1. Three points puts Tottenham in striking distance of top four
Tottenham are now in striking distance of the top four. A draw would have seriously hampered Tottenham’s progress, especially considering Watford’s current malaise. With the all-crucial win, Spurs jumped ahead of Manchester United by two points (same number of matches played), and find themselves just two points adrift of Arsenal, still with two matches in hand.
It looks like West Ham is on route to a victory over Crystal Palace, which will put the east Londoners a point ahead of Spurs. However, Tottenham will still have two matches in hand on their city rivals.
While points on the board are better than matches in hand, Spurs control their own destiny, which is all Conte can ask for at this stage of the season. Everyone knows the importance of beating teams at the bottom of the table, and Spurs can ill-afford to slip up against the likes of Watford. It’s just one more reason today’s victory is more meaningful than the three points Tottenham slapped on the board.