Harry Kane guided Tottenham Hotspur to a 1-0 north London derby victory over Arsenal on Saturday.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino said he was proud of his side's performance in their 1-0 north London derby victory over Arsenal on Saturday but challenged his players to keep their fine form going.
Spurs were comfortable for the majority of the match at Wembley and should really have won by a more comfortable margin, having wasted several chances in the second half. However, Spurs had to survive late Arsenal pressure to take their tally from matches against Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal to seven -- form which moves them up to third in the Premier League table.
"We feel very proud. The performance was fantastic," Pochettino said. "The team played so well. The first 25-30 minutes of the second half we played amazing football and created a lot of chances. I am very pleased with our players. We have to keep going."
The Spurs boss added: "It is important for the belief of the team (to take seven points in those three games). Football is about trust, confidence and belief. Another clean sheet is good. I am so pleased because this was a key period to fight for the top four. The Champions League is a competition that excites us and the fans."
Wenger still eyeing top four
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said qualifying for next season’s Champions League via a Premier League top-four finish remained his priority after Arsenal slipped to a third league defeat in five games at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
Harry Kane’s second-half header gave Tottenham a 1-0 victory over their neighbours that left Arsenal five points behind fourth-placed Chelsea having played a game more. Manchester United secured a return to the Champions League by winning last year's Europa League and Arsenal are through to the last 32 of Europe's second-tier club competition.
“The priority remains being in the Champions League (qualification places) through the Premier League,” Wenger told reporters. “I am not a great fan of the Europa League winner qualifying for the Champions League - I think it is not right. If it is an opportunity we have to try to take it as well, but the priority remains the Premier League.”
Arsenal struggled to create real openings against Spurs at Wembley, mustering one shot on target all match, and Wenger pointed to their poor record of 15 goals on the road this season as an area of concern.
“Today was a game we couldn't afford to lose” Wenger added. “It makes it much more difficult now (finishing in top four), but we have to fight. There was more at stake in this game than just the derby, that’s why it is so disappointing. (Our away record) is very poor. Football is about scoring goals, and if you look at the numbers, compared to the top six, we do not score enough goals away from home.”
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Tottenham")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}