Kane torments Arsenal again to prove his credentials

London (Reuters): Having failed to deliver against the top teams at times this season, Harry Kane’s recent performances have silenced lingering doubts about his status as one of the world’s best strikers.

Although the goals have continued to flow for Kane, his record against the Premier League big boys has remained the only major blot on the copybook.

Kane failed to score at Arsenal and Manchester City and at home to Chelsea this season, mustering just six shots on target in those three games

Ahead of a tough run of fixtures against Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal within two weeks, Spurs needed their talisman to produce the goods to keep them in the running for a top-four finish.

And, right on cue, Kane produced three very different, but vitally important displays.

Against United at Wembley, he did everything but score, peppering the visitors’ goal with eight shots. Many would have let their heads drop as chance after chance went begging, but Kane kept coming, ensuring United were constantly on the back foot.

The England international passed the mental strength test at Liverpool last week.

After missing one penalty, Kane stepped up to take another deep into stoppage-time to earn his side a 2-2 draw with the coollest of spot-kicks. Coming into the north London derby at Wembley, it was imperative for Tottenham to maintain their recent good form, but they laboured in the first half.

Kane, however, lifted his side with an expertly-taken header out of nothing, shifting the tide firmly in Tottenham’s favour when they needed it most and they went on to win the game 1-0.

”I have been repeating for three years he is one of the best strikers in the world,” Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino said. His Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger agreed.

“A super striker,” Wenger said. “One of the best in the world who scores against everybody.”

The best forwards are often judged by their record against other top sides.

Manchester United’s Romelu Lukaku receives criticism for his poor goal return against major rivals and although Kane’s record is much better, his ineffectiveness against Chelsea, City and Arsenal revived criticism that he can disappear on the big occasion.

After leading Spurs to seven points from three games against their nearest rivals, however, there can be no doubt that Kane is among the very best all-round strikers.

Ronaldo hits hat-trick as Real and Atletico win

Barcelona (Reuters): Cristiano Ronaldo bagged a hat-trick as Real Madrid thrashed Real Sociedad 5-2 in La Liga on Saturday to warm up for their Champions League clash with Paris St Germain in style.

Atletico Madrid saw off Malaga 1-0 in a tight game to provisionally close the gap on leaders Barcelona to six points. Real’s big victory over Sociedad took them third above Valencia but they trail Barcelona by 16 points as they turn their attention to the defence of their Champions League title against PSG at the Bernabeu on Wednesday.

In Malaga, second-placed Atletico went ahead almost instantly when Antoine Griezmanncapitalised on Saul Niguez’s deflected strike falling at his feet close to goal.

Jan Oblak saved a Roberto Rosales free kick in the second half as Atletico kept their opponents at bay to earn a narrow victory in typical fashion.

Aguero and De Bruyne lift City to new heights

London (Reuters): Champions-elect Manchester City looked strangely out of sorts during the first 45 minutes of their Premier League clash with Leicester City.

But after the break they were transformed as Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne put on an attacking masterclass to help the runaway leaders rout the 2016 champions 5-1.

The Argentine scored four second-half goals to take his season’s tally to 21, while De Bruyne pulled the strings at the heart of City’s attacking orchestra, adding three assists in another flawless performance.

The Belgian tore Leicester apart with an unrivalled range of short and long passing and will take some catching in the contest for the Premier League’s player of the year.

Aguero is the fourth player -- after Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry and Harry Kane -- to score 20-plus goals in four consecutive Premier League campaigns.

De Bruyne, meanwhile, has registered more assists than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues since 2012.

With the pair ably backed by a sensational supporting cast, including Leroy Sane, David Silva, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus, City have scored 20 more goals than the next-best attacking side, Liverpool, and amassed 16 points more than city rivals United, in second place.

Hurtling towards the title in a style rarely seen before, Pep Guardiola’s side have been labelled by many the best to grace the Premier League.

City have only 11 more matches to navigate en route to what would be their first championship since 2014 and also remain firmly in the hunt in the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup.