Arsene Wenger's Gunners fail to fire at Wembley as their top four hopes suffer a huge blow with his side now winless in their last 16 away games against current top five
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HARRY KANE secured the bragging rights for Tottenham in the North London derby against Arsenal.
The England striker bagged his 32nd goal of the season to just moments after half time to fire Spurs up to third.
The result piles more misery on the Gunners, who have now lost their last three away games.
Kane had the best chance of a tame first half at Wembley but headed over the bar as the contest remained deadlocked at the break.
But four minutes into the second period the hotshot pounced.
Spurs full-back Ben Davies whipped in an early cross, and Kane rose above Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny to head the ball down past Petr Cech and into the net.
Gunners ‘keeper Cech, who has not kept a clean sheet in his last nine Prem matches, was called into action again soon after.
The former Chelsea man did well to deny first Kane and then Kieran Trippier from extending the lead.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was having his first taste of the derby, but alongside his team-mates, they failed to get a shot on target until deep into the second period.
Jack Wilshere, who impressed again in the Gunners midfield, unleashed a stunning long-range effort that forced Hugo Lloris into a smart save.
Arsene Wenger introduced Alexandre Lacazette from the bench in an attempt to try and at least claim a point.
And the Frenchman had two chances to make himself a hero but spurned both opportunities.
First the 26-year-old scooped a shot high over the bar in the dying stages.
And then deep into injury time he rolled a shot wide of the goal, much to the despair of the few remaining visiting supporters.
Arsenal’s chances of finishing in the top four are now severely dented, with Wenger’s men currently six off Liverpool and five behind fifth-placed Chelsea.
Tensions threatened to boil over after the full time whistle as Wilshere and Erik Lamela had to be separated by their team-mates.
The result also ensured that they extended an unwanted record against the big boys.
The Gunners are winless in their last 16 Prem away matches against the current top five sides.
Despite the latest setback, Wenger insists his men will not give up on their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.
He said:
"In the first half we missed three or four opportunities on the counter attack which is difficult to swallow, always the final ball. We contained them to very little.
"Once they scored you could see we were wobbling and they could have scored more but in the last 10 minutes we should have come back to 1-1.
"The first goal was key and we conceded it. Kane made the difference, that's what he's about. I have seen the replay, it is no foul, just good centre-forward play. We can only look at ourselves.
"It will be more difficult to finish in the top four but we have to fight for it."
And after Kane’s latest match-winning display, Pochettino says he could not be happier to have the star in his side.
Poch said: "First half both teams had good energy but they were so compact it was hard to find the space. We dominated but we did not create much.
"Second half with the same shape we were much better. We found space and created problems and after 20 minutes it should be 3-0. In football if you don't kill the game you will concede chances and suffer.
"I am so happy to win. We have had three massive games against United, Liverpool and Arsenal and seven points is good.
"Harry Kane is not old fashioned, he is the present and the future. We are so proud that he is in our side."
