With Chelsea playing Liverpool and Arsenal within the space of a few days and Spurs facing Sunderland and Middlesbrough, it was the ideal week for the Lilywhites. Or it should have been, at least. Spurs have looked the strongest of the top six over recent weeks, winning matches convincingly and toppling Chelsea’s long winning streak. A draw to Manchester City kept them at arm’s length from the Blues at the Premier League summit, but this week was made for Spurs to pile the pressure on Chelsea, or at least to pull away from Arsenal and Liverpool.

Even with Sunderland fighting for their lives at the bottom of the table, Spurs were understandably strong favourites. A victory was not only expected, it was a must for their campaign. Momentum has been calmed as a result of their draw at the Stadium of Light and Spurs failed to take significant advantage on a night when the rest of the top four all dropped points.

Instead, Mauricio Pochettino’s team were frustrated. Lamine Kone led a superb rearguard action from Sunderland and Spurs were limited to few significant chances. When Spurs’ starting line-up fails to break down an opposition, they lack the options from the bench that their rivals can turn to. Without a Cesc Fabregas, Daniel Sturridge or Kelechi Iheanacho to come on, Spurs have struggled to create chances on numerous occasions this season. Their recent run has seen their earlier woes forgotten, and understandably so, but the blunt performance against Sunderland refreshed the memories.

Tuesday night could, and should, have been all about Spurs. Sunderland have not won since December 17th, Arsenal went behind early on against Watford and at least one of Chelsea or Liverpool was going to drop points. Ultimately they both dropped points and, despite taking second place in the table, Spurs did not take advantage when everything was falling into place for them.

It was a golden opportunity to not only cement their chances of a top four finish, but make up invaluable ground in the title race. Instead, the title race is at risk of being no more should Chelsea win against Arsenal this weekend.

With that game kicking off at midday on Saturday, Spurs could be 12 points behind Antonio Conte’s side by the time they kick-off in the evening. In what should have been a routine six points and a great few days for the Lilywhites, Spurs are now under pressure at home to break even.

So Spurs are, bizarrely, going to be hoping their North London rivals can, at the very least, avoid defeat this weekend. But it’s Arsenal Spurs most closely resemble right now, having thrown away a glorious opportunity to steal a march on their rivals. Instead, they choked away to the Premier League’s bottom club.

Failing to beat Sunderland has undermined their credentials as Chelsea’s most realistic challengers, it has reopened debates about the creativity in their squad, and it has allowed Conte’s side to come out victors from a night when they looked likely to see their lead cut.

If Spurs have any chance of winning their first Premier League title this season, they must reproduce the form from before their trip to the Etihad Stadium against Middlesbrough this weekend. Disappointment against Sunderland will be as good as forgotten with a comfortable victory, but dropping more points will as good as see Spurs’ title chances written off.

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