Jose Mourinho said Tottenham have “grown up” to become Premier League title contenders after Harry Kane and Son Heung-min combined again to beat Arsenal 2-0 and move back top of the table on Sunday.
A crowd of 2,000 Tottenham fans were in attendance for the first time in nine months to enjoy seeing their side inflict another blow to a rapidly unravelling season for the Gunners.
Spurs are unbeaten in 10 league games and have taken seven points from a difficult run against Manchester City, Chelsea and their north London rivals over the past three games.
Just how good was this strike from Son Heung-Min for Tottenham against Arsenal last night?
— The Field (@thefield_in) December 7, 2020
💥🤯
🎥 : Spurs / Twitter pic.twitter.com/nQQQfCmvGo
“We grew up. I can imagine lots of people can imagine three matches in a row against Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal, would be a moment for us to drop points and go back to normality,” said Mourinho. “But we didn’t go back to normality. We are there. I believe one more week at the top of the table unless Liverpool win by many.”
Mourinho’s men moved two points clear of Chelsea at the summit, but Liverpool can move level on points at the top with victory over Wolves later at Anfield.
A first league title in 60 years for Tottenham may depend on keeping Kane and Son fit as they have hit a combined 27 goals in all competitions this season.
The South Korean opened the scoring in stunning fashion as he collected Kane’s pass down the left and cut inside to curl into the top corner.
That was the 10th of Son’s 13 goals this season for which Kane provided the assist.
By contrast, Arsenal have scored just 10 goals in 11 league games all season and despite plenty of intricate build-up play, Mikel Arteta’s men again failed to provide any cutting edge in the final third.
“We have to score goals. If not, it’s unsustainable” said Arteta, whose side are languishing in 15th after a fifth defeat in seven games.
‘He makes me look good’
The difference between the teams was summed up in first-half stoppage time as from what appeared a dangerous Arsenal attack, one long ball set Spurs on a four against two break as Thomas Partey had already pulled up with an injury.
Son took his time before feeding Kane, who smashed in off the underside of the bar from a narrow angle to become the all-time top goalscorer in north London derbies.
“That’s exactly what we set out for,” said Kane. “Sonny and I are feeling good. When he’s picking up passes and sticking it top bins, he makes me look good!
“For us it’s one game at a time, but results like this and the last couple of weeks will only help us.”
Arteta was angry at Partey for not saying on the field and leaving his side exposed.
The Ghanaian came to the side of the pitch waiting to be substituted after suffering a recurrence of a thigh injury as Spurs raced up the field.
“I applaud their first goal, it is world class, but the second goal we are a man down, we leave a massive gap and they take advantage. He has to stay on the pitch. It looks like the same injury he has already had.”
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is still to score a Premier League goal from open play since signing a lucrative new contract worth a reported £55 million ($73 million) over three years in September.
The closest the Arsenal captain came to breaking his drought was a header from Kieran Tierney’s excellent cross that Aubameyang headed over.
Hugo Lloris twice saved from Alexandre Lacazette headers low to his right as Arsenal camped in the Spurs half for the second period without any reward.
The visitors enjoyed 68 percent possession and had more shots on goal, but did not have the class in front of goal shown by Kane and Son to make the difference.
(Report by AFP)
Here are some reactions to Mourinho’s masterclass and Spurs’ superb season so far:
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗢𝗡 & 𝗞𝗔𝗡𝗘 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗪
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 6, 2020
(North London Derby Edition) #THFC ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/6QXiOucOSN
Cristiano Ronaldo in LaLiga under Mourinho:
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) December 7, 2020
⬢ 106 games
⬢ 120 goals
⬢ 33 assists
Karim Benzema in LaLiga under Mourinho:
⬡ 97 games
⬡ 47 goals
⬡ 23 assists
Has José found his new counter-attacking kings? 👑 pic.twitter.com/0P4BK0fhrY
Jose Mourinho's league finishes during his second season:
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) December 6, 2020
Porto - 1st 🏆
Chelsea - 1st 🏆
Inter Milan - 1st 🏆
Real Madrid - 1st 🏆
Chelsea - 1st 🏆
Man United - 2nd 🥈
Spurs - Currently 1st ⏳ pic.twitter.com/qGeawpKS70
That might be the most magnificently model Mourinho match I’ve marvelled at in many a moon.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) December 6, 2020
How do Harry Kane and Heung-min Son compare to Mourinho's best players from the past? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/A7WYZJaJoh
— Goal (@goal) December 7, 2020
I can’t believe I was actually confident watching Tottenham defend a 2-0 lead last night for the first time. What is José Mourinho doing to this club?
— Noz Ahmed (@NozAhmed) December 7, 2020
⭐️ Man of the Match, @SpursOfficial’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) December 6, 2020
61 touches
Completed 35/44 passes
5 clearances
3 interceptions
16 duels, won 8
8x possession gained
Only outfield player to play every minute in PL for Spurs this season pic.twitter.com/GksnJFZ6mv
🇵🇹 Jose Mourinho makes a point that this is the new normal for Spurs:
— Last Word On Spurs🎙 (@LastWordOnSpurs) December 6, 2020
🗣"Many people would think Man City, Chelsea and Arsenal would be a moment for us to drop points & go back to 'normality' we didn't go back to normality.”#THFC #COYS #DerbyDay #TOTARSpic.twitter.com/ftOOz0SlZ4
Mourinho beat Pep and Pep Lite 2-0.
— Deji Faremi (@deejayfaremi) December 6, 2020
Spurs were watertight at the back, devastating in attack.
— gunnerblog (@gunnerblog) December 6, 2020
Arsenal's second half domination feels irrelevant to me - they held us at arm's length the whole time.
Serge Aurier’s resurgence under Jose Mourinho has been unbelievable. One of, if not the best right-back in the league this season.#COYS #THFC pic.twitter.com/I36LCQziMa
— The Spurs Express (@TheSpursExpress) December 6, 2020
"It was a complete performance. 50% is organisation. 50% is desire, commitment, solidarity."
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 6, 2020
📺 Hear from a 𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬 happy Jose Mourinho...#THFC ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/kDhWZVg8Ka
Tottenham historically have been called a weak minded bottle job team who can’t win ugly or get the job done in big games. Now Jose is trying to fix that and he is also criticised. Now it’s style 🥱 Is this fear I smell?
— Paul O Keefe (@pokeefe1) December 7, 2020
Tottenham vs the ‘big 6’ this season in the Premier League:
— The Spurs Express (@TheSpursExpress) December 6, 2020
Manchester United 6-1 win
Manchester City 2-0 win
Chelsea 0-0 draw
Arsenal* 2-0 win
10 goals scored
1 goal conceded (a penalty)
*Not sure if we should include Arsenal anymore 🤣#COYS #THFC pic.twitter.com/zh1e5oFw3N
For all the talk of being 'a tough watch', Mourinho's tactics have seen Spurs score more goals in the first 11 matches of this season than they did in the first 11 matches of any other season bar one since the mid 60s.
— James Maw (@JamesTMaw) December 6, 2020
Are you not entertained?#THFC ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/As4NBHmMdR
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 6, 2020