3 Mar 2013 18:10
The home side rarely looked like surrendering despite Mertesacker consolation for the Gunners PLUS White Hart Lane ratings
It's been a long wait. Some 18 years since they finished above Arsenal.
So many false dawns, so many let-downs, so many self-inflicted failures.
But at White Hart Lane last night it felt like a changing of the North London guard. Felt like Spurs are not in the mood to throw it away again.
Now seven points clear of the Gunners with 10 to play. Back above Chelsea into third. Within two points of Manchester City in second and now eight wins in a 12-game unbeaten run.
And, more importantly, with the biggest thing of all on their side: belief.
Belief in the manager, with Andre Villas-Boas in a completely different place to the wretched hole that saw him being axed by Chelsea on the corresponding weekend 12 months ago.
Belief in the golden touch of Gareth Bale, now with nine in his last seven games, a glorious spell that is propelling Spurs back towards the Champions League.
And, most importantly of all, belief in each other. In the composure, conviction, desire of each and every one of them.
For once, too, this was not a victory hewn out of the individual brilliance of the Welshman, even if there were sublime moments of outstanding talent, not least the assured finish that put Spurs in front.
It's been a long wait. Some 18 years since they finished above Arsenal.
So many false dawns, so many let-downs, so many self-inflicted failures.
But at White Hart Lane last night it felt like a changing of the North London guard. Felt like Spurs are not in the mood to throw it away again.
Now seven points clear of the Gunners with 10 to play. Back above Chelsea into third. Within two points of Manchester City in second and now eight wins in a 12-game unbeaten run.
And, more importantly, with the biggest thing of all on their side: belief.
Belief in the manager, with Andre Villas-Boas in a completely different place to the wretched hole that saw him being axed by Chelsea on the corresponding weekend 12 months ago.
Belief in the golden touch of Gareth Bale, now with nine in his last seven games, a glorious spell that is propelling Spurs back towards the Champions League.
And, most importantly of all, belief in each other. In the composure, conviction, desire of each and every one of them.
For once, too, this was not a victory hewn out of the individual brilliance of the Welshman, even if there were sublime moments of outstanding talent, not least the assured finish that put Spurs in front.
But Spurs had enough chances to put it to bed. Bale blazed over from six yards, Sigurdsson should have gone for goal after brilliant work from the Welshman and then Jermain Defoe, adding all the zest Adebayor lacked, before the substitute was just wide himself.
Arsenal were still in it and Wenger went for broke, sending on Tomas Rosicky and Lukas Podolski, switching positions, seeking salvation.
Time and again, though, their attacks foundered on the determination of Tottenham’s twin towers, the best real chance ending with Aaron Ramsey, now at right-back, dragging across goal.
Walcott was narrowly wide from a free-kick but Arsenal ended in desperation, Mertesacker at centre-forward, Szczesny up for the last assault, repelled when the palms of Hugo Lloris clawed away.
It summed up the difference. Spurs are the team with composure, certainty, expectation. Arsenal now the side that are left hoping for a momentum shift.
Everything has changed, changed utterly. And this time, you sense, Spurs do not look like blowing up. This time it might be real.
How they rated
Tottenham (4-4-1-1): Lloris 8; Walker 7, Dawson 8, Vertonghen 9, Assou-Ekotto 7; Lennon 7 (Gallas, 90, 5), Dembele 7 (Livermore, 87, 6), Parker 7, Sigurdsson 7; Bale 7; Adebayor 6 (Defoe, 67, 7)
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Szczesny 7; Jenkinson 6 (Rosicky, 60, 6), Mertesacker 5, Vermaelen 6, Monreal 7; Arteta 6 (Podolski, 77, 6), Wilshere 8; Cazorla 7, Ramsey 7, Walcott 7, Giroud 6
The home side rarely looked like surrendering despite Mertesacker consolation for the Gunners PLUS White Hart Lane ratings
It's been a long wait. Some 18 years since they finished above Arsenal.
So many false dawns, so many let-downs, so many self-inflicted failures.
But at White Hart Lane last night it felt like a changing of the North London guard. Felt like Spurs are not in the mood to throw it away again.
Now seven points clear of the Gunners with 10 to play. Back above Chelsea into third. Within two points of Manchester City in second and now eight wins in a 12-game unbeaten run.
And, more importantly, with the biggest thing of all on their side: belief.
Belief in the manager, with Andre Villas-Boas in a completely different place to the wretched hole that saw him being axed by Chelsea on the corresponding weekend 12 months ago.
Belief in the golden touch of Gareth Bale, now with nine in his last seven games, a glorious spell that is propelling Spurs back towards the Champions League.
And, most importantly of all, belief in each other. In the composure, conviction, desire of each and every one of them.
For once, too, this was not a victory hewn out of the individual brilliance of the Welshman, even if there were sublime moments of outstanding talent, not least the assured finish that put Spurs in front.
It's been a long wait. Some 18 years since they finished above Arsenal.
So many false dawns, so many let-downs, so many self-inflicted failures.
But at White Hart Lane last night it felt like a changing of the North London guard. Felt like Spurs are not in the mood to throw it away again.
Now seven points clear of the Gunners with 10 to play. Back above Chelsea into third. Within two points of Manchester City in second and now eight wins in a 12-game unbeaten run.
And, more importantly, with the biggest thing of all on their side: belief.
Belief in the manager, with Andre Villas-Boas in a completely different place to the wretched hole that saw him being axed by Chelsea on the corresponding weekend 12 months ago.
Belief in the golden touch of Gareth Bale, now with nine in his last seven games, a glorious spell that is propelling Spurs back towards the Champions League.
And, most importantly of all, belief in each other. In the composure, conviction, desire of each and every one of them.
For once, too, this was not a victory hewn out of the individual brilliance of the Welshman, even if there were sublime moments of outstanding talent, not least the assured finish that put Spurs in front.
But Spurs had enough chances to put it to bed. Bale blazed over from six yards, Sigurdsson should have gone for goal after brilliant work from the Welshman and then Jermain Defoe, adding all the zest Adebayor lacked, before the substitute was just wide himself.
Arsenal were still in it and Wenger went for broke, sending on Tomas Rosicky and Lukas Podolski, switching positions, seeking salvation.
Time and again, though, their attacks foundered on the determination of Tottenham’s twin towers, the best real chance ending with Aaron Ramsey, now at right-back, dragging across goal.
Walcott was narrowly wide from a free-kick but Arsenal ended in desperation, Mertesacker at centre-forward, Szczesny up for the last assault, repelled when the palms of Hugo Lloris clawed away.
It summed up the difference. Spurs are the team with composure, certainty, expectation. Arsenal now the side that are left hoping for a momentum shift.
Everything has changed, changed utterly. And this time, you sense, Spurs do not look like blowing up. This time it might be real.
How they rated
Tottenham (4-4-1-1): Lloris 8; Walker 7, Dawson 8, Vertonghen 9, Assou-Ekotto 7; Lennon 7 (Gallas, 90, 5), Dembele 7 (Livermore, 87, 6), Parker 7, Sigurdsson 7; Bale 7; Adebayor 6 (Defoe, 67, 7)
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Szczesny 7; Jenkinson 6 (Rosicky, 60, 6), Mertesacker 5, Vermaelen 6, Monreal 7; Arteta 6 (Podolski, 77, 6), Wilshere 8; Cazorla 7, Ramsey 7, Walcott 7, Giroud 6
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