TWICE in their grand old history, Arsenal have won the league at White Hart Lane.
And this North London Derby victory might almost have felt like a third time.
AFPArsenal cruised to victory at the home of their arch-rivals Tottenham[/caption]
ReutersA Hugo Lloris blunder gifted Arsenal the lead in the North London derby[/caption]
APArsenal’s Martin Odegaard then rifled home a deserved second before the break[/caption]
ReutersThe Gunners are now eight points clear at the top of the Premier League[/caption]
Mikel Arteta’s men are not even halfway through their Premier League campaign but this was a hugely significant triumph – one which may be pinpointed as the most crucial of the lot if they are crowned champions of England for the first time in 19 years.
It had deep meaning because it gave Arsenal an eight-point lead of the summit, the day after Manchester City had capitulated in their own derby.
But this was even more critical for Arsenal’s self-belief because of the way they choked here in a 3-0 drubbing last May and eventually surrendered the final Champions League place to Spurs.
The 1971 Double-winners and the 2004 Invicibles both clinched the crown at the old Lane, just yards away from the shiny £1billion bearpit which greeted them.
This was the first time Arsenal had even avoided defeat at Tottenham’s new gaff – but their first half display possessed the assuredness of potential champions.
A Hugo Lloris own goal and a Martin Odegaard long-ranger clinched the Gunners their first Premier League away win over Spurs in nine years.
It was confirmation that the balance of power in this neck of the woods has swung their way after six seasons of finishing beneath their bitter rivals.
There was a swagger about Arsenal when they had the ball, and a relentless when they were out of possession, which suggested Arteta’s young side are capable of going the distance.
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Next Sunday, they face a resurgent Manchester United – the only team to have defeated them in the league this season – and next month they face City.
There won’t be any over-confidence in Arteta’s camp unless and until they have won those two – but with City out of sorts and Liverpool a busted flush, the Gunners must be considered favourites to win the title now.
Nobody saw this coming. Not when they were on the brink of a relegation battle two years ago or when they thrashed here in the biggest North London derby in years just eight months ago.
So immense credit must go to Arteta and those in the Arsenal hierarchy who backed him in the darkest days when all talk of a bright future under the Spaniard sounded like the effects of hallucinogenic substances.
For Antonio Conte’s men – now five points adrift of the top four having played a game more than United – this was frustrating and chastening.
Arsenal were bang at it from the start – Gabriel Martinelli hurrying Lloris into an error with his feet and Nketiah’s shot forcing a smart save from the Frenchman.
Spurs were being pinned back by a Gunners side who were slick on the ball and frenzied in their efforts to win back possession and on 15 minutes they had an opener which was fortunate yet well deserved on the balance of play.
It was a horrific moment from Lloris who, at 36, has clearly seen better days.
Saka attempted to cut back from the right but after a deflection off Ryan Sessegnon, the ball cannoned off the Tottenham keeper’s chest at the near post and crossed the line.
Arsenal seized on this gift and dominated the rest of the first half to an extraordinary extent – peppering Lloris’ goal.
ReutersMikel Arteta jumps for joy after Arsenal’s second goal[/caption]
Aaron Ramsdale did make one outstanding block to deny Son Heung-Min but then it was all Arsenal.
First Odegaard’s 20-yard zinger was pushed round the post by Lloris.
Then after a flying back-heel from Martinelli was cleared, Partey rocketed a volley against the post from outside the area.
Arsenal’s manic workrate was exemplified by centre-forward Nketiah winning a tackle at right-back and soon they were straight back at the Tottenham jugular.
A Lloris goal-kick was headed back by William Saliba and Partey fed Saka who squared for Odegaard to drill into the bottom corner from almost 25 yards.
The Lane was silenced and it wasn’t until injury-time that they threatened to get back into the game when Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s centre was met with a stooping header from Kane which Ramsdale turned wide.
Kane fell over Saliba embarrassingly in an attempt to win a penalty right on the half-time whistle.
But Spurs came out for the second period, determined not to give this us up without a scrap and suddenly it was Ramsdale’s goal under siege.
ReutersThe result leaves Antonio Conte’s Spurs five points off the top four[/caption]
First Dejan Kulusevski curled a shot just over and then the Swede teed up Kane for a strike which the Arsenal dived to push wide.
Sessegnon then exchanged passes with Kane and after a delicious return from the England captain, Sessegnon’s close-range angled effort was expertly deflected wide by Ramsdale.
This was the storm Arsenal always suspected they would have to weather and they emerged from it shaken but unscathed.
Temperatures were rising on the touchline – as was always likely with Arteta and Conte around.
And when Cristian Romero, on a yellow card, launched a reckless-looking challenge on Granit Xhaka, and the Swiss rolled, there was a major slanging match between the two coaching teams.
As Tottenham’s pressure subsided, Lloris saved with his body from Nketiah and while a Son effort was deflected off-target, the Gunners held firm.