Harry Kane double sees off 10-man Arsenal to boost Spurs’ top-four chances

For Antonio Conte, the delight lay in the dominance. It was physical, his Tottenham players running all over their Arsenal rivals; battering them, pounding them into submission. It was psychological, the visitors seeming to crumble in the face of a ferociously intense atmosphere. And it was tactical, Conte’s approach looking quick and incisive; easy on the eye.

Spurs knew that they had to win to keep alive their hopes of pipping Arsenal into fourth place. They did that and more. This was a statement performance and one to seriously test their nearest and not so dearest. Arsenal do retain control of their destiny, with a regards to a Champions League finish, but Mikel Arteta has regrouping work to do before the pivotal trip to Newcastle on Monday.

Son Heung-min tormented the Arsenal defence, winning a penalty that Harry Kane converted for 1-0 and spooking Rob Holding to such an extent that the centre-half was sent off for two fouls on him before the 33rd minute was up. Kane would score again, Son added the third and the home crowd came together in appreciation of Conte towards the end.

It is fair to say that everyone had been waiting for this. Since mid-January, when the original fixture was postponed after an application by Arsenal, who had a selection crisis. And, more broadly, since the stadium opened. At long last, the derby here could pulse to the rhythms of a sell-out. There was quite the noise inside the bowl – the acoustics really are something – and the Spurs fans in the South Stand had spelled out what they wanted in a striking tifo. Dare, Dream, Do. They got their wish during a first half which had an almost gladiatorial feel.

It was Spurs who won the duels and it came to feel as if the occasion was too hot for