Spurs are genuine title contenders as London derbies loom

Amid the sound and fury that greeted Arsenal's defeat to Manchester United and Manchester City's triumph in the Capital One Cup final, Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur took the opportunity to open up a significant gap at the top of the table this weekend.

Leicester secured the kind of win that champions thrive on, beating Norwich 1-0 courtesy of an 89th minute strike from substitute Leonardo Ulloa.

Spurs also put in the type of performance that suggests they are in with a shout of the title after coming from behind to beat Swansea at White Hart Lane. They lead the division in that respect, having now taken 17 points from losing positions.

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While Leicester remain top of the table, it is second-place Spurs who now appear to have the momentum. They are two points behind the Foxes but three ahead of Arsenal and seven in front of City, who have played one game fewer.

Tottenham's next two matches are against West Ham United and Arsenal. If they win the first, they could go top of the table; if they win both, it will signal a sea change in the balance of power in London. Victory over Arsenal would surely kill the Gunners' hopes of the title and likely ensure that Spurs finish above their bitter rivals for the first time since 1995.

"Spurs are finally starting to believe that they have the chance to do something pretty special," says Matt Law of the Daily Telegraph.

And it was evident on Sunday that they have the belief, says Gary Jacob of The Times. "Two hundred miles apart, Tottenham and Arsenal trailed by a goal deep into the second half yesterday but only [manager Mauricio] Pochettino's side emerged winners through patience, determination and concerted pressure. Spurs are proving to be very unSpurs-like."

He adds: "Some are already looking past finishing above Arsenal for the first time in two decades, with eyes only on the title."

The next week will be critical, says Tony Evans in the London Evening Standard. "Any derby is onerous enough; two in four days is the stuff of nightmares for a side with pretensions to winning the title," he warns.

There is added spice to the match against West Ham in the wake of the Olympic Stadium feud – both sides want to play there during work on their own grounds - while the game against Arsenal remains one of the biggest in the English football calendar.

"The old notion that there was an endemic mental weakness at White Hart Lane is being challenged and undermined on a weekly basis by Pochettino and his squad," writes Evans.

"The next few days are uncharted territory, though... The pressure has intensified in a way few could imagine before Christmas. By Saturday afternoon, we will know whether there is a realistic chance of the title returning to N17 for the first time since 1961."