IT’S A HART OF GOLD
Super Spurs stuff Gunners in last derby at the Lane
TOTTENHAM may not win the league but the Cockerels can at last crow about being kings of north London.
For the first time since the 1994-95 season they are certain to finish above Arsenal.
A Dele Alli strike and a Harry Kane penalty ensured the last north London derby at the current White Hart Lane had a happy ending for the locals.
Chelsea’s earlier 3-0 win at Everton lengthened the odds on Spurs departing to their temporary home at Wembley next season with a title under their belts.
But their fans have so much cause for thinking it cannot be long in coming.
Mauricio Pochettino has worked wonders for Spurs, instilling a steely mentality in them along with a superb appetite for work and no shortage of flair.
In midfield yesterday they had a beast in Victor Wanyama, who produced a brilliant display of power and craft that brought back memories of Arsenal great Patrick Vieira.
Many might have expected Pochettino’s young team to be deflated by events at Goodison.
Not a bit of it – unlike last season, this is a team with a magnificent mental attitude and this victory was their eighth in a row in the league.
As for Arsene Wenger and Arsenal, they can still cling on to an outside hope of qualifying for the Champions League. But yesterday they were beaten in all areas.
Wenger shook hands with Pochettino after the final whistle put him out of his misery and then the substituted Kieran Trippier, who was in his path as he dashed for the tunnel.
Pochettino waited to embrace every single one of his players.
Failure
Had the home side been more clinical the loss could have been even more humbling for the Frenchman, who has never before finished below Spurs.
In the 22nd minute, Kane’s shot from a tight angle on the right deflected off Laurent Koscielny.
Alli, at the far post, looked sure to nod in but somehow glanced wide.
His failure to score, though, was nothing compared to Christian Eriksen’s three minutes later when Heung-Min Son’s shot again came off Koscielny.
It seemed Eriksen must score but he lifted his left-foot volley over a gaping goal, with
the ball grazing the bar. Then on what seemed to be “National Deflection Day”, the Gunners could have gone ahead in the 39th minute.
Aaron Ramsey tried a curler and it looked to be missing the far post until it took a touch off Toby Alderweireld.
It meant keeper Hugo Lloris had to react late to stop the ball creeping in.
That effort was about as good as it got for Arsenal. Their best player was keeper Petr Cech, who pulled off a particularly fine save to deny Wanyama.
He was beaten, though, in the 55th minute. Alli teed up Ekiksen in the box from the right and, although his shot was blocked by Cech, the England midfielder bundled in the rebound.
Two minutes later Gabriel foolishly lunged in as Kane surged into the box and caught the England striker. He went down dramatically but there was contact.
Kane took the spot-kick and gave Cech no chance, drilling hard and low just inside the keeper’s right-hand post. It made it six goals in six appearances for Kane against the Gunners.
Wenger was furious, berating fourth official Andre Marriner. But you sense he was almost going through the motions.
It could have been three in the 68th minute but Cech pulled off his best stop to claw away Jan Vertonghen’s left-foot rocket.
Next, Cech was off his line to block Kane after he was set up by Wanyama, and from Eriksen’s corner he somehow beat away Toby Alderweireld’s header.
Sub Theo Walcott, taunted mercilessly by the home support, sidefooted tamely at Lloris as the Arsenal fightback failed to spark.
All over the country Tottenham fans will be goading the Gunners about the new order of things in north London.
It’s one that could be here to stay.