Tottenham defeated arch-rivals Arsenal 2-1 at White Hart Lane yesterday to move seven points clear of the Gunners in the Premier League table.

Arsenal started the brighter of the two teams. French striker Olivier Giroud had an effort saved by compatriot Hugo Lloris in the Spurs goal.

Vertonghen then denied Giroud with a sliding tackle. Arsenal were in control of the game early on, but lacked a cutting edge and killer pass. The Gunners were punished for their lack of incisiveness on 37 minutes.

Icelandic midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson played a superb ball through a gaping hole in the centre of the Gunners defence and Gareth Bale latched onto the ball, before firing confidently past Wojciech Szczesny.

Just two minutes later and the Arsenal defence slipped-up yet again. Scott Parker played another ball through the Arsenal defence and Aaron Lennon rounded Szczesny and fired into an empty net.

Arsenal came out stronger in the second half and got back into the game on 51 minutes. Theo Walcott played in a superb free-kick and Per Mertesacker glanced a header past Hugo Lloris, via a slight deflection off Gareth Bale.

Gunners full-back Nacho Monreal fired a volley wide, before Gareth Bale missed a glorious chance at the far post. Gylfi Sigurdsson tried to square to Bale when well-placed. Substitute Jermain Defoe fired wide and Bale fired an effort straight at Wojciech Szczesny.

Arsenal’s make-shift full-back Aaron Ramsey shot wide of Hugo Lloris’ goal, when a ball to a teammate may have been a better option. Theo Walcott fired a superb free-kick just wide, but Arsenal couldn’t find an equaliser, despite six minutes added on time due to an injury to Spurs midfielder Mousa Dembele.

The victory took Tottenham above Chelsea into third place in the Premier League table, two points above the Blues. The Gunners are five points behind Chelsea in the league table.

Can Arsenal still finish above Tottenham in the Premier League table?