Tottenham ensured it was a week to remember after recording a resounding 4-1 victory over Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon. Coming into the game on the back of defeating Manchester City in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening, Ange Postecoglou made three changes to his Tottenham XI to take on Unai Emery’s team.
Clear-cut chances were at a premium in the opening stages of the contest, with Rodrigo Bentancur not that far away from testing Emi Martinez with a dipping effort that landed on the roof of the net. Despite the hosts creating the better openings, Villa opened the scoring on 32 minutes courtesy of Morgan Rogers’ finish from point-blank range.
Tottenham restored parity on 49 minutes with a trademark Brennan Johnson finish at the back post following such an inviting cross from the returning Son Heung-min. The hosts were very close to going ahead a couple of minutes later as Dominic Solanke forced Martinez into a low save with the ball destined to go in.
Solanke was to get his goal 15 minutes from time with a cute dinked finish over Martinez after an incredible reverse ball from Dejan Kulusevski to play him in. It was to then get even better for the summer addition as he put the game out of sight in the 79th minute after tapping home Richarlison’s cross from close range.
There was still time for Tottenham to net a fourth goal of the contest as James Maddison came off the bench to score direct from a free-kick in stoppage time. Here are five things we spotted in the game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium:
Team selection
Postecoglou always had a big call to make over his midfield three to take on Aston Villa following the team’s struggles at Crystal Palace seven days ago. In the 1-0 defeat at Selhurst Park, the Eagles made life very difficult for Spurs in the middle of the park and starters Maddison and Kulusevski were both hooked just past the hour mark
Question marks surrounded Maddison’s place in the team going into the game in south east London after Pape Matar Sarr’s bright cameo in his place the previous weekend against West Ham. Opting for Maddison over Sarr against Palace last Sunday, this time Postecoglou selected the Senegal international to join Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur in midfield to take on Aston Villa.
It meant Maddison was named on the bench for the second game in succession after his role as an unused substitute in Wednesday’s win over Manchester City in the Carabao Cup. Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the game, Postecoglou explained his decision behind Maddison’s omission from the starting XI.
“They are all the same calls, irrespective,” he said. “We have got to put 11 out there, we have got a good squad. Just what we need today, there is no doubt Madders will be coming on today and I am sure there will be an impact when he does.”
Previously an undroppable in Postecoglou’s team, Maddison is no longer guaranteed a starting berth and that is quite simply down to the outstanding form of Kulusevski in Tottenham’s midfield. The former Leicester City man was introduced in the final stages of the contest and capped off his cameo in the best way possible with a fantastic free-kick that gave Martinez no chance in the Villa goal.
After having to settle for a place on the bench once again, Maddison sent a timely reminder to everyone of just what he can do.
Cash reaction
Matty Cash was named in the Aston Villa team to take on Tottenham on Sunday afternoon. The right-back has been in the headlines in recent meetings between the teams after leaving both Matt Doherty and Bentancur facing extended spells on the sidelines.
Missing the last three games through injury, Son made his return to the Tottenham team to face Aston Villa. He was to have an impact on proceedings four minutes after the break with a sublime cross in from the left that allowed Johnson to convert.
The whipped delivery from the Spurs captain was so precise that all Johnson had to do was get into the right area and make contact with the ball. That proved to be one of Son’s last involvements as he was substituted on 55 minutes, presumably to do with his recent absence with a hamstring injury.
Son was extremely surprised to be the player to exit so early into the second half and he was picked up on camera pointing to his chest to question that it was indeed himself who was coming off. Once in the dugout, the 32-year-old could be seen chuntering to himself and then biting on the collar of his Spurs shirt.
Maybe a surprise call at the time, it proved to be the right one as Spurs ran out convincing winners and they didn’t push their captain too much and risk another injury.
