Immature, erratic Spurs must learn lessons from Mikel Arteta’s great rebuild, writes MATT BARLOW, after Ange Postecoglou saw his side’s Champions League hopes take a hit with North London derby defeat

Ange Postecoglou had warned Tottenham of the dangers of hanging their noses over the garden fence and becoming obsessed with what the neighbours are building.

‘You could both have the worst houses in the street,’ he said ahead of the north London derby, but Postecoglou will realise there is plenty to admire about what Arsenal have designed.

And, as they danced and sang in the sunshine in front of the away end, it was hard to escape a feeling there might even be lessons Spurs can take if they study the transformation of their closest rivals during four years under Mikel Arteta.

The real danger, in fact, would be to ignore them. To write off a three-goal half-time deficit as bad luck, with marginal decisions going against them during those five minutes — from Micky van de Ven’s goal ruled out for offside to the hopeful penalty claims and Bukayo Saka’s goal on the break to make it 2-0 to Arsenal.

True, it was a pivotal passage of the game. Tottenham were on top at the time, having summoned a positive response to conceding first again. They thought they had scored an equaliser, only to be deflated, but the contest had fallen into the pattern Arteta might have predicted.

Arsenal were ahead, looking dangerous from set-pieces and on the counter-attack, inviting Spurs to take risks and over-commit while remaining disciplined and compact themselves.

They came with a shield of four central defenders, screened by Thomas Partey and often assisted by Declan Rice, and for most of the game did an admirable job of protecting their goalkeeper.

Tottenham’s most creative forces were denied the space they craved. Son Heung-min did not get a sniff until a chance on the stroke of half-time, by which point his team were three down.

There were early chances, before the game had escaped them, but mostly from set-pieces. Argentina defender Cristian Romero impressed throughout but should have scored when he headed against the frame of the goal at the back post from a free-kick with Arsenal only 1-0 up.

Spurs, though, did not take long to become frustrated and the home crowd shifted, an element of anxiety set in and Postecoglou’s team lost focus.

Yes, a little bit of luck went against them on top of that but there were times in the first half when they resembled what you used to find at Arsenal, back in the days when Arsene Wenger was trying to build a team on a budget, with young players.

There were hints of immaturity. There were signs of impatience. Once they went behind, there were traces of desperation.

Maybe all to be expected. Without David Raya’s mistake, they might not have found a way back into the game at all. Only then did they generate the sort of chaos which has become a hallmark of Postecoglou’s team when on top.

They have often been at their best when chasing a deficit at home, kicking towards the South Stand in the second half.

Ideally, they will find a way to do that without going behind first. And they will find a way to defend set-pieces. And produce their exciting brand of football without playing straight into the hands of stronger, more mature teams. Those who can defend, keep minds clear in the blur and spring out at them, as Arsenal did.

Postecoglou will know this. He is less than a year into the project, but this defeat will sting on the back of a four-goal beating at Newcastle. Next they go to Chelsea, improving but almost as erratic as Tottenham.

In the end, there was nothing for it but to whack on a song called Munich, perhaps a reference to Arsenal’s demise in Europe to a team featuring two former Spurs players, and crank up the volume to drown out the songs of celebration.

They have lost a point on Aston Villa this weekend and, with it, control of their destiny when it comes to a place in the Champions League.

Arsenal picked up another three points but may have lost a little faith that the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is where Manchester City might drop points when they visit in a little over a fortnight.