So this week saw the Premiership move from a three- to a two-horse race, as Arsene Wenger’s battered Arsenal team succumbed to a determined Tottenham side at White Hart Lane. It was the first time Tottenham had beaten their bitter North London rivals in 20 attempts, stretching back to 1999.

The win leaves Arsenal six points behind leaders Chelsea and five behind Manchester United, and even Wenger concedes that another campaign is to end fruitless. The three points also keep alive Spurs’ hopes of taking the fourth Champions League spot – they are now just a point behind big spending Manchester City.

Aside from the result, the night was chiefly memorable for a stunning opening goal from league debutant Danny Rose after ten minutes. The nineteen-year-old latched onto what looked like a good punch out by Arsenal keeper Almunia. He caught it perfectly, showing excellent technique and watched it whistle by the astonished Spanish goalie.

Arsenal toiled away for the rest of the half but lacked any edge to their play and straight after half time Spurs extended the lead with a second from Gareth Bale. Wenger threw on Theo Walcott and later Robin van Persie. The latter was returning from a five month lay off after an ankle injury and immediately forced three excellent reaction saves from Gomez in the Tottenham goal. Eventually Bentner pulled one back for the Gunners to leave seven edgy minutes for Spurs to hold out.

In the end, Spurs’ excellent defence and combative midfield saw them through to a deserved victory, and Arsenal were left to rue the absence of their main striker for over half the season.

Spurs now find themselves in the role of Kingmaker, as they travel to Chelsea on Saturday and later on to Old Trafford, in a crucial string of three games that will make or break their season.

In a cruel twist, Arsenal’s Champions League tormentors of the last two weeks, Barcelona, scored a similar, but even more outrageous, goal against Deportivo la Coruna on the very same evening. In a week when Arsenal had fallen some way short of the very best, the shadows of Barcelona seemed to be everywhere.

Andrew Arnold is the newest addition to the Simply Futbol team. He will talk Premiership with our readers. You can also follow him @sweeny99.