LONDON — Harry Kane started this season seeking a move away from Tottenham, but he will end it spearheading a late surge for Champions League qualification.
The North London derby is his fixture: Kane was already the all-time top goal scorer in these games before netting a brace on Thursday, which extended his personal record to 13 and eased Spurs to an emphatic 3-0 win over ten-man Arsenal to blow the top-four race wide open.
Tottenham had to win here and they did, courtesy of their talisman stepping up in a manner he has done so many times before, securing their biggest league win over Arsenal since 1983.
The added significance this time is that securing a Champions League place will enhance Spurs’ chances of retaining Kane beyond the summer while also helping to provide a cash injection required to fund Antonio Conte’s desired overhaul of this squad to the extent they can soon compete for the Premier league title.
Tottenham can move above Arsenal if they beat Burnley on Sunday lunchtime, a situation Conte was able to begin preparing for during a second half that became a procession after two minutes as Heung Min-Son slotted home a third goal, picking up a loose ball as Gabriel tried to halt Kane’s advance into the box.
It will be a source of embarrassment to the Gunners that Spurs were so comfortable that Conte could withdraw Son and Dejan Kulusevski for the final 18 minutes, the former particularly unhappy as he stands just one behind Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (22) in the Golden Boot race.
But this was not a night to think about individual prizes. Both Arsenal and Spurs need the prestige and financial power that comes from Champions League football, and the stakes in play only augmented what was a long-awaited night in this stadium.
Tottenham’s new £1 billion arena opened in April 2019 but scheduling quirks and COVID-19 meant Thursday was the first derby to be played at this stunning venue in front of a capacity crowd. And how they enjoyed it.
There were…
Source : espn
