London: Harry Kane’s 101st Premier League goal was the difference as Tottenham Hotspur earned a 1-0 win over Arsenal, to continue their fine recent form in north London derbies in front of a Premier League record crowd at Wembley here, Saturday.
Both teams struggled to get going in the first half, but the contest burst into life straight after the interval, with Kane heading in his seventh goal in seven matches against Arsenal to break the deadlock in the 49th minute.
Arsenal almost snatched a point at the death through substitute Alexandre Lacazette, but the Frenchman fired wide. However, in truth, the margin of victory should have been greater, as Spurs wasted several chances to double their advantage in front of a crowd of 83,222.
Spurs’ breakthrough moment came in the 49 minute thanks to a delightful cross from Ben Davies. Delivered just perfectly into the box, it allowed Kane to evade both Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi, sneaking in between the two to head home decisively.
Then for one brief moment, 30 seconds from the final whistle, one could believe Arsenal might be the equal of Spurs. As Lacazette connected with his strike, which beat Tottenham goalie Hugo Lloris, the Arsenal fans who had stayed, prepared to celebrate a famous draw. Yet, by a fraction, the ball cleared the far post and Spurs survived.
Nonetheless, the hosts hung on for the victory that enabled them to leapfrog both Liverpool and Chelsea into third place, seven points clear of sixth-placed Arsenal, who have now beaten Spurs just once in eight league games.
reuters
