Arsenal's Mikel Arteta says he would be banned if he spoke about Paul Tierney's north London derby performance

 Mikel Arteta after Arsenal's 3-0 defeat at Tottenham: "If I say what I think I am suspended for six months"; Antonio Conte says that Arteta "complains too much"; Tottenham one point behind Arsenal in race for top four with two games to play.

Mikel Arteta accused the match officials of "destroying a beautiful game" after 10-man Arsenal suffered a damaging 3-0 north London derby defeat and then was accused of complaining too much by Tottenham boss Antonio Conte.

Arsenal were trailing to Harry Kane's first-half penalty when Rob Holding prevented Heung-Min Son from racing in behind with a shoulder barge and saw red for a second bookable offence.

Referee Paul Tierney and VAR had earlier ignored an apparent elbow from Son on Holding but showed no hesitation giving the Gunners centre-back his marching orders, a decision which riled Arteta.

"If I say what I think I am suspended for six months," Arteta told Sky Sports. "I don't know how to lie so I prefer not to say what I think. I cannot say what I think.

"I want the referees to come in front of the camera and explain his decisions. It's a shame because such a beautiful game was destroyed today.

"I am not unhappy with my players. I am proud of my players. The decision was made. We can't change it. The referee has to make a decision in football."

Defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium cut Arsenal's advantage over their north London rivals in the race for Champions League qualification to a point with two games to play.