Tottenham shifted the
balance of power in north London's soccer rivalry by securing its first Premier
League finish above Arsenal in 22 years with a 2-0 victory over its neighbour on
Sunday.
Associated
Press report continues:
Arsenal
imploded inside 77 seconds at the start of the second half to hand Tottenham a
ninth consecutive league win. In the penultimate game at White Hart Lane before
the stadium is demolished, Dele Alli scrambled the ball into the net and Harry
Kane won a soft penalty that he converted.
Although
Spurs' hopes of overhauling Chelsea's four-point lead at the top of the league
are fading, they are locking down second place for their highest finish in 54
years.
"We
were fantastic from the back, all the way forward," Kane said. "We
worked hard. We outworked them. ... The fans have got the bragging rights for
now, but we've still got four important games to finish off."
It's
grim times, though, for Arsene Wenger and Arsenal, which last finished below
Tottenham in 1995 ahead of the manager's arrival the following year. Arsenal is
17 points behind Tottenham in sixth place.
The
one certainty under Wenger has been Champions League qualification. That is in
jeopardy with five games remaining for Arsenal and maybe Wenger, whose contract
expires at the end of the season. Arsenal is six points from the Champions
League places with five games remaining, one more than fourth-place Manchester
City.
Tottenham has only played in the Champions League twice, including a feeble group-stage exit this season. This derby win virtually assures Tottenham of making the top four, given its superior goal difference over fifth-place Manchester United.
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