Spurs 2 – 1 Arsenal
Kane, who crossed the north London divide as a youngster having been on Arsenal’s books, was the catalyst for a remarkable Spurs victory, coming as they did from one goal behind but thoroughly deserving their win following a highly accomplished performance that took them above Arsenal in the Premier Leaguetable.
In the end Arsenal departed having been outplayed for the most part despite taking the lead through Mesut Özil, Spurs fighting back through Kane, whose header with four minutes remaining lifted the roof off a raucous White Hart Lane, to win his first north London derby.
It was a spiky contest that demonstrated just why these sides have been revelling in a renaissance since the new year and why both clubs could be in the top four by the end of the season. This was a high-quality, high-octane match of fierce pace. The first 35 minutes were frantic, with space in midfield difficult to engineer and with much of the attacking play emerging from the wings.
Pochettino’s side dominated the first half yet forced only one real save from David Ospina, in the fifth minute, as Arsenal sat back and absorbed the pressure while looking to exploit opportunities on the counter. Francis Coquelin was again in the right place at the right time on many occasions, but Spurs departed after 45 minutes frustrated to be behind.
Kane was the man to test Ospina early on, receiving the ball from Mousa Dembélé on the left edge of the area, checking inside and curling an effort to the far post. Ospina, the Colombia goalkeeper, dived brilliantly to his left and tipped it behind for a corner, injuring himself in the process.
After receiving treatment, Ospina picked himself up and claimed a Danny Rose cross from the left with ease. He was fit enough to continue and soon his side were in front against the run of play.
It was Rose – who carried a threat whenever advancing forward – who was partially at fault for Özil’s opener. Danny Welbeck showed startling pace to knock the ball past the left-back and leave his opponent eating dust, before pulling back for Olivier Giroud on the edge of the area. Giroud, either with a pinpoint pass or a seemingly miscued shot, found Özil at the far post, who volleyed expertly past Hugo Lloris first-time.
Arsenal were delirious but it was backs to the wall for the remainder of a half in which Tottenham pushed their neighbours but failed to unlock the door. Rose flashed a low shot narrowly past the post after 22 minutes, while Ospina saved a 25-yard effort from Ryan Mason after Dembélé had capitalised on Per Mertesacker’s clumsy chest.
Spurs, though, did not have to wait long for their equaliser. Who else but Kane to deliver it, a deserved leveller from a striker in blistering form. Spurs were turning home and from a corner in the 56th minute Ospina stretched to keep out a Dembélé header but the ball only went as far as Kane, who gratefully swept home at the far post.
How Arsenal needed Ospina. Soon the goalkeeper leaped to his left to keep out a 25-yard shot from Bentaleb, as Spurs continued to press. However, Arsenal were still a threat on the counter, Welbeck cutting inside from the left and unleashing a drive that Lloris palmed wide, with Laurent Koscielny’s free header from the resulting corner going straight at the goalkeeper.
Cometh the hour, though, cometh the man. The denouement was a fitting end to a thrilling game. Bentaleb swung the ball in from the left and there was Kane, towering above the red shirts to guide a looping header into the net.
