Add goalkeepers Paul Robinson and Marton Fulop to the mix – they arrived in May – and Spurs’ tally of fresh faces is 15 since the end of last season.

Seven have already made their Premiership débuts: veteran Morocco defender Noureddine Naybet, Swedish left-back Erik Edman, midfielders Sean Davis and Champions League winner Pedro Mendes, tough French right-back Noe Paramot, Cameroon winger Thimothee Atouba and £2m (€2.9m) former Leeds keeper Robinson.

England cap Michael Carrick looks certain to make his bow against Norwich a week on Saturday.

Spurs are still unbeaten after four games – two wins, two draws – to stand fourth in the table.

Now, with the transfer window closed until January, Arnesen reflects: “We had let a lot of players go and we needed replacements.

“It was a big challenge for us from the beginning and I’m delighted with what we have done up to now. I think we have signed good players with a lot of skill, talented young players, and there is a lot of ambition in the squad.

He told Tottenham’s official website www.spursfc.co.uk: “It is just the start. Once you have the players in they have to adapt to the new style of coaching and to being Tottenham players.

“Then it’s about building a team. At the moment, we have individual players and they have to get used to the way we like to play football.

“That is the next step and what we are doing every day, whether we are winning or losing. That’s how you learn players’ strengths and weaknesses.

“A big part is already done and that’s getting the players in. It’s been very busy but I knew that would be the case. I knew it would be like that until transfer deadline day and now I can concentrate more on the club, not just players in and out.

“It has been a lot of work but, at the same time, it’s been fantastic.”