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Harry Kane believes both he and attacking partner Son Heung-min are entering the prime of their careers after their goals helped Tottenham overcome arch-rivals Arsenal and return to the top of the Premier League table.
The deadly double act were at the heart of another impressive win and both were on the scoresheet as Jose Mourinho’s side took control of the game by the interval.
Son, 28, and Kane, who is a year younger, have now combined for 31 Premier League goals, the second most of any duo behind former Chelsea players Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard (36).
Eleven of those goals have come in this campaign and Kane told Sky Sports: “We’re both at an age now where we’re coming into maybe in our prime in terms of understanding the game and understanding each other.
“When I’m passing him through and he’s cutting inside and whipping them into the top bins it is an easy game for me.”
Mourinho hailed the pair as “world class” and once again highlighted their strong work ethic.
“Kane clearing balls in the box, Sonny for the first 60 minutes as a winger and then a second striker – it is not just about scoring goals and being world-class players,” he said. “It is about being great guys and doing your best for the team.”
Spurs fans were back inside their vast stadium for the first time in 277 days and were celebrating after only 13 minutes when Son took Kane’s pass, advancing on the retreating Arsenal defence before curling a magnificent right-foot finish beyond diving Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno from 25 yards.
Arsenal dominated possession in the first half but it was Spurs who had the ruthless, clinical edge as they caught the Gunners on the break in stoppage time, Son repaying the compliment by playing in Kane for an unstoppable finish off the underside of the crossbar for his 11th north London derby goal and the 250th of his career for clubs and country.
Mikel Arteta’s side, who lost Thomas Partey to injury right on half-time, showed a little more threat after the break but Spurs closed out the win with relative ease to return to the Premier League summit.
Tottenham have that title look
In a season which has already had many twists and turns, the consistency, clinical approach and relentless efficiency of Spurs under manager Jose Mourinho means they carry all the hallmarks of a side who will have a big say in the Premier League title race.
It would be hugely premature to suggest this is the Spurs team who will end the wait for a title that will stretch back 60 years by the end of this season, but Mourinho is a manager who knows how it is done, has been successful over the course and distance with Chelsea and is presiding over the development of a seriously impressive squad.
Spurs did a comprehensive job on Arsenal in the same manner as they overcame the likes of Manchester City here recently, showing a brilliance in front of goal backed up by the sort of mean-spirited defensive organisation that is the Mourinho trademark.
They have undoubted world class in attack, as Son and Kane proved once more, combining with each other to lethal effect as both creators and scorers.
Once again there was no need for Mourinho to employ the services of Gareth Bale, who contented himself with regular warm-ups to the acclaim of the 2,000 Spurs fans who were able to see him in person for the first time since his loan move from Real Madrid.
Spurs are bursting with confidence and that superb attack allied to a concrete-clad defence is a very potent combination, with summer signing Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg absolutely outstanding as the sentry between defence and attack.
Mourinho again played down Tottenham’s title chances, but conceded that the team was in a good position.
“We can lose everywhere in the Premier League, we can go to any team and lose, any team can come here and beat us,” he said.
“Of course people could expect this past three matches [against Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal], three or four points or six and lose one. We did seven [points], we didn’t concede one goal against phenomenal teams.
“We are top of the league for one more week, which is good fun.”
Arsenal’s misery continues
Arsenal languish in 15th place in the Premier League after this north London derby defeat which exposed them as lacking in threat and currently well adrift of their fiercest adversaries.
The Gunners are 11 points adrift of Spurs and there was no evidence here to suggest this gap will be closing any time soon.
Arteta’s side had 62% possession in the first half but were caught out on the break twice by Son and Kane, surely a danger he had warned his players about in advance.
Arteta almost sprinted along the touchline in anxiety as Son advanced for Spurs’ first goal, showing more urgency than his defence as they stood off and allowed this world-class operator to deliver a superb finish.
Arsenal were slightly more of a threat after the break but Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris only needed to make two routine saves and one of Arteta’s biggest concerns will be the form of his biggest names.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was anonymous, as he has been most of the time since signing his new contract, while 32-year-old Willian, secured on a highly expensive deal from Chelsea in the summer, looked a spent force as he was easily outmuscled on many occasions.
It is early days for Arteta – and he has an FA Cup win as insurance – but this sixth defeat of the season demonstrated again the scale of his task and how far away Arsenal currently are from challenging at the top end of the table.
