Still A Bridge Too Far For Tottenham?

49 seconds. That was how long it took the Gunners to stamp their class over their bitter rivals, Tottenham.

Before Robbie Keane had any time to reflect on his ambitious pre-match comments, his Tottenham side collapsed in astonishing fashion.

Two quick fire goals left Tottenham chasing an impossible game.

And when in form striker Robin Van Persie added the third, one could sense the boastfulness of Robbie Keane diminishing along with the dissipating Tottenham crowd at the Emirates Stadium.

For good measure, Redknapp started David Bentley, no doubt with the feverish hope that he can reproduce that majestic 40 metre strike which silenced the Gunners’ fans in the same fixture last year.

Alas, Bentley only had a ferocious free kick in the second half that brought out the acrobat in Almunia.

For much of the game, it was pretty much one way traffic for the Gunners. With Fabregas dominating in the midfield and Van Persie in red hot form, it was certain that a repeat of last season’s 4-4 drama was impossible.

Credit to Tottenham though. They matched Arsenal stride for stride in the first 40 minutes before Van Persie ghosted in behind King to draw first blood for the Gunners.

What followed thereafter was a comical chain of events which culminated in a Fabregas wonder goal. I strongly recommend that Redknapp tape this episode down and hand it on to the next author who wants to write a book on Basic Defending in Football.

It started with a sloppy pass from Palacios and he might as well had gift-wrapped the ball in glossy paper because Fabregas needed no second invitation to weave pass a static Tottenham defence to thump a scorcher pass Gomes.

More comedy ensued after half time when the Tottenham defenders forgot the basic rule of playing to the referee’s whistle. A low cross by Sagna completely eluded the diving Gomes and the lunging King and Van Persie gleefully tucked it away into the empty net.

Indeed it was now well and truly over for this courageous Tottenham side. They have now lost to three of the 'Top Four' – Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal.

If Redknapp is serious about turning Tottenham into a top four side, he has to rid his team of such mediocrity.

It is not the quality of Tottenham’s players, rather more of lack of ability to step up in a big match that is costing the team both their top four status and derby bragging rights.