Alli and Kane give rampant Tottenham the perfect final north London derby at White Hart Lane
Tottenham ensured a first league finish above Arsenal for 22 years by beating the Gunners 2-0 in the last north London derby at White Hart Lane.
Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen were both guilty of horror first-half misses as the hosts started in scintillating fashion.
But Alli and Harry Kane produced a rapid-fire double in the space of three minutes to put the dominant hosts on course for three points.
And the win kept the gap between Spurs and league leaders Chelsea at four points with four games remaining.
Kane gave the visitors a sign of things to come, after forcing Petr Cech into a fine save after just 30 seconds from a tight angle.
Tottenham, under added pressure to win after Chelsea saw off Everton, started in fearless fashion and Belgium international Toby Alderweireld was next to have an effort, heading wide at the near post from a corner.
But it was Alli who should have opened the scoring for the hosts, after Kane’s deflected cross found the 21-year-old less than six yards out but he contrived to head wide of an empty net.
AS IT HAPPENED: White Hart Lane hosts its last ever north London derby
And somehow Christian Eriksen, involved in 16 goals in his previous 12 games, emulated Alli’s miss just a couple of minutes later after Heung-min Son’s scintillating run and shot deflected into the path of the midfielder, but again with the goal gaping he managed to volley over, via the top of the crossbar.
Aaron Ramsey offered Arsenal their first glimpse of goal when the Welshman curled an effort at goal, which required a full-length save from Hugo Lloris.
Alexis Sanchez, who scored the Gunners’ FA Cup winner last weekend, was next to offer Arsene Wenger’s men an opportunity when he picked out Kieran Gibbs, but the left wing-back fired well over on his weaker right foot.
The Chilean then clipped an effort just wide of the far post, as the visitors looked to rally towards half time, but Jan Vertonghen came the closest to breaking the deadlock with a fine curling shot which Cech had to tip wide in first-half injury time.
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Arsenal started the second half in more ambitious fashion but again it was Spurs who nearly opened the scoring, with Victor Wanyama forcing Cech into another great save before Son struck the side netting.
Alli made amends for his first-half miss 10 minutes after the break after Eriksen waltzed through Arsenal’s defence and forced a save, but the England international turned the ball home on the rebound.
Less than a minute later, Kane doubled the hosts’ lead with his 21st league goal of the season from the penalty spot, having won the foul from a clumsy tackle from Brazilian defender Gabriel.
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Giroud then fired at Lloris, before the French goalkeeper had to be alert to keep Sanchez out.
Cech, at times the only Arsenal player keeping the hosts at bay, had to produce a wonderful save to deny Vertonghen from the edge of the box before Kane headed wide.
Kane could have made it three but for yet another brilliant save from Cech, after Wanyama picked out the striker in the box, before Cech again made a stunning save from the resulting corner – keeping out Alderweireld this time.
Theo Walcott, on as a second half substitute, side-footed straight at Lloris as the visitors attempted to salvage a goal but in truth Arsenal were well outplayed from the start, and the result might’ve been far more emphatic but for Cech’s heroics.