Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte believes that Arsenal and Manchester City are the only two teams that can compete for the Premier League title following Sunday's 2-0 defeat to the Gunners in the North London derby.
Spurs paid the price for a slow start against their bitter rivals, who deservedly went into half time two goals to the good through Hugo Lloris's error and a sublime Martin Odegaard finish.
Tottenham improved after the break, but Arsenal number one Aaron Ramsdale made a number of crucial saves to keep the hosts at bay and send the Gunners eight points clear at the top of the table.
Conte's side, meanwhile, remain in fifth place with 33 points from 19 games - five points behind Manchester United having played a game more than the fourth-placed Red Devils.
Speaking to the media after the game, Conte insisted that he was "not disappointed" with his side's performance against one of the teams that he feels are involved in a two-horse title race.
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"About the performance, I'm not disappointed. I'm not disappointed because we knew that the game could be really difficult because Arsenal is a really, really strong team and also tonight showed that they deserve to stay top of the league, they deserve to be title contenders," Conte said in his post-game press conference.
"In my opinion Arsenal and City are the only two teams that can fight for the Premier League this season. At the same time I'm a bit disappointed for the way we lost.
"But we created chances to try to score. At the same time we didn't lose our mind, our head. At this point of the game the risk is to lose your head and concede other goals and to finish with a really, really bad defeat. Instead I think we have to be disappointed for the bad result but at the same time I saw a big effort from my players."
Days after announcing his retirement from international football, World Cup winner Lloris made another high-profile mistake in a Tottenham shirt, deflecting Bukayo Saka's cross into his own net with 14 minutes gone.
However, Conte's faith in the 36-year-old remains as strong as ever, saying: "In this situation it's always difficult. I think that it's not positive to be focused on only one situation or two situation.
"Football I know is this and sometimes you can do positive and save many situations positively but honestly I consider Hugo one of the best keepers in the world and it can happen.
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"It can happen that sometimes you can make a mistake. For sure when there is the mistake of the keeper it is more visible. Hugo for us is a one of the players who is really important for the dressing room, for his personality because we are talking about a player who is one of the best keepers in the world."
The derby ended on a sour note, as Ramsdale and Richarlison had a brief set-to before the Arsenal goalkeeper collected his belongings next to the goal, and he was kicked in the back by a supporter as he did so.
The fan had made his way onto the advertising boards before quickly running back up the stands, with both Ramsdale and Granit Xhaka having to be held back from chasing after him.
Tottenham condemned the "appalling" incident after the game, and Conte also expressed his displeasure at the scenes, adding: "I didn't see it but before I was asked about it in an interview with the media. If it happened, this situation is not good. It's not positive.
"I think in every moment you have to show respect. If we want respect we have to show respect. Honestly I didn't see it it, but if it happened this situation then for sure I didn't like it."
Tottenham are next in action away to reigning Premier League champions Man City on Thursday evening.
Ben Knapton
