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 to 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 regards to a Champions League finish, but Mikel Arteta has regrouping work to do before the pivotal trip to Newcastle on Monday.
