Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Spurs win blows race for top four wide open
TOTTENHAM kept their Champions League hopes alive as they put 10-man Arsenal to the sword with a 3-0 victory in a pulsating north London derby.
Victory for the Gunners would have booked them a top-four spot, but Antonio Conte’s men were never going to let that happen on their own patch.
Spurs’ motto emblazoned in the stands before the game was “Dare, Dream, Do” and they delivered in style as Harry Kane continued his love affair with this fixture by scoring twice and partner in crime Son Heung-min added another.
Kane’s brace, which took him to 13 north London derby goals in just 17 games, came in the space of a 15-minute first-half spell in which Arsenal threw the game away.
They conceded a needless penalty in the 22nd minute, which Kane emphatically converted, then Rob Holding picked up a second yellow card before the England captain doubled the lead four minutes later.
Son’s goal, which took him to 21 for the season, came early in the second half and killed the game as the Spurs fans enjoyed their evening.
Despite the chastening night, Champions League football next season is still in Arsenal’s hands as they remain a point above Tottenham with two games left and, if they beat Newcastle and Everton, they will be assured of a return to the top tier of European club competition for the first time since 2017.
Spurs boss Conte said: “It was an important derby but especially because now we are very close to them in the table, only one point with two games to go and for sure we need to have to recover very well because we are going to play on Sunday at 12pm, an important game (against Burnley), a team they have beaten us this season.
“I was very clear with my players, we try to enjoy it and celebrate it in the right way but at the same time we think on Sunday otherwise this win, yes we won a derby, but it will only be important if we are going to win on Sunday.”
With Spurs playing before Arsenal on Sunday, their fixture at home to Burnley is a chance to leapfrog their neighbours at least temporarily and put the pressure on.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta was clearly unhappy at the decision to send off Holding.
Arteta said: “If I say what I think I’m suspended for six months. I’m allowed to give my interpretation on the game but I don’t like to lie so I’d prefer not to say.
“With my players, I’m so proud of my players. You can ask the referee to come in front of the camera and explain his decisions. I make mine. That’s his decision. A beautiful game was destroyed today.”