Resounding Tottenham win keeps pressure on Arsenal in top four race

New look or not, Tottenham Hotspur brushed aside Newcastle United with a resounding 5-1 win, putting Spurs above Arsenal and keeping pressure on the Gunners.

Like a back and forth basketball team where the lead changes hands multiple times, we should expect Tottenham and Arsenal to battle until the season’s final days in the race for the top four. On Sunday, after Manchester United and West Ham drew level with Tottenham on points, Spurs thrashed Newcastle to move above all the competition and into fourth place.

With the table and the fixture list shrinking, Spurs have put the pressure squarely on Arsenal; now the question is how the Gunners will respond.

Gunners get two chances to jump Tottenham

The win against Newcastle was huge for Tottenham on Sunday as the three points kept Spurs in the top four race. Arsenal plays two matches before Spurs play again, meaning Tottenham could have conceivably been nine points back of fourth place by the time Spurs step onto the pitch at Villa Park next Saturday afternoon.

Instead, Spurs will, at worst be six points back of Arsenal and level on games with the win. If the Gunners slip up on either occasion, Tottenham is now in a position to pounce. Although Arsenal will not officially make up their Chelsea match for two more weeks, getting the games played to an equal place is a big deal.

Sure, Spurs learned that a game in hand, even against a relegation side, is not always worth three points; being level on matches makes it easier to compare apples to apples down the stretch.

Of course, almost everything is leading up to the north London derby whenever it is rescheduled. Until then, Spurs can only play the team in front of them and hope that the pressure they apply can get to Arsenal.