Harry Kane Said You Let Me Have It Again Twice
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WHITE HART LANE, London — It is not the kickoff time this season that a side has underestimated Harry Kane.
Arsenal—who did not face the Premier League's in-class striker fifty-fifty from the bench when the two sides met back in September, such has been the speed of his rise—were happy to concede both possession and territory to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, daring them to find a style through on a cold afternoon at White Hart Lane. Unfortunately for them, they did non count on Kane's unerring accuracy in front of goal.
The 21-yr-quondam scored twice, the second coming only iv minutes from time, every bit Spurs overcame Mesut Ozil's early strike to assure a hugely of import 2-1 win.
That is non to say Spurs did not deserve this win, far from it; the three points were a fitting and entirely justified return for a persuasive, powerful all-circular performance from Mauricio Pochettino'south side.
Armory attempted to replicate the winning formula they hit upon in their previous abroad trip to Manchester City—ceding possession but building a solid midfield base around Francis Coquelin and trying to counter quickly into space—merely unlike the reigning Premier League champions, Spurs remained patient and composed, decision-making the brawl and creating chances with regularity and questioning goalkeeper David Ospina, who clearly seemed unsettled by the emotion of the occasion.
"Information technology was amazing—fantastic," Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino said afterward. "You felt from the first that it is a special game for the supporters.
"The players deserved it because they worked very hard on the training basis. Nosotros need a lot from them and I am happy that nosotros played like a squad."
Did he think it was his best moment equally Spurs boss to date?
"Yeah. I think so, aye."
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Arsenal took an early pb against the run of play, as Olivier Giroud's somewhat inadvertent pass (was it really a shot?) roughshod perfectly for Ozil to turn home, following practiced work from Danny Welbeck down the correct flank.
Notwithstanding, even prior to that strike, Spurs had suggested they were in possession of the right tactical arroyo for the game, and information technology was credit to Pochettino and his men that they persevered with it, even when it took until almost the hour mark to brand it 1-one.
"We played with our brain," Pochettino said. "But nosotros showed passion and emotion, and it is important for me to recognise that energy."
Pochettino showed no hesitation in restoring Nabil Bentaleb to his midfield following his Africa Cup of Nations involvement, the Algerian partnering with Ryan Stonemason expertly to provide a composed double pivot in that of import area of the park.
Arsene Wenger's side over again had Coquelin playing brilliantly—the Frenchman was the standout player in the first 35 minutes—but the fact he was so active was besides an indication of Arsenal'due south struggles.
Santi Cazorla, and then good against Man City, struggled to get into the game, while Aaron Ramsey seemed occasionally surprised by the tempo of the competition.
Aided by that, and perhaps emboldened by it too, Spurs were able to settle past virtue of the possession they enjoyed; Pochettino's decision to play Christian Eriksen from the left and keep Mousa Dembele more central was vindicated, equally the dwelling side creating enough of danger down that side (Danny Rose could take scored twice before half-fourth dimension) every bit Mason and Bentaleb dictated play.
"Were we as well focused to defend our goal? I think then," Wenger said. "I also believenosotros made too many technical mistakes compared to our level—considering Tottenham, in the middle of the park, put united states of america under force per unit area and we lost some balls we did not want to lose."
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The second one-half started in like manner to the first, simply the breakthrough eventually came afterward a sustained spell of pressure that saw Ospina'southward handling come into focus. The Colombian's trend to parry every shot was creating additional difficulties for his defense, and when Ospina was unable to claim a combined effort from Dembele and Eric Dier, information technology was Kane who was arriving at the far post, driving dwelling clinically to send the White Hart Lane crowd wild.
From there, the game became a affair of hunger and passion, sophistication and technique. Challenges flew in, and referee Martin Atkinson struggled to retain control—"I felt he was like the states, a trivial chip, not at his best," Wenger noted drily—every bit Armory seemed to lose those physical battles beyond the pitch.
