LONDON: The balance of power has changed again in north London. Arsenal ripped Tottenham apart more conclusively than the 3-1 scoreline suggests to overtake them on goal difference and delight manager Mikel Arteta after a difficult start to the season.

Spurs are without a win in their last five games with morale sinking amid concern that they should have sold Harry Kane to Manchester City during the summer to fund the rebuilding of a squad whose failings contributed to the sacking of Jose Mourinho back in April.

First-half goals from Emile Smith Rowe, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bukayo Saka had fans of both clubs pondering whether the Gunners might match their last big derby win by 5:0 in 1978. Smith Rowe, at 21 years 60 days, was Arsenal’s youngest league scorer against Spurs since Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in September 2014.

Spurs’ Nuno Espirito Santo was the Premier League’s manager of the month for August but stood, grim-faced on the touchline. Kane, making his 250th Premier League appearance, risked going without a goal in the opening five games of the season for the first time in his career.

Heung-min Son scored a Spurs’ consolation with 12 minutes remaining. It was the first goal Aaron Ramsdale had conceded since replacing Bernd Leno.

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