James Maddison (pictured) played a decisive role in the final third against Arsenal, setting up both of Son Heung-min's goals. AP and David Cliffe Match Review: Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur
Could Heung-Min Son and James Maddison be the new partnership for Son and Harry Kane? The latter was the most prolific in Premier League history and probably the deadliest as they scored 60 goals directly and 47 in the top flight. But there are promising signs that the former could challenge him.
They already have nine goals in total — 1.5 per game — which compares to a staggering 298 goals in just 241 appearances involving Kane or Son. . But their rate is lower — 1.2 goals per game.
Obviously no one expects Maddison to achieve the same result as Kane, no one except Erling Haaland can do it, but he being in the Tottenham squad could certainly boost Son, who has found new life and hunger since Kane's departure. and receiving the rank of captain.
Sometimes when a team has such a huge figure like Kane, it can mean that they end up becoming overly dependent on him. Son and Maddison have quickly developed a rapport, not least because both are not only smart and sharp players, but also selfless. They are on the same page with how they see the game.
This north London derby will live in the memory of Tottenham fans for a long time. This is the day their new team, under a new head coach and with a new attacking style of play, went to the home of their closest and bitter rivals and showed that they had a new player in the team.
Tottenham have been transformed under Ange Postecoglou, and Here's the most compelling evidence to support that bold claim.
Son scored both goals to make it 150 for Spurs in a pulsating, raucous 2-2 draw against Arsenal, but in many ways that result owes a lot to new player Maddison.
Bukayo Saka had the advantage. cheekily imitating Maddison's dart throw celebration after he forced Arsenal's first goal — a poor own goal from Christian Romero — which gave them a 1-0 lead — and then converted the penalty after handballing the Spurs defender — to restore their lead by 2 : 1.
ARSENAL LEAD IN NORTH LONDON DERBY 🔴
🎙️ “He was getting closer and closer to Saka! » pic.twitter.com/HLOhJetcEA
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 24, 2023
But Maddison responded. And How. The playmaker has long been in contention for player of the season honors in a £40m deal from relegated Leicester City and he has confidence, he has personality, he has chutzpah and he has the ability to fill the gap left by Kane. whose jersey with number 10 he took.
It was evident in the smartest turn when he outwitted Saka and handed the ball back to Son to score his first goal, and it was there again when he took the ball away from sluggish substitute Jorginho, allowing the Korean to knock in his second equalizer. Both were completed.
Maddison said he had planned a «celebratory dinner» if he had scored. Instead, he had to settle for two impressive assists. This reference to food harkens back to comments he made recently on England duty when he talked about being a «showman». “That’s the kind of person I am,” he said. “[When] I go to a roast dinner with my family, I like to be the man in charge.”
WOW WOW WOW! This game!
Spurs are back on LEVEL in no time! 🤯⚡ pic.twitter.com/DKpUISIApR
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 24, 2023
How this works is a little more confusing, but Maddison probably means he grabs the carving knife when it appears. to cut meat. He definitely opened Arsenal up. “We showed great character and Maddison showed great courage,” Son said and summed it up.
Remember the breakup? Spurs quickly closed the deal, highlighting both their ineffectiveness under Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte and the brilliance of Postecoglou, even though there were five new players.
Look at it this way and bring Kane back to this team and they will be serious title contenders. What a combination that would be with him, Son and Maddison, even if one could of course argue that his departure actually made it easier for the other two to step up and shine.
That's 15. goals in six league games for Spurs — just one less than Manchester City and just three less than Brighton's top scorer — and Postecoglou is only the fourth Premier League manager to have his team score at least two goals in a season game in the first half dozen matches. Son has five goals, Maddison two, and four assists. This is significant income. This is a growing partnership.
James Maddison: Tottenham have shown they are no longer 'Spursies' Postecoglou talks a lot about personality, perhaps because the Aussie has it himself, but Maddison clearly has it in spades. Here he wasn't even at his best, losing the ball at times and also making some heavy tackles and wasn't even fully fit. But he influenced the game, made a difference and, as Son said, had the courage to try things.
Arsenal had chances, but so did Spurs, and they finished off Richarlison's strike. reflected slightly past the gate. . The home side missed Declan Rice dearly after he left the field at half-time with back pain and later lost Saka to injury. Their injury list is growing.
But after the departure of Maddison and Son, Spurs were not the same, although in midfield Yves Bissouma was again formidable and another man transformed. It would be a surprise if both of these teams do not finish in the top four this campaign. It was a quality derby match.
Line-ups: Arsenal — Tottenham Hotspur.
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