Harry Kane header gives Spurs North London derby win

The visitors came closest to opening the scoring when a sublime Jack Wilshere reverse pass set Pierre-Emerick Auabameyang free behind the Tottenham backline. The move was contentiously ruled offside.

The best chance of an even first half fell to Harry Kane, who found himself unmarked in the area while receiving an incisive Christian Eriksen aerial pass. The England striker should have put his header on target, but watched in dismay as it glanced over the bar.

Tottenham broke the deadlock shortly after the interval when Kane expertly directed a downwards header into Petr Cech’s net. The England striker clambered on Hector Bellerin’s shoulders to rise to meet Ben Davies’ cross, but was not adjudged to have fouled the Spaniard.

It was Kane’s 101st Tottenham goal and his seventh in seven league games against the Gunners.

Tottenham turned up the heat and dominated both possession and chances in the second half, with Dele Alli and Erik Lamela offering significant chances to extend the lead.

Substitute Alexandre Lacazette was squandered a brace of excellent late opportunities to provide the equaliser, raising question marks over his role in the team.

The last kick of a frantic game was a Mesut Ozil free kick on the edge of the Tottenham area, but the last-ditch attempt to win a point did not get further than the Tottenham wall.

The win allowed Tottenham to rise into the top four, replacing Chelsea, while the Gunners now sit seven points behind their neighbours.

The Gunners are five points shy of the hallowed top four spots, having failed to make a statement at Wembley today.

Much like Manchester United last season, Wenger’s best chance of Champions League qualification this season may be via Europa League triumph.

In a match where no player was head and shoulders above his peers (except for Kane as he clambered above Bellerin for the goal) Eriksen created numerous chances and provided constant attacking threat. Another understated big-game performance from the Dane.

Tottenham: Lloris 7, Trippier 8, Sanchez 6, Vertonghen 7, Davies 8, Dier 8, Dembele 7, Alli 7, Eriksen 8, Kane 7, Son 7.
Subs: Lamela 6, Wanyama 6.

Arsenal: Cech 8, Bellerin 6, Mustafi 7, Koscielny 6, Monreal 7, Elneny 5, Xhaka 6, Ozil 6, Wilshere 7, Mkhitaryan 6, Aubameyang 6.
Subs: Lacazette 6, Iwobi 6, Welbeck 6.

13 - CHANCE! Aubameyang is ruled off as Wilshere cuts the defence in half with a wonderful reverse pass. It looks like a very close call.

27 - CHANCE! Eriksen picks out Kane in the box with a brilliant aerial through-ball and the striker beats the offside trap! His header, however, glances over the bar.

50 - GOAL! Ben Davies crosses from the left and Kane makes no mistake with a downwards header across goal!

52 - CHANCE! Kane is inches from doubling his tally! Dier crosses into the box from the right and Kane's header narrowly rolls wide! What a chance!

57 - CHANCE! Eriksen's free kick, just to the left of the 'D', is tipped over the bar by Cech! A great dead ball from the Dane!

72 - CHANCE! A huge chance for Alli! The England mifdielder is gifted one-on-one with Cech from a Lamela pass and he tries to lift the ball over the 'keeper, but it rolls wide!

90+1’ CHANCE! Lacazette is unmarked in the area as a Bellerin cross comes in. The Frenchman completely fluffs it, volleying high into the sky! Oh, Alexandre.

90+3’ CHANCE! Arsenal push for the equaliser as Iwobi picks out a Lacazette run in the box. The Frenchman hits it first time and the ball rolls agonisingly wide! What. A. Chance!

Harry Kane has scored seven goals in seven Premier League games against Arsenal.

Tottenham have only lost one of their last eight matches against Arsenal (W3 D4).

Petr Cech has failed to keep a clean sheet in his last nine Premier League games—his longest ever run.