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Harry Kane continues to resemble Alan Shearer as Tottenham emphasise power shift in north London

The England striker's header was the difference on the score sheet as Spurs outclassed the Gunners

Tottenham 1-0 Arsenal: Match in pics

He is even leaping and heading like Alan Shearer, now.

Harry Kane is the man who can do no wrong, the man who last weekend smiled and scored his way through a penalty miss and a dive rumpus, this week turned what threatened to be a turgid North London derby into a Tottenham party.

But the latest instalment in Kane’s box-set of achievements was about much more than his seventh goal in eight of these contests, about much more than his pursuit of records, Shearer’s included.

This was power-shift stuff, only the narrow margin of victory masking the difference in quality, strength, speed and organisation of these two teams.

Yes, since Spurs won the League Cup in 2007-08, Arsene Wenger has lifted three FA Cups and finished ahead of Tottenham in all his seasons bar the last one but Tottenham remain a developing force while, on this evidence and despite their new recruits, Arsenal’s force is only fading.

Harry Kane's header separated the sides(Action Images via Reuters)

Arsenal not making the Champions League qualification places now almost ranks alongside Manchester City winning the title as one of football’s lumpier certainties.

The gap to fourth spot will probably be seven points by the end of Sunday’s play and this laboured, lackadaisical, lightweight lot are not going to bridge that.

Had Alexandre Lacazette accepted a simple chance to equalise in the closing moments, it would have been the luckiest of escapes.