Tottenham heaped the pressure on rivals Arsenal as they moved into the top four with a 5-1 demolition of Newcastle.
Arsenal have two games in hand and can go back ahead of their north London rivals by avoiding defeat at Crystal Palace on Monday, but the Gunners will be sitting less comfortably tonight following a devastating second-half display from Antonio Conte’s side.
Two quick-fire goals at the end of the first-half saw the teams go in level at half-time but Spurs blew the visitors away after the break, with Harry Kane orchestrating a superb attacking display, despite not being among their five scorers.
After a tricky first half against a well-drilled Magpies side, Spurs showed impressive character, responding to Fabian Schar’s 39th-minute goal from a direct free-kick with an equaliser inside four minutes as Ben Davies headed home Heung-min Son’s cross.
It could prove to be one of the most important goals in Spurs’ season, immediately reversing the momentum and giving Spurs a platform to run riot in the second half.
The majestic Kane was at the heart of everything and his cross was nodded home by Matt Doherty three minutes after the restart.
The England captain was also central to the third goal, playing a quick one-two with Dejan Kulusevski, who crossed for Son to finish from close-range, as Spurs’ front three continued their impressive form. Between them, Kane, Son and Kulusevsi have directly contributed to 27 goals in the last eight matches and the Swede – along with Rodrigo Bentancur – have had a transformative effect since arriving in January.
The gloss was supplied by fringe players Emerson Royal and Steven Bergwijn, the Brazilian bundling home Doherty’s deflected cross for his first Spurs goal before Bergwijn made it five, running on to a pass from fellow substitute Lucas Moura and finishing low under Martin Dubravka.
Conte will be particularly pleased with his players’ quick response to Schar’s goal and the fact that so many of his squad players contributed to an emphatic and important win, which should concern their top-four rivals.
Conte selection calls justified
Conte was forced to alter his XI for the first time in four matches when Sergio Reguilon failed a late fitness test, joining Ryan Sessegnon on the sidelines.
Emerson came in at right wing-back with Doherty switching to the left.
The pair were ineffective as wing-backs at the start of the year and you wondered if the decision would blunt both flanks, particularly with Bergwijn and Moura potentially more exciting options.
Doherty spent the first half cutting inside on his preferred right foot, leaving Spurs short of penetration down the left, while Emerson offered little in the way of thrust or a final ball from the other side.
But Conte resisted making changes and his faith was rewarded as the pair were decisive in the second half.
Doherty scored Spurs’ all-important second goal, showing great desire to get in front of his man and stoop to head home Kane’s cross at the back post.
He then turned provider for Emerson, stepping inside from the touchline and sending a deflected cross to the near post where the Brazilian bundled home.
There are few things Conte likes more than his wing-backs combining for goals, and the moment was further evidence that Spurs are clicking under the Italian.
His well-established patterns in the final third are bearing fruit, meaning Spurs were able to cope without having a natural left-sided player in the XI.
Son’s goal was also one in Conte’s image and Spurs’ development under the Italian bodes particularly well for the run-in.
