TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR extended the cushion between them and north London rivals Arsenal with a fine 1-0 victory at Wembley on Saturday in front of a record Premier League attendance of 83,222.

The Gunners succumbed to Premier League top goalscorer Harry Kane’s 23rd of the campaign. Conversely, Arsenal’s leading scorer Alexandre Lacazette failed to convert his team’s best chance after coming on as a substitute.

Arsene Wenger cited the strikers’ confidence level since losing his starting place to new signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

“Maybe it’s not at the highest because he has seen a competitor coming in for him but he created two chances. That is a quality in itself,” the Arsenal manager said of Lacazette.

After an even first half, Spurs came out swinging after the break, with the Gunners on the ropes. Ben Davies’s cross was met with timely perfection by Kane, rising high and nodding the ball back across goal, leaving Petr Cech rooted to the spot.

Minutes later the England striker went close to doubling his team’s lead with a similar chance. This time the striker lost his markers to reach Eric Dier’s cross but the ball skidded just wide of the post.

Kane may be unhappy not to have claimed the match ball for a hat-trick during a five-minute frenzy after the goal. His third chance, a well-struck volley, was denied by a good stop from Cech.

Spurs continued to probe and it wasn’t long until Cech was called into action again. Christian Eriksen’s free kick bound for the corner needed a fine save to the keeper’s right to keep it out.

Next it was Arsenal’s turn to test the goalkeeper when the ball fell to Jack Wilshere on the edge of the box. His curling left-footed effort required Hugo Lloris to leap to his right.

A lapse of Arsenal concentration then allowed Dele Alli through on goal but the England midfielder couldn’t find the back of the net.

A flurry of missed opportunities to put the game to bed nearly cost Spurs dearly when Lacazette missed a duo of injury-time chances that he may have buried on another day.

Defeat for Wenger leaves his side in sixth place in the league falling further behind in the race for European football next season and making their Europa League trip on Thursday to face Ostersunds even more important.

He denied that this result changes the team’s feelings towards Europa League. “I would have gone for it anyway”, he said. “I will play a normal team. Especially because we aren’t in the [FA] Cup, there is no reason to rest players.”