SAMI MOKBEL: Man City only have themselves to blame for failing to close the gap on Arsenal

Harry Kane departed a record-breaker, Tottenham left with all three points - but Arsenal were the real winners on Sunday night.

Somehow the Gunners head into the week with their position over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League strengthened.

That seemed an unlikely scenario on Saturday afternoon as Mikel Arteta’s league leaders were given a going over by relegation-threatened Everton.

But fast forward a day and Arsenal have avoided any significant damage to their title challenge owing to City’s failure to capitalise on their Mersey defeat.

City and Pep Guardiola only have themselves to blame. What could have been a two point deficit to Arsenal remains at five having played a game more than their rivals.

Guardiola’s response to a question about what Sunday’s loss at Tottenham means to his team’s championship chances was noticeably curt.

‘I’m only focussed on Aston Villa,’ replied the Spaniard.

That was telling, perhaps. Of course, discounting City would be entirely nonsensical.

They still have to face Arsenal twice; win both of those games and the complexion is entirely different.

But the problem for Guardiola is that the way City are currently playing, you wouldn’t bank on them doing so.

They stuttered, particular offensively, against Tottenham - displaying a lack of creativity that has shackled their progress in recent weeks.

Not for the first time in recent weeks, Kevin De Bruyne started the game on the bench - Guardiola revealing before the game that the decision was tactical.

In hindsight it is easy to say the decision backfired, but City’s inability to break down an albeit deep Tottenham back-five was startling.

City will point to Riyad Mahrez’s shot that cannoned off the underside of the cross bar in the first half and Julian Alvarez’s goal bound effort that fortunately ricocheted off Eric Dier.

De Bruyne was eventually introduced in the 59th minute; the Belgian immediately at the heart of his team’s attacking play.

Would having De Bruyne on the pitch for the full 90 minutes changed result? Who knows.

But surely City would have held a better chance with their mesmeric midfielder on the pitch from the start.

The same goes for Ruben Dias, whose omission from the starting XI in recent weeks is perplexing.

The outstanding central defender in England last season has somehow found himself warming the bench as Guardiola favours Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake in the heart of his defence.

Akanji and Ake deserve their manager’s faith; they hardly put a foot wrong again on Sunday.

But Dias’ peripheral role is just as confusing as De Bruyne’s. Then there’s the decision to loan Joao Cancelo to Bayern Munich last week, though that move was influenced by a deterioration of the full-back’s relationship with his manager - news first brought to you by Sportsmail.

Cracks are appearing in City’s tilt at retaining their title. Surely there is sense in relying on the players that have proved they can handle the pressures and dynamics of the Premier League run-in?

Yet Guardiola remains City’s most potent weapon. Something is irking the 52-year-old.

It is clear he isn’t happy, his apparent attempts to refresh his team in recent weeks indicative of his discontent - as was his pointed outburst towards City’s players following the 4-2 win over Spurs last month.

But as we enter the business end of the season, City require some big performances and results.

Pep, it’s time for City’s big players.