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'World class' Son Heung-Min's wonder goal helps Tottenham return to top of Premier League
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‘World class’ Son Heung-Min’s wonder goal helps Tottenham return to top of Premier League

By Jason Diego / December 7, 2020

In front of fans for the first time in 277 days — 2,000 supporters were allowed in at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — the South Korean had them on their feet inside the opening 15 minutes as he spectacularly curled home from outside the box to opening the scoring.

Spurs’ captain Harry Kane doubled its lead at the end of the first half with his own emphatic finish, his 250th goal for the club and England combined sealing the three points in a 2-0 victory and the local pride that comes with a derby victory.

While Spurs is ahead of reigning champion Liverpool on goal difference at the top of the table, Arsenal is 15th, 11 points behind its north London neighbor.

Tottenham manager Mourinho hailed Son and Kane as “world class” afterwards.

“Kane clearing balls in the box, Sonny for the first 60 minutes as a winger and then a second striker — it is not just about scoring goals and being world-class players,” Mourinho told the BBC. “It is about being great guys and doing your best for the team.

“We can lose everywhere in the Premier League, we can go to any team and lose, any team can come here and beat us.

“Of course, people could expect this past three matches [against Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal], three or four points or six and lose one. We did seven [points], we didn’t concede one goal against phenomenal teams. We are top of the league for one more week, which is good fun.”

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Son scores whilst under pressure from Willian against Arsenal.

Closing the gap?

During his lengthy spell at the club, long-time Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger once said: “Have Tottenham closed the gap on Arsenal? Last time I checked they were still four miles and 11 titles away.”

Wenger, during his 21-years at the club, brought about an unprecedented era of dominance to north London, winning four Premier League titles, bringing Arsenal’s total to 13 while Spurs has only won one.

However, under the leadership of Mourinho, Tottenham’s fortunes look more than capable of closing that gap.

The former Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester United manager has brought a level of sturdiness and consistency that looks to have turned Tottenham from perennial underachievers to possible title contenders.

Key to Tottenham’s resurgence has been the transformation of Kane and Son into the Premier League’s deadliest duo.

A general view as Tottenham players celebrate with its fans at the end of the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.
Kane provided the assist for Son’s excellent opener, and the South Korean repaid the favor later in the game, setting up Kane’s 11th north London derby goal. The England international is now the all-time leading scorer in games between the two clubs.

The pair have now combined for 31 Premier League goals, the second most of any duo behind former Chelsea players Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard who had 36.

And Kane admits that both he and Son are entering their “prime.”

“We’re both at an age now where we’re coming into maybe in our prime in terms of understanding the game and understanding each other,” the 27-year-old told Sky Sports after the game.
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“When I’m passing him through and he’s cutting inside and whipping them into the top bins it is an easy game for me.”

The victory was made even sweeter for Spurs as rivals Arsenal were condemned to its worst league start for 39 years having lost six out of 11 league games.

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