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Tottenham have moved within three points of the Premier League summit after brushing aside in-form Bournemouth with a 3-1 win for Australian manager Ange Postecoglou's side.
- Ange Postecoglou's Spurs have moved within three points of the Premier League lead with a win over Bournemouth
- Korean superstar Son Heung-min found the key goal in the 71st minute
- With Arsenal slumping to a loss to Fulham, Spurs have found themselves back in the upper echelons of the Premier League
The match was a fiery one, with Postecoglou earning a yellow card following an altercation with the Bournemouth coaching staff.
The flashpoint appeared to be Bournemouth's criticism of Spurs star Alejo Veliz staying down with an injury but Postecoglou was coy as to what words were exchanged.
"We all just came together to wish each other happy New Year," Postecoglou said after the match.
"Made some resolutions."
Son Heung-min signed off ahead of Asian Cup duty with his 12th goal of the campaign.
The 71st-minute strike deflated a visiting team that had shown the confidence engendered by winning four matches on the spin, creating a string of chances despite going behind to Pape Matar Sarr's early goal.
Sarr, however, then went off in tears with a hamstring injury that puts his Africa Cup of Nations participation for Senegal in doubt.
Beaten 4-2 at Brighton on Thursday, Tottenham looked vulnerable until Son struck. Richarlison then scored his fifth in five games before Alex Scott pulled one back for Bournemouth.
"Every week is a battle and we had to battle today," said Postecoglou. "We've not been able to rotate but we're still putting in performances and effort like we are today.
"We had to show a bit of everything — resilience, character and discipline," added the Australian, who has had to navigate an extensive injury list.
"We're three points off the top, so if that is the difference between having a great season and where we are, I'll take it."
North London rivals Arsenal remain in the doldrums. Their miserable holiday period continued with a 2-1 loss on Sunday at a Fulham side that had failed to take either a point or goal from their last three matches.
A victory would have put Arsenal back on top, but they instead remain fourth, a point and a place above Spurs. Liverpool, currently top on goal difference from Aston Villa, can move three points clear if they beat Newcastle at Anfield on Monday. Champions Manchester City are third, also with a game in hand.
Arsenal had the perfect start at Craven Cottage when Bukayo Saka scored in the fifth minute, but they were then outplayed by Fulham and slipped to their third defeat in five matches.
Raul Jimenez levelled from a counter-attack on the half-hour and Bobby De Cordova-Reid reacted first in a goal mouth scramble on the hour to put Fulham ahead.
It was Arsenal's "worst performance of the season", their manager Mikael Arteta, who made a series of substitutions and tactical switches to little effect, said.
"Painful and a sad day. That's how I would sum it up," the Spaniard added. "We weren't good enough."
AAP