A few weeks ago, a poster called ‘Peter K’ on the popular Tottenham forum The Fighting Cock wondered aloud how Spurs fans should celebrate their own version of St Totteringham’s Day. For more than a decade, Arsenal fans have used the term to commemorate the point at which it became mathematically certain that they would finish above Tottenham. Now, the tables are turning.

Victory in Sunday's north-London derby will guarantee that Tottenham will finish ahead of Arsenal for the first time since 1995.

Immediately, however, Peter K was met with a volley of four-letter abuse from alarmed fellow supporters. “Delete thread NOW”, one respondent urged. Within minutes, the entire conversation was removed. And this fleeting episode offers just the merest insight into the Tottenham psyche at this time of the year. Even with a 14-point lead, even in the wide open space of the Internet, you do not tempt the Fates of north London.

Within the Tottenham dressing room, the prospect of beating Arsenal pales in comparison to the challenge of chasing down Chelsea and winning their first title since 1961. “I think there’s a bigger picture,” Harry Kane explained. “Of course, for the fans it would be a great moment. To actually do it by winning against Arsenal – that would be fantastic. But from our point of view, we’ve got bigger things to look forward to.”