The first setback when it came for Tottenham was severe. A sobering defeat at the hands of their nearest and fiercest rivals to cast doubt on the nature of their recent progress.
Antonio Conte had gone into Saturday’s derby at pains to stress that there was very little to separate the two teams last season, and that Arsenal had been buying quality players from champions Manchester City. Perhaps he feared a reality check and it came with little consolation.
‘The taste of the defeat we don’t want to feel again,’ said captain Hugo Lloris.