Tottenham 3-0 Arsenal: Harry Kane and Son Heung-min score as Spurs close in on top four

Harry Kane heads in Tottenham's second against Arsenal

Tottenham turned up the pressure on arch-rivals Arsenal in the race for a place in next season’s Champions League with an emphatic north London derby victory.

Arsenal could have confirmed a place in the Premier League’s top four with a win at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but endured a dismal night to now stand only one point clear of Spurs with two games left.

In a feverish atmosphere, Harry Kane gave Spurs the lead from the spot in the 22nd minute after Son Heung-min was fouled by Cedric Soares, then added a second before the break with a stooping far-post header after Rodrigo Bentancur flicked on a corner.

In between, Arsenal had been reduced to 10 men when Rob Holding was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Son, while the South Korean finished off any hopes the Gunners had when he fired in from 10 yards two minutes after half-time.

Spurs on the march

Such was the manner of this Spurs win – added to the momentum they are gathering under manager Antonio Conte – they must have increasing belief they can yet snatch a top-four place away from Arsenal.

Conte’s team look so impressive, organised and solid in defence with the deadly pair of Kane and Son a permanent menace in attack.

Spurs have two eminently winnable fixtures remaining at home to struggling Burnley and at relegated Norwich City while Arsenal must travel to Newcastle United – no easy task these days – before a final home fixture against Everton, who may yet be fighting for survival.

Conte has brought the best out of this Spurs side by implementing his trademark fierce tactical discipline while still getting the most from those two outstanding forwards, who have been augmented by impressive January signing Dejan Kulusevski.

As Spurs flourished and Arsenal wilted, it made for a celebratory atmosphere among a record crowd of 62,027 inside the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Spurs are still the hunters but they have a real chance of making the top four to round off some fine work by Conte, who took over an out-of-sorts side in eighth place when he succeeded sacked Nuno Espirito Santo in November.

Arsenal Tottenham
Monday, 16 May: Away v Newcastle Sunday, 15 May: Home v Burnley
Sunday, 22 May: Home v Everton Sunday, 22 May: Away v Norwich

Arsenal must respond

This was a night of unrelenting misery for Arsenal in an environment where their struggles are relished more than any other.

Mikel Arteta’s side were never given the chance to settle and once Kane put Spurs ahead it was all downhill, with Holding’s needless sending-off making an already difficult task impossible.

The late hamstring injury to key defender Gabriel only added to their suffering but the positive for Arteta and his players is that their destiny remains firmly in their own hands. If Arsenal win their next two games they will be in next season’s Champions League.

The more difficult aspect is that, given Spurs’ fixtures, the likelihood is that they may well have to win at Newcastle United on Monday to keep their ambitions on track.

Arsenal are so close and looked to be in pole position just a few weeks ago, so to miss out now would be a huge disappointment, especially as they have not had any European football to distract them from the job of finishing in the top four.

Arteta must ensure his players put this experience behind them but there is no doubt this defeat has put Arsenal under serious pressure befofe their visit to Tyneside, where manager Eddie Howe will want to round off Newcastle’s season at St James’ Park in style after moving them clear of relegation trouble with plenty to spare.

Player of the match

Son Heung-MinSon Heung-Min

with an average of 8.22

Tottenham Hotspur

  1. Squad number7Player nameSon Heung-Min
    Average rating

    8.22

  2. Squad number15Player nameDier
    Average rating

    7.80

  3. Squad number10Player nameKane
    Average rating

    7.70

  4. Squad number6Player nameD Sánchez
    Average rating

    7.62

  5. Squad number21Player nameKulusevski
    Average rating

    7.36

  6. Squad number33Player nameDavies
    Average rating

    7.17

  7. Squad number19Player nameRyan Sessegnon
    Average rating

    6.96

  8. Squad number1Player nameLloris
    Average rating

    6.92

  9. Squad number30Player nameBentancur
    Average rating

    6.88

  10. Squad number27Player nameLucas Moura
    Average rating

    6.74

  11. Squad number14Player nameRodon
    Average rating

    6.67

  12. Squad number23Player nameBergwijn
    Average rating

    6.49

  13. Squad number12Player nameEmerson Royal
    Average rating

    5.41

  14. Squad number5Player nameHøjbjerg
    Average rating

    4.22

Arsenal

  1. Squad number32Player nameRamsdale
    Average rating

    4.99

  2. Squad number35Player nameGabriel Martinelli
    Average rating

    4.74

  3. Squad number8Player nameØdegaard
    Average rating

    4.63

  4. Squad number18Player nameTomiyasu
    Average rating

    4.62

  5. Squad number7Player nameSaka
    Average rating

    4.55

  6. Squad number30Player nameNketiah
    Average rating

    4.40

  7. Squad number25Player nameMohamed Elneny
    Average rating

    4.35

  8. Squad number6Player nameGabriel Magalhães
    Average rating

    4.17

  9. Squad number34Player nameXhaka
    Average rating

    4.01

  10. Squad number17Player nameCédric Soares
    Average rating

    3.73

  11. Squad number10Player nameSmith Rowe
    Average rating

    3.70

  12. Squad number20Player nameNuno Tavares
    Average rating

    3.47

  13. Squad number9Player nameLacazette
    Average rating

    3.36

  14. Squad number16Player nameHolding
    Average rating

    2.94

Line-ups

Tottenham

Formation 3-4-2-1

  • 1Lloris
  • 6D Sánchez
  • 15Dier
  • 33DaviesBooked at 17minsSubstituted forRodonat 82′minutes
  • 12Emerson Royal
  • 30Bentancur
  • 5Højbjerg
  • 19R Sessegnon
  • 21KulusevskiSubstituted forLucas Mouraat 72′minutes
  • 7Son Heung-MinSubstituted forBergwijnat 72′minutes
  • 10Kane

Substitutes

  • 8Winks
  • 14Rodon
  • 22Gollini
  • 23Bergwijn
  • 27Lucas Moura
  • 42White
  • 44Scarlett
  • 45Devine
  • 51Craig

Arsenal

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 32Ramsdale
  • 17Cédric Soares
  • 16HoldingBooked at 33mins
  • 6GabrielSubstituted forTavaresat 76′minutes
  • 18Tomiyasu
  • 25Elneny
  • 34XhakaBooked at 90mins
  • 7Saka
  • 8ØdegaardBooked at 88mins
  • 35MartinelliSubstituted forSmith Roweat 64′minutesBooked at 86mins
  • 30NketiahSubstituted forLacazetteat 73′minutes

Substitutes

  • 1Leno
  • 4White
  • 9Lacazette
  • 10Smith Rowe
  • 19Pépé
  • 20Tavares
  • 23Sambi Lokonga
  • 69Swanson
  • 87Patino

Referee:
Paul Tierney

Attendance:
62,027

Match Stats

Live Text

Post update

Match ends, Tottenham Hotspur 3, Arsenal 0.

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