Tottenham
ensured they remained just four points behind Premier League leaders
Chelsea, and confirmed they would finish above arch-rivals Arsenal for
the first time since 1994-95, with an impressive north London derby win
at White Hart Lane.
Chelsea's 3-0 victory at Everton
put the pressure on Spurs - but they responded in style with a ninth
successive league win to continue their best sequence since October
1960, when they won 13 games in a row.
The match was decided with
two goals in just over a minute, Dele Alli scoring his 21st goal for
Spurs this season with a close-range finish in the 55th minute before
Harry Kane netted from the spot after he was fouled by Gabriel.
Arsenal,
whose top-four hopes are in serious jeopardy as they remain six points
behind fourth-placed Manchester City with a game in hand, were only
spared a heavy defeat in the last derby at this stadium in its current
incarnation by a magnificent display from keeper Petr Cech.
Spurs might have been forgiven for entering this game with an air of
resignation after Chelsea restored their lead - albeit temporarily - to
seven points with victory at Everton.
It took them 45 minutes to
perhaps clear their heads, although they had the best chances of the
first half through Alli's header and Christian Eriksen's side-foot
effort against the bar, before they demonstrated the quality and
development that has characterised their season.
Manager Mauricio
Pochettino clearly reminded his players of what might still be at stake
at half-time, and they emerged at full throttle and maximum physicality
to overpower Arsenal and win the game with that quick-fire one-two.
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