So that's that done then. Cast those title hopes adrift and be very grateful if they somehow manage to find their way back to us.

Unusually, we started the derby at their place quite well, bossing possession and having a fumbling Campbell effort cleared off the line. Our first ten minutes of pretty passing without really going anywhere were rudely interrupted by a Spurs corner. Alumina cost us. Again. I don't care if it was a good punch which cleared the area with more to spare. He was unchallenged. Catch it. With two hands. Thanks. I also don't care how great a volley it was that was smashed back at him by Rose, and it was a brilliant strike. Credit, but our 'keeper' should save it. His reflexes looked slow, the ball virtually passes through his hands and he hardly leaps to get it.

Arsene has defended Manuel by suggesting he was unsighted. If he was, it's his bad. I suggest the ball travelled enough distance for him to have adjusted his view so that he could f**king see it. Not good enough from him. Again. A new keeper remains top of the 'most wanted in the summer please Arsene' chart, despite his quick stop from the feet of Modric.

Another one of those injury things to Vermaelen and we were down to the bare old bones at centre half with Campbell and Silvestre.

They had little to do, as the game took place in Spurs’ half and saw plenty more non-threatening Arsenal possession. The morons gathered then gave a second airing of the night to their disgusting song aimed at Arsene. Sky Sports' Alan Parry somehow, after a pause in commentary, described the atmosphere as 'vibrant', just at the point where the offending chant was at its loudest. Class act from Sky indeed. Parry would no doubt have heard exactly what was being sung at that time. Some interesting jostling with The Mirror's John Cross on the subject yesterday, via Twitter @TheArsenal_. He quite rightly made the point that the newspapers have highlighted the subject before, but it's far too easy for the agenda setters of Sky to protect their product and ignore such vermin.

At the break I felt confident we could get back into the game. Being a goal down at the wrong end of Seven Sisters Road is nothing new to us, but going further behind as the second half was barely underway was uncalled for. With back four minds still in the changing room, a Defoe pass put funny-face Bale through to simply tap home. Sagna was caught too deep, with Clichy coming out to play the Welshmen offside, failing to realise his compatriot’s position. Poor. Mountain to climb.

This clearly buoyed our opponents further, and they had a spell where a third for them was more likely than a goal to bring us back into the game.

Until the re-introduction of Robin van Persie.

His first touch controlled the ball, turned and beat the defender in one Bergkamp like movement. Welcome back. He gave us the cutting edge to accompany the possession we were again enjoying. It was regretful that the pressure only resulted in chances during the last ten minutes. Campbell went close again, hitting the bar via Gomes, while our Dutchman was having his own personal battle with the Egyptian. Sadly, Gomes isn't the joke he used to be, or RvP could easily have had two or three goals himself, before playing a key part in Bendtner’s all too little too late consolation.

Van Persie's late cameo was a painful reminder of the talent we have been without, as thoughts inevitably focused on what our position would now be had he remained fit.

'What if?'

The whistle brought scenes to White Hart Lane that have not been seen since 1961. Jubilant celebrations, and understandable. If it takes them as long to beat us again it will be the 2020/21 season. Sky's coverage unfortunately finished before the presentation of the trophy to Ledley King, but I'm sure it'll all be on the DVD, no doubt available now.

Sol Campbell was immense. Not only in his personal performance, which was faultless and strong, but also in his communication and encouragement of others. This was evident even before the match kicked off, as he told his team-mates to suck it up and put in a performance. Sadly, some of them were not up to it on the night. Diaby seems to have reverted to type of late, playing the game asleep, his touch poor and passing worse as a result. Rosicky was also poor, and frustrating because, at times, you felt he could really drive at the Tottenham defence, but he never delivered, and hasn't really since his own return.

The re-signing of Sol was a surprise to all, but last night proved it was a good move. More than anything, it also gives us a glimpse of the type of player we are missing if we are to get some of that silver stuff. He is a reminder of title winning players of the past, sides where characters such as his were aplenty. They aren't today.

We've done well to stay in the title race for as long as we have, with the injuries we have had.

The most unlikeliest of championships has passed us by, but you'd still rather be Arsenal.