Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou defended his decision to substitute Heung-min Son early in their 4-1 win over Aston Villa, despite the South Korean’s visible frustration. Postecoglou explained that Son’s substitution was planned due to his recent return from injury and that he was never going to play more than 60 minutes. Meanwhile, the manager praised the performance of new signing, Dango Ouattara, who scored twice and contributed significantly to Tottenham’s victory.
Gary Neville, a former Manchester United defender, has expressed concerns about Mo Salah’s recent form, comparing it to the decline experienced by Heung-Min Son 18 months ago. According to Neville, Salah’s performance in the Merseyside derby against Everton was particularly underwhelming, highlighting his lack of involvement and touches on the ball. Neville believes that Salah, who has been a consistent performer for several years, may have hit a brick wall due to the physical and mental demands of the game. He also draws parallels with his own experiences at Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson, where the announcement of the manager’s departure led to uncertainty and a decline in team performance.
Heung-min Son is poised to further cement his place in Tottenham Hotspur history by scoring goals that could derail Arsenal’s title bid in the upcoming North London derby on Sunday. The derby clash holds immense significance for both teams, with Spurs vying for a top-four finish and Arsenal’s title aspirations hanging in the balance. Son has a stellar record against Arsenal, having scored seven goals in 19 appearances, making him the fourth-highest scorer in the derby’s history. His heroics extend beyond goals, with five assists against the Gunners. With Arsenal’s title hopes fading, Son has the opportunity to deal a significant blow by overtaking Robert Pires’ nine-goal derby tally and equaling former Spurs striker Emmanuel Adebayor’s ten goals. The 31-year-old South Korean is also five goals behind Erling Haaland and Cole Palmer in the Golden Boot race and will aim to reignite his challenge with a strong performance against Arsenal.
