The sight of a manager prowling the touchline and venomously throwing his jacket at the bench would usually suggest unease about the way his team is performing.   But when Arsene Wenger vented his fury on his clothing at the Emirates last Saturday, Arsenal weren’t exactly struggling in their North London derby against Tottenham. In fact, they were cruising through what was perceived to be a tricky assignment for the Gunners.   However, the Frenchman was mindful of the way his side squandered a two-goal lead at West Ham a week earlier, and was in no mood to see his players take their foot off the pedal. He would have been equally keen to avoid a repeat of last year’s corresponding fixture, when Arsenal somehow let slip a 4-2 lead with minutes to play.

Wenger was not only determined to get the three points this time round, but confirming their superiority and sending out a message that they’re not prepared to play the fall guy in the big four’s membership club was also a priority.

Before the game there were murmurs coming from White Hart Lane that this year could be the year that sees Spurs finish in the top four at Arsenal’s expense. The feeling was that Tottenham’s squad strength was at least as strong, if not stronger, and considering their solid start to the season blighted only by defeats at the hands of Manchester United and Chelsea, it could well be a possibility.

However at the Emirates, Arsenal categorically confirmed the gulf in class between the two clubs in the personnel available and their mental attitude. For 40 minutes, Spurs were relatively comfortable, while Arsenal were well below their best, uncharacteristically giving the ball away and the lacking the fluency and urgency that has been evident in their campaign so far.

And yet, in the space of 11 seconds, the home side opened up a healthy lead and the shear shock of conceding twice so quickly made it nigh-on impossible for Spurs to recover.

Two mistakes and both were punished empathically by an outfit that weren’t playing to their usual high standards - it’s a capability Spurs have to obtain if they are to reach the levels they aspire to.

For Arsenal, their ‘attack is the best form of defence’ approach is a great philosophy and the right one. But they still have to back it up with a strong defence because no matter how good they are most opposition will at some stage have spells of possession and the top sides only need about 20% or 30% of the ball to cause problems.

The title may be out of reach, just. But the idea that Arsenal will finish outside the top four is as comical as Wenger’s Basil Fawlty impressions.