Tottenham returned to the Premier League summit by following the formula in Sunday’s 2-0 victory over North London rival Arsenal in front of 2,000 supporters at Hotspur Stadium. Son Heung-min and Harry Kane combined on both the goals in the first half, and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Toby Alderweireld led the rearguard action to further stifle Mikel Arteta’s ammoless Gunners.
Tottenham’s opening goal arrived in the 13th minute after Kane collected the ball near the halfway line, maneuvered around Thomas Partey and released Son out wide. The South Korean squared up against Rob Holding, drifted inside and wrapped his right foot around a curling effort that sailed inside the far post from 23 yards out.
It was Kane’s 10th assist of the season and eighth to Son.
Arsenal couldn’t work a clear opening through Tottenham’s defensive ranks, but the Gunners maintained their own shape while worrying about José Mourinho’s men on the counter.
That threat manifested itself just before halftime when — with Partey near the sideline asking for an injury substitution — Spurs suddenly had a four-on-two with Giovani Lo Celso on the ball. The Argentine knew exactly what to do: He fed Son, who hit Holding with a step-over before teeing up Kane.
The angle was acute, but Kane smashed his finish crossbar down. Kane and Son have now combined for 31 EPL goals over the years, trailing only Chelsea’s legendary duo of Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard (36). 11 of those combinations between Kane and Son have come during the 2020-21 season.
Son Kane
They strike again for Spurs #MyPLMorning pic.twitter.com/75l7Qo6zNy— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) December 6, 2020
The Arsenal statistics, on the other hand, aren’t as impressive.
Hector Bellerín has now produced five foul throws in the league this season, more than any other player in Europe's top five divisions.
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) December 6, 2020
Tottenham ceded all possession in the second half, but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette couldn’t mirror the extreme ruthlessness of Kane and Son — nobody can.
Tottenham goes top of the table with 24 points from 11 matches, two more than second-place Chelsea. Arsenal is in 15th, 11 points back of Spurs, and the club’s total of 10 goals from 11 games is only superior to the three teams in the relegation zone.
