Tottenham have not beaten Arsenal in the league for 10 years and, while their line-up has changed in that time, the habit of defeat in the derby fixture has become entrenched. The visitors were almost insistent that Arsène Wenger’s team should score each of their goals.

Arsenal, for all their accomplishment, did not even have the opportunity to look that suave when the opposition were making such rudimentary errors.

In the 42nd minute, Bacary Sagna tossed a throw-in to Cesc Fábregas, took the return and rolled a low cross towards the near post, where Robin van Persie got in front of Ledley King for the first of his two goals. Heurelho Gomes was beaten easily by the low finish.

It will have been still more disturbing for Harry Redknapp that his line-up should be in disarray from the kick-off. Arsenal doubled their advantage in 11 seconds. Once Wilson Palacios had kicked the ball against Van Persie, Fábregas broke away from Tom Huddlestone and King before shooting low beyond the right hand of Gomes.

Tottenham were not uniformly abject, but they had lost the capacity to protect themselves.

After 61 minutes, both sides paused as referee Mark Clattenburg played an advantage following a foul on the substitute Eduardo. Arsenal, predictably, were quicker to return to action.

Sagna put a low ball into the middle and Gomes’ touch seemed to tip the cross away from King so that Van Persie could tuck the ball into the net for his second goal. Tottenham’s demoralisation was almost tangible.

Robbie Keane, who had mused beforehand that his club might now have a better squad than Arsenal’s, was taken off in the 65th minute, leaving the captain to begin a period of reflection that will be shared by everyone at White Hart Lane.

Premier LeagueArsenalTottenham HotspurKevin McCarraguardian.co.uk