They celebrated like they had won the league at White Hart Lane again.
Arsenal won the title at the home of their deadliest rivals in 1971 and 2004 and this felt like a huge step towards winning the Premier League for the first time in 19 years. Mikel Arteta’s men are now eight points clear at the top, the bookies have made them favourites for the first time and it is easy to see why.
Arsenal were magnificent. They were streets ahead of Tottenham, will rarely have a more comfortable win in the North London Derby and bossed the game in every department. Thomas Partey ran the midfield, Martin Odegaard was outstanding again and the Gunners have a resilience in defence which suggests they are strong enough to see the job through.
Tottenham were woeful by comparison as their magnificent stadium was virtually empty by the end apart from the away section, where supporters celebrated wildly while the home fans took out their anger on Arsenal’s jubilant players. Tottenham deserve the harshest punishment after a fan somehow kicked Aaron Ramsdale in the back at the final whistle in an ugly melee which will surely lead to a Football Association charge.
It was a shameful end to a feisty one-sided derby which also highlighted just how far Arsenal have come under Arteta this season. Eight months ago, Arsenal crumbled at White Hart Lane under pressure and blew a top-four place. This time, the pressure was on to take advantage of Manchester City’s slip-up at Old Trafford and they were superb as they played brilliantly in the first half and then defended resolutely after the break.
It was owed in part to yet another howler from Tottenham captain Hugo Lloris, but the bigger picture is more of a worry for Spurs because they have lost their way under Antonio Conte. Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale made some super saves in the second half but they never remotely looked like blowing their two-goal half time lead.
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Now, it is clear that Arsenal are here for the long haul. No one is dismissing them anymore as a flash in the pan or just keeping City’s seat warm. They look the real deal. Their biggest enemy is probably themselves and whether they will have enough strength in depth when the fixture list gets more intense and the games mount up.
But there should be less reason to doubt them because they keep on passing every test and hurdle. This felt like a big one because Tottenham were desperate to stop them taking a significant step to winning the Premier League. They were superb from the start as Tottenham started looking vulnerable - and quickly got worse as it looked like Partey, Bukao Saka and Odegaard were joined on a string, such was their telepathic understanding.
Arsenal took a 14th-minute lead through a gift from Lloris. Saka was always Arsenal’s out ball and he cut in from the right, his cross took a slight deflection off Ryan Sessegnon, the ball totally caught out Lloris and he spilled it into his own net. Odegaard went close again, Party smashed a shot against the post and it was only a matter of time before the second after 36 minutes.
William Saliba headed clear, Partey spread the ball wide to Saka and his pass inside found Odegaard. The Arsenal captain let fly from outside the box and, again, questions might be asked of Lloris, who was beaten by a long-range shot.
It was easy. Tottenham tried to muster a fightback after half-time but Ramsdale saved from Sessegnon and Harry Kane. Arsenal were even showboating as Gabriel Martinelli controlled the ball on his back and Granit Xhaka played a no-look pass.
Maybe that was what upset Tottenham at the end. But there still should be no excuses.
