Sunday’s north London derby at White Hart Lane was a fine performance from an Arsenal team who despite being outplayed for most of the game were able to put in such a compelling defensive display that you must once again consider them challengers for the Premiership title.
Last season after being knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich, the Gunners were determined to finish in that all-important fourth spot, and did so by winning eight and drawing two of their last tem-matches.
Arsenal will face a much bigger test to their defensive resilience next weekend however when they come up against a stung Chelsea side reeling from Saturdays shock loss at Aston Villa with a point to prove knowing that nothing but a win will be enough to keep their title hopes alive.
Both Arsenal and Chelsea have the talent to make the match at Stamford Bridge an affair to remember but unfortunately it will most probably given the stakes involved turn out to be a match that neither side wants to lose rather than a match they are determined to win.
Yet while Spurs failed to unlock the defence of Koscielney and Mertesacker, Chelsea has the quality in Hazard and Oscar to do just that.
As an outsider looking in you have to think that one goal in this game will be enough to secure the three-points with Chelsea equally as capable of defending a one goal lead as Arsenal did against Spurs.
Liverpool meanwhile threw down the gauntlet with their impressive display against Manchester United and must now be considered challengers for the title.
They of course will be quite happy to see Chelsea and Arsenal share the points while they hope to come away with three-points from Cardiff City.
Meanwhile Manchester City should easily take all three points in their home game against struggling Fulham.
This of course all adds up to one of the best Premiership title race finishes we have seen in years.
