Antonio Conte's facet could have been removed from the race to qualify for next season's Champions League if they had lost to their sour competitors on Thursday. But Kane tormented Arsenal all over again as the Tottenham striker opened the scoring with a debatable penalty. Crucially, Arsenal's Rob Holding became sent off for 2 bookings in seven minutes.
Kane netted once more before the interval and Son Heung-min bagged Tottenham's 0.33 goal in the 2d half. Instead of sealing a go back to the Champions League for the primary time since the 2016-17 season, fourth-placed Arsenal now face a nerve-jangling conclusion to the pinnacle-4 battle. Arsenal nevertheless preserve a slender gain, however the quit in their four-fit triumphing run leaves them simply one point in advance of fifth-placed Tottenham, with both aspects having video games left.
Conte said numerous weeks in the past that it'd be a "miracle" if Tottenham reached the Champions League given their lowly position while he changed the sacked Nuno Espirito Santo in November. But their victory in arguably the most important north London derby on account that Arsenal won the league at White Hart Lane in 2004 ensured that miracle ought to still come true.
Conte believes finishing inside the pinnacle 4 is "like prevailing a identify in a foreign country, a large success" given the intensity of talent and wealth on the pinnacle of the Premier League. To decide who takes the lucrative prize, Tottenham host struggling Burnley on Sunday then tour to relegated Norwich, whilst Mikel Arteta's men go to Newcastle on Monday and entertain Everton.
Arteta's bewildered expression in the course of Arsenal's capitulation advised it's miles some distance from sure he could be able to elevate his players to finish the job. Third-positioned Chelsea, five points above Tottenham, will probable need a draw from their remaining video games to be sure in their pinnacle-four vicinity given their massively superior goal distinction. As well because the massive European stakes for each sides, Tottenham additionally felt lingering resentment about Arsenal's a hit appeal to have this fixture postponed in January due to Covid and harm issues.
The acrimony did now not take lengthy to boil over in the deafening environment at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with tackling flying in and Conte booked for protesting vigorously after Ben Davies's foul on Bukayo Saka. Amid the maelstrom, it was Tottenham who landed the primary blow after 22 minutes. Cedric Soares collided with Son as they contested Dejan Kulusevski's go inside the six-backyard container and the touch was enough to convince Paul Tierney to award a penalty. Arsenal surrounded Tierney to complain angrily, but Kane stepped up to ship Aaron Ramsdale the wrong manner with a nerveless spot-kick.
The wall of sound from four sides of the stadium underlined the significance of Tottenham seizing the initiative. Arsenal have been shell-bowled over and the sport shifted decisively in Tottenham's favour within the 33rd minute. Eric Dier's lengthy pass focused Son and Holding crudely blocked his path with his shoulder, a pointless offence that prompted Tierney to send off the defender for his 2nd reserving.
Scenting blood, Tottenham doubled their lead four mins after Holding's untimely exit. Rodrigo Bentancur flicked on a corner and Kane stooped to move domestic from in reality on the line as Conte celebrated with a jig of pleasure. Kane, the pinnacle scorer in north London derby records in all competitions, now has thirteen goals in 17 meetings with Arsenal, who should rue the day they rejected him as a eight-year-vintage.
The night got even better for Conte inside the 47th minute as Kane rolled Gabriel and the ball broke for Son to clip a deft end into the nook. Ramsdale made pleasant saves from Emerson Royal and Kane to prevent Arsenal being absolutely humiliated, however the harm had already been completed.
