The only tremor at White Hart Lane this afternoon arrived courtesy of Tomas Rosicky, whose second minute winner was struck with sufficient power to momentarily stun even the Arsenal supporters.
Delirium then followed – as well as repeated chants "Tim Sherwood's a goner" – as Arsenal's third victory over Tottenham Hotspur this season also almost certainly ensured a 19th consecutive season in which they have finished higher than their great rivals in the Premier League.
The contrast with a year ago could certainly not be marked. Inspired by Gareth Bale, Spurs brilliantly dissected Arsenal in a 2-1 win that also prompted the now infamous observation from Andre Villas-Boas that Arsenal were stick in a downward spiral. After a third loss in eight days, there can be no doubt who is stuck in the downward spiral just now.
Arsène Wenger's response to last year's defeat at Tottenham was to sanction a blunt clear-the-air meeting between his defenders and to select Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker as his centre-back pairing.
Clean sheets have since become a regular feature of Arsenal matches and the familiar chant of '1-0 to the Arsenal' has rarely been sung with such relish.
While Spurs' hopes of finishing in the top four have surely now ended, this win also keeps Arsenal in contention for what is a four-way race for the Premier League title with Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool.
It took a mistake from Nabil Bentaleb and a strike from Rosicky of quite stunning power for Arsenal to take their lead after just 72 seconds.
Bentaleb, who had again been trusted by Sherwood in the centre of midfield, was hesitant in possession and the ball broke for Rosicky to charge forward down the right. It had been slightly surprising that Wenger had started Rosicky out wide rather than in Mesut Ozil's usual playmaker's place but the positional decision was quickly vindicated.
Rosicky fed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and, although there was some fortune at how the ball cannoned back into his path, his half-volley finish cutting in from the right was simply breathtaking. Hugo Lloris in the Tottenham goal barely had time to dive before the ball had simply rocketed past his right shoulder and into the top corner.
Spurs had been warned – just as they were in losing to Arsenal in the FA Cup earlier this year – at the perils of playing such a high defensive line but Sherwood's strategy continued. It meant that the match settled into a consistent pattern.
Spurs were dominant both in possession and territorially but Arsenal always looked hugely threatening on the counter-attack. Tottenham were almost again punished in the 15th minute.
Bentaleb made another mistake, allowing Oxlade-Chamberlain a clear run on goal but his attempted chip over Lloris was miscued and trickled harmlessly to safety. Sherwood was apoplectic at a second defensive lapse and, turning to his bench, hurled his body-warmer a good three rows back in the direction of his coaching staff.
He then repeatedly ran onto the edge of the pitch – arms flying in all directions – to further remonstrate with his players. Nuanced tactics were quite evidently not being relayed.
There was another very public display of anger from Sherwood when Bacary Sagna sent Danny Rose high into the air with a tackle that, while full-blooded, was neither high nor particularly late. Mike Dean correctly showed no more than a yellow card.
Whether Sherwood's extraordinary touchline antics were having any impact is debatable but the Spurs players did gradually begin to turn their possession into clear chances.
And Emmanuel Adebayor was again proving to be a talismanic figure in attack. He got between Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker but hooked his shot over before almost glancing a Kyle Naughton cross beyond Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.
As well as Adebayor, Tottenham's threat was predominantly coming down their right where Lukas Podolski was providing limited energy for Arsenal in support of Kieran Gibbs.
Andros Townsend flashed one cross along Arsenal's six-yard box, while Mertesacker was also needed to make an important block to deny Christian Eriksen after more good work from the England winger.
The great dilemma with Podolski is that he is also the best finisher at Arsenal and he almost turned a half-chance into a goal shortly before half-time when he latched onto Gibbs' pass before smashing his shot into the side-netting.
Sherwood had smiled when instructed by one Tottenham fan to "put more pressure" on referee Dean but his 15 minutes with the players did seem to illicit a response.
The problem was that the best chances seem to keep on falling to Nacer Chadli. Szczesny suddenly looked exceptionally wobbly and spilt two crosses in the space of one minute but was rescued by Sagna and then Koscielny when Chadli hesitated for just too long.
Chadli then missed another opportunity to restore parity when Adebayor had brilliantly released Townsend only for his inviting cross to go between the legs of the Belgium winger as he attempted an extravagant back-heel.
Arsène Wenger then had reason to feel aggrieved with dean when Jan Vertonghen appeared to bundle Koscielny to the floor. Arsenal's other centre-back, Mertesacker, was also threatening from set pieces and provoked an excellent diving save from Lloris following a Cazorla free kick.
The match ended amid further touchline fun from Sherwood, who became involved in an altercation with Sagna over his rather vigorous attempt to get play restarted. It was a half-hearted and faintly desperate gesture that somehow summed up his helplessness on the touchline.
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