So, another premier league weekend, another load of talking points. A loss for Phil Brown at Hull means it won't be long before he can spend weekends working on his perma-tan instead of pretending to manage a football team. A loss for Rafa Benitez and Liverpool means...well, nothing really, he's got tenure, or so it seems. There were nine red cards too which just goes to show nothing at all.


Arsenal entertained another non-entity, some team from a couple of miles away. Barnet, maybe. I forget. Anyway, it was far more comfortable than the 3-0 scoreline would have you believe. Suggestions that Barnet have a much better squad than Arsenal were made to look very silly indeed.


I jest, it was of course the North London derby, the 162nd one at that, and it was little Robbie Keane who tried to claim that Tottenham are not only a match for Arsenal, but even have more strength in depth. Point well made Robbie. Good thing you put in the kind of performance to back up such a bold assertion. It's just a shame that Arsenal were much, much better, and that you and your team were in fact rubbish.


Tottenham's long held belief that a place in the top four is tantalisingly close was dealt another blow early Saturday afternoon by a team who are, at least at home, flying. Spurs have been beaten by Chelsea, Manchester United and now Arsenal (they did beat Liverpool, but then so did Sunderland), conceding 9 and scoring 1. They haven't won away at any of those four clubs since 1993. In their defence, Lennon, Modric, Defoe and Woodgate, possibly their four best players, were ineligible through suspension and injury, but surely this allowed Arsenal to test Keane's belief that Tottenham have a better squad. Harry Redknapp was able to call on players like Jenas and er, Bentley, the latter's return to his former club marred by the fact that he did nothing except hoof the ball up to Crouch every time it came near him. Thank you David for reminding us all just why Arsene was happy to let you leave.


I shouldn't overstate Tottenham's incompetence. For 42 minutes everything went to plan for the men in white. Arsenal's attacks were largely ineffective, and Spurs soaked up most of the pressure exerted on them. There were just two notable chances. Song denied Robbie Keane at one end with a great last ditch tackle (Song was great by the way, really calm in the middle and performed both his and Diaby's duties with consumate ease). Then Cesc Fabregas steered Arshavin's deflected shot goalwards, and just as the ball seemed certain to find the back of the net Gomes made a fine one handed save to keep it out. The first half seemed destined to end goaless; but a quick throw from Sagna down by the corner flag was returned to him and he was given the space to smash a good cross right into the danger area. Van Persie (who else?) was on hand to get in front of Ledley King and squeeze it past Gomes. Great technique from the Dutchman, who is finally and deservedly being mentioned in the same breath as Rooney, Torres and Drogba as one of the great premier league strikers.


If the first goal caught Tottenham napping, the second one caught them with their pants down, and gave them a kick up the arse for good measure. If you've not seen it, I suggest you go watch it now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPAvxAgr-aU
You don't score goals like that unless you really really want to, and Fabregas clearly has that desire and conviction so often lacking from this team in past seasons. Two sucker punches from Arsenal, and two fingers to Tottenham.


It didn't get much better for Spurs either. Everyone stopped when Eduardo got taken out next to the touchline, but Sagna was the first to react to Mark Clattenburg's clever advantage and another good delivery (he must have been practicing) wasn't dealt with by keeper or defender allowing Van Persie to tap into an empty net. Woeful defending. You almost felt sorry for them. Almost.


It could have been worse, as chances were created and wasted. In the end Tottenham were lucky to escape a thrashing. The gap between Arsenal and Tottenham might not be as big as it once was, but based on this evidence, Redknapp's men are not ready to bridge it just yet.


Arsenal rumble on though, a midweek win against AZ should all but secure a berth in the next round of the Champions League and going into this weekend's game in Wolverhampton the team should be brimming with confidence. Tottenham, on the other hand, might just have a large, Fabregas shaped dent in theirs.