Publications
Partners
London - Harry Kane has moved closer to an England call-up by scoring twice as Tottenham Hotspur leapfrogged Arsenal in the Premier League table with a 2-1 win over their bitter rivals.
Kane has now scored 22 goals this season, and with England manager Roy Hodgson watching, he was the name on everyone's lips as Spurs claimed victory at a jubilant White Hart Lane on Saturday.
The 21-year-old's brace enhanced his growing reputation and with Champions League qualification set to go to the wire, Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino is hopeful that Kane will prove the difference.
"Harry showed he is perhaps the best goalscorer in the competition," Pochettino said after a result that left Spurs below fourth-place Manchester United on goal difference, having played a game more.
"His quality and potential are massive, but he has more to learn and we will help him to do that. If the manager (Hodgson) thinks Harry is good enough for the national team, I am happy, but it is his decision.
"Harry is a great player and he gave a great performance. He can still improve and his potential is massive, but he is in a very good moment, which is fantastic and I congratulate him."
Pochettino knows that Tottenham are potentially on course to finish above Arsenal in the table for the first time in two decades.
Spurs have lost only once in their last 10 league games and subjected Arsenal to a vicious onslaught after falling behind to Mesut Ozil's 11th-minute volley.
Kane equalised in the 56th minute, tapping in after David Ospina parried a header from Mousa Dembele, and then rose to meet Nabil Bentaleb's cross with a glorious, match-winning header four minutes from time.
Tottenham travel to Liverpool on Tuesday and Pochettino hopes the effects of a bruising derby battle will not upset their hopes of a top-four finish.
"We need to keep playing the same way. We know it will not be easy to keep all the players fit, but this is our challenge," he said.
"I don't know how my players will be, but we will analyse the situation with the medical staff and that will be the key.
"I never look at the table because sometimes it can be confusing. We just have to fight and continue to play our way."
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who tasted defeat in his 700th league game in the dug-out, believes the fight for Champions League qualification will go to the final day of the season.
Arsenal are back in action at home to bottom club Leicester City on Tuesday and Wenger is seeking an instant response from his players.
"It leaves us with a massive disappointment to swallow first and then to prepare for the next game," said the Frenchman, who was once again without injured top scorer Alexis Sanchez.
"We've played two more away games than Spurs. They've played 13 at home, 11 away; we've played 13 away and 11 at home. It is down to our home form.
"We know we can win away, but it will be a battle every year, which it has been with Spurs. We just must focus on us as lots of teams are battling to get in there.
"We play Leicester who are fighting hard to stay up, so it won't be easy. We must be ready to respond."
