Gomes, the Brazilian goalkeeper signed from PSV Eindhoven, is looking forward to meeting the Chelsea boss again after playing under him at Cruzeiro, while Giovani dos Santos and Luka Modric have their close friends playing at Arsenal.

With David Bentley registered as an Arsenal player until the start of 2006, Spurs will have close ties to their fiercest rivals, who they are desperately trying to catch up and compete with.

Modric is close to Arsenal striker Eduardo - his team-mate with Croatia - who is recovering from a sickening ankle injury.

"I know him very well and we're great friends," said Modric.

"I'm sure we'll have time to socialise off the field, regardless of the fact he plays for our biggest rival. That will depend on the matches.

"I know what it's like to have rivalry between two clubs and people have been talking about it. We had the same kind of thing in Croatia with Hadjuk and Dynamo (in Croatia)."

Dos Santos is friends with Mexico team-mate Carlos Vela, who has returned to the Emirates Stadium after his loan spell at Osasuna.

The 19-year-old midfielder, who head coach Juande Ramos had been tracking since January, said: "We have a good relationship off the pitch but at the same time we know it will be impossible to be friends on the field with the rivalry that exists between the two teams.

"Obviously both being Mexican in a foreign country it will be good to meet from time to time. I think it helps to have somebody around who you've known for a long time as a team-mate at international level."

Gomes had a professional relationship with Scolari when he played under the Brazilian in 2001, and credits Chelsea's new boss with giving him the belief to move to the big leagues in Europe.

"I remember what he said about if I keep that up, I could play for just about any team in the world," Gomes said. "That coming from such a respected coach helped me a lot. It was a great motivating factor.

"It was about a year later I signed for PSV."

Gomes plans to get back in the Brazil squad and could ask 'Big Phil' for more advice if they have a chance of meeting up while both in London.

"It's very nice to know there are so many Brazilians in London," Gomes added. "I have met a lot already and found a very good Brazilian-style barbecue restaurant."

Gomes was a crowd favourite at PSV for whipping up the crowd at half-time and is determined to have a positive relationship with Spurs supporters.

In Eindhoven children visited his house where Gomes would happily sign autographs - unless he was sleeping.

"Eindhoven is a small place compared to London and where I lived was near a school," Gomes said.

"The students knew where I lived and they were constantly coming and ringing the doorbell to ask for autographs.

"But there were times when we were sleeping or needed some rest so I put up a sign saying - come back later, we're sleeping. The best time to sleep for me is around 2pm and they would always come around that time."

Ramos lost patience with goalkeeper Paul Robinson last season, but Gomes said: "I'm not afraid of challenges. I like challenges. I was born to win.

"Any place can be a graveyard, it can also be a place of success."