Mikel Arteta and Arsenal now face a thorough examination of their mentality and focus after Thursdays morale-sapping 3-0 north London derby defeat blew the race for fourth wide open.While the importance of Champions League qualification might feel exaggerated to some given the financial muscle of practically every Premier League club, regardle s of finishing in the top four or not, the end of 2021-22 will undoubtedly have significant implications for both clubs.A top-four finish would be Arsenals best Premier League season in six years and simultaneously the first time since the same season that theyd finished above their bitter rivals.Champions League qualification would also be vindication of the faith placed in Arteta and a clear sign of genuine progre s since he replaced Unai Emery.For Spurs, on the other hand, its difficult to look at these final 10 days of the season being anything other than a sliding-doors moment.Failure to return to European footballs top table would plausibly see Antonio Conte call it quits, Lyle Alzado Jersey whereas the po sibilities could be endle s under him with the extra cash, exposure and lure provided by the Champions League, particularly when you consider the transformational effect hes already had in north London and elsewhere previously.With those points in mind, it was no surprise to see Thursdays contest the first with fans present at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium labelled the most important north London derby in Premier League history, and its fair to say the hosts handled the occasion far better than the Gunners.Perhaps that wasnt Darron Lee Jersey actually as shocking as it initially felt during the match.The turning point came with just 33 minutes on the clock. While Tottenham were already ahead thanks to a Harry Kane penalty, it was just past the half-hour mark when Rob Holdings pushed his luck once too often.Having already been booked frankly, he could have been carded several times by this point Holding cynically blocked off the relentle s Son Heung-min with a combination of shoulder and elbow, deservedly earning himself a second yellow and subsequent red card.It had been coming. Holdings early duels with Son had the South Korean showing signs of frustration not because he couldnt get the better of his opponent, but because he was getting the better of him. He just kept getting fouled by the Arsenal defender.Holdings wry smile when walking away from an angry Son after NFL Las Vegas Raiders Jersey a tangle that wouldnt have looked out of place on a Judo mat belied a degree of arrogance and misplaced confidence.It was ill-judged to say the least.But of course, this is by no means the first time indisciplines been seen as the scourge of Arsenal. Since Artetas appointment, the Gunners have been shown five more red cards (13 in total) in the Premier League than any other team. Granted, they are the youngest team in the Premier League, so perhaps a hint of indiscipline is to be expected as a consequence of inexperience but that argument cant really be applied to 26-year-old Holding.Arsenal had actually started the match quite well. Their pre sing intensity was excellent, so much so that a Spurs pa sage of play consisting exclusively of pa ses between the defence and Hugo Lloris drew significant jeers of derision and frustration from the home crowd.But Spurs identified they could find joy by playing Marcus Allen Jersey direct, which was exactly how the opener arrived, with Cedric Soares no, not Holding this time! the one guilty of barging Son over at the back post as he looked to reach a deep delivery.Just four minutes after Holdings red card, Kane who had endured a career-worst derby drought of two matches prior to Thursday exploited Eddie Nketiahs lack of awarene s to stoop in at the back post to head home his second goal of the game, extending his all-time record as this fixtures top scorer.Conte was a figure of calm after the first goal, but this time he wore his near-trademark terrifying jubilation with pride, presumably aware only a miracle would save Arsenal now.The sparkling Son made sure any Arsenal hopes were thoroughly extinguished le s than two minutes after the restart, pouncing on a loose ball in the area before steering beyond Aaron Ramsdale with the kind of expertise weve come to expect from a player only outscored by Mohamed Salah in the Premier League this season.Arteta can console himself with the fact Arsenal remain fourth heading into their final two games of the season. Had you given him the option of being in that situation back in August, hed have snapped your hand off.But Thursdays ultimately crushing defeat once again raised questions of the Gunners mentality and discipline, and their squad is becoming more depleted by the game. Its hardly an ideal combination when the pre sure is on and boy is it on now Darren Waller Jersey .Tottenham whose kind run-in sees them face Norwich City and Burnley still need either Newcastle United or Everton to do them a favour at the very least.But Thursday was evidence of Spurs keeping their cool when it matters. Arsenal didnt, and theres nothing to suggest theyre too good to capitulate.