the first and ninth places in the top half of the table

Premier League 2013/14: The story so far (Independent Graphics)

Arsene Wenger's Arsenal may be flying high at the summit, but the top half of the Premier League is the closest it has been after 13 matches in 11 seasons.

This season, only 10 points separate the first and ninth places, with Arsenal on 31 points and Tottenham on 21. It is the tightest it has been since 2002/03, when Liverpool led on 30 points with Spurs trailing 10 points behind in ninth.

The gap has only been narrower at this stage in recent seasons in 1999/2000, when only eight points separated first-placed Leeds (29 points) and Middlesbrough (21 points) in ninth.

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Points difference between 1st and 9th places in the Premier League after 13 matches since 1999/2000:

2013/14

1 Arsenal (31)

9 Tottenham (21)

2012/13

1 Man United (30)

9 Swansea (17)

2011/12

1 Man City (35)

9 Norwich (19)

2010/11

1 Chelsea (28)

9 Aston Villa (17)

2009/10

1 Chelsea (33)

9 Stoke (19)

2008/09

1 Chelsea (32)

9 Middlesbrough (18)

2007/08

1 Arsenal (33)

9 Everton (20)

2006/07

1 Man United (34)

9 Wigan (18)

2005/06

1 Chelsea (34)

9 West Ham (19)

2004/05

1 Chelsea (32)

9 Charlton (18)

2003/04

1 Arsenal (33)

9 Liverpool (18)

2002/03

1 Liverpool (30)

9 Tottenham (20)

2001/02

1 Liverpool (29)

9 Blackburn (18)

2000/01

1 Man United (30)

9 Charlton (18)

1999/2000

1 Leeds (29)

9 Middlesbrough (21)