That Gunners' win at the Etihad Stadium may have made many look at Arsene Wenger's side in a different lite, simply previous away results against Swansea Metropolis and Stoke City should take served equally a reminder that Arsenal'south soft underbelly is never far from the surface, and Spurs seemed to grow closer to exposing it with every challenge they won and every foray into the last third.
Despite that, the visitors had most immediate chances to restore their lead, as Welbeck tested Hugo Lloris from the edge of the box before an unmarked Laurent Koscielny powered a header straight at his compatriot.
Spurs rode out that wobble and soon resumed control, with Pochettino somewhen adding Nacer Chadli, who has just returned from compassionate leave, to the fray—perhaps mainly so he could restore Eriksen to a more than key position.
The decisive goal came from that left flank but from neither of those players. Instead, it was Bentaleb who delivered a brilliant cantankerous, the ball of the match, to Kane in the box, and the striker took full advantage of the space Koscielny had inexplicably given him to power his header dorsum across goal and within the postal service.
"I recall that is probably ane of the best games all flavour," Kane told BT Sport. "We knew if we kept doing what we're doing the chances would come up."
"It was a team attempt," Mason added. "Only the pinnacle man upwardly front delivered the goals again."
It was a pregnant combination, with multimillion-pound signings Roberto Soldado and Paulinho left on the bench (the Brazilian arriving in the closing moments, peradventure simply to allow Mason his ovation) as ii lodge academy graduates combined for a derby-winning goal.
"When y'all watch the training session and you decide to pick the player, I don't come across the names or the years. It is just football," Pochettino said, when asked about his willingness to rely on youth. "This is our philosophy, but it is important that we showed it today considering it is important for them to believe in our mode going frontward."
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It was important for Spurs, and not considering they moved above their archrivals in the league tabular array as a result (that has happened in recent seasons, and we know how that turned out).
But Pochettino has taken his time to instil his tactical and technical approach on the team during his debut entrada at the club, simply this was an occasion when they delivered an impressive all-round performance in the most pressurised and emotional of circumstances.
The challenge now is to continue it, just that steel they have demonstrated—both in this game and some recent away trips—will serve them well going forward, starting with the midweek trip to Anfield.
"We demand to keep the same level, because nosotros can," Pochettino said. "Information technology is always in our mind that information technology is difficult to have the motivation and to keep everyone fit, but information technology is our challenge...to evidence what we showed this day."
Armory, in contrast, failed to notice the right balance between defence and assault—with Wenger not afraid to criticise his defence for showing such fragility.
"Cheap goals," he said. "The regret I have is that nosotros gave a inexpensive goal away, and it is worrying that with five minutes to become, we are there to make the same mistakes."
Notwithstanding, he is non sweating the league standings besides much. There are still plenty of games to be played, and Arsenal take come through more than arduous situations before.
"It leaves usa with a big disappointment to swallow," he acknowledged. "We have played two more away games than Spurs—Spurs have played xiii at dwelling house and we have played thirteen away—then it is down to our home form at present.
"We know we can win away from home, but it will be a battle until the finish—like it has been every year."
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But when all is said and washed, it was Harry Kane'due south day once over again, peculiarly with England manager Roy Hodgson watching from the stands.
Armory became the latest side to be stung by the prolific immature forward, and the calls for him to be included in England's squad when it is announced afterwards this calendar month are quickly reaching undeniable levels.
"I respect his determination," Pochettino said of Hodgson. "I think Harry today showed that he is a great player, a swell performance, but my idea is he can still improve. We demand to button him to improve because his potential is massive."
By the concluding whistle, even Wenger was a catechumen:
"When you have scored the number of goals he has scored, if you do not put him in in that location, someone volition give him a passport to another country."
All quotes obtained offset-hand unless otherwise stated. Kane and Mason quotes taken from BT Sport'southward live post-match broadcast.
Source: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2357327-harry-kane-caps-off-statement-spurs-win-as-arsenal-make-same-old-mistakes
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