Tottenham Stumble vs. West Ham, but Premier League Title Challenge Survives

Tottenham's 1-0 defeat in a chaotic London derby against West Ham could have been a body blow to their title hopes. 

A confident victory for Arsenal over Swansea City would have been the perfect preparation for the Gunners' weekend trip to White Hart Lane.

Similarly, Manchester City could have pulled themselves back into the conversation with a win against Liverpool. 

Fortunately for Spurs, both City and Arsenal failed to exploit West Ham's victory, and so the chasing pack remains unchanged. 

It was an uncharacteristic performance from Spurs in a number of ways. 

They began poorly and were out-enthused by the home side. 

Mauricio Pochettino's side have risen to become contenders for the title on the back of their seemingly limitless energy, but it was the Hammers who won virtually every effort test. 

Struggling to make the short, quick passes that usually characterise their build-up on a bobbly Upton Park pitch, Tottenham were wasteful in possession. 

Once behind, they showed none of the poise that has made them the league's best chasers. No other team has won more points from a losing position, but Spurs appeared panicked and devoid of the confidence that record should provide. 

Spurs are the second-most prolific shooting side in the division (according to WhoScored) but managed no attempts on West Ham's goal in the first half. 

They were fortunate to only trail by a single goal at the break. 

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There was a significant improvement in the second half, but the performance was still far below the level required to overturn Slaven Bilic's determined Hammers. 

Pochettino made five changes from the team that beat Swansea on Sunday, and that may explain a degree of the disjointedness that marked out this display, but there was also evidence of a team fatigued by a brutal fixture calendar. 

This was Spurs' sixth match in 17 days. By contrast, West Ham were playing only their fourth in 18 days, and one of those was an FA Cup tie for which they rotated heavily. 

The divergent energy levels on display are more understandable in that context. 

Now all eyes turn to White Hart Lane. Saturday's north London derby is arguably the most significant since 1971. 

In that season, Arsenal clinched the title on the final day at White Hart Lane. 

The Gunners also secured the championship in 2004 at the same venue, but they finished 11 points clear that season. 

Victory for Tottenham in this match would give them a six-point lead over their eternal rivals along with a substantial goal difference advantage, effectively making the gap seven. 

With nine matches remaining, it would not be an insurmountable gulf, but it would represent an immense psychological victory.

Arsenal have entered what seems to be an annual tailspin, and the timing of this derby allows Pochettino's men the opposition to put their collective feet on the Gunners' throats. 

The 1994-95 season was the last time that Spurs finished above Arsenal in the Premier League, and there have been a number of false dawns in the intervening decades. 

There have been two good chances for Tottenham to break that streak, but none better than this season. 

In 2005 and 2012, Spurs confirmed their carefully constructed reputation of being a club that valued style over substance. 

They lost their nerve in both seasons despite holding what should have been decisive advantages. 

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Arsenal have lost goalkeeper Petr Cech and defender Laurent Koscielny for this vital clash, according to Michael Kelleher of Sky Sports.

They've lost three consecutive matches in all competitions, and they were the inferior team in this season's first derby.

Spurs missed that chance, and they must take this one.  

Both teams suffered setbacks in their mid-week defeats, but Tottenham's appears less serious, while Arsenal's could well be fatal. 

Either this is the year that Pochettino's exciting, young team shatter the "lads, it's Tottenham" reputation or confirm it in the most brutal way imaginable.  

The stakes of this derby could not be higher.