Spurs Show Class in Thrashing of Chelsea

Tottenham Hotspur took a step toward earning a top four spot and staying in the Premier League title race with a 3-1 victory over Chelsea. While the Spurs have scratched and clawed to stay in the race through 12 games, Saturday’s victory at Wembley was one where Spurs showed their class.

Tottenham Hotspur started on the front foot straight from the kickoff and never really let Chelsea in the game.  While Chelsea were able to do some of their usual ball possession- having 60% of the possession on the game- it was Spurs who outshot the Blues 18-13. They also amassed 9 shots on target to Chelsea’s two. So how did Tottenham manage to outclass Chelsea and leapfrog for third place in the League?

Mauricio Pochettino’s Tactical Nous

On the surface, this seemed a typical Mauricio Pochettino lineup, with a 4-4-2 set-up. We had Davies, Foyth, Alderweireld, and Aurier across the back. Dier, Sissoko, Dele, and Eriksen across the midfield four, and then Harry Kane and a rejuvenated Heung-Min Son up-front. It was not so much the line-up, but the tactics employed within the scheme that really gave Tottenham the edge here.

While Sissoko and Dier were in the double-pivot on paper, their roles were quite different on the pitch. Dier sat more, as a true holding mid-fielder working to advance the ball from defense to offense and working to stop the Chelsea attack. Eric Dier did both as well as he has all season and showed some real passing range that has been absent up to this point in the season.

Dier’s sturdiness in front of the back four allowed Moussa Sissoko to pretty much go anywhere he wanted on the pitch. Most of the time he was stopping Chelsea attacks or pushing Tottenham forward, as the Frenchman continues his fine form for Spurs. A little luck and Sissoko would have had an assist yesterday.

While the double-pivot performed well throughout the match, the real master stroke from Pochettino was in asking Dele Alli to man mark Jorginho for much of the game. The Italian pair of Maurizio Sarri and Jorginho have been credited for much of Chelsea’s success this season, and with good reason. However, on this day, neither had an answer for Pochettino’s decision to use Dele to slow Jorginho’s distribution.

Jorginho, still leads the league in passes by a wide margin, but on Saturday Jorginho had only the fifth-most passes on his team. He was held to only 51 total passes. Every time Jorginho touched the ball- particularly in the first half- Dele was there to keep him from advancing the ball. More importantly was Dele working to deny the ball to Jorginho. One thing is true, you can’t pass a ball you don’t possess. While Eriksen, Son, and Kane all worked to pressure the back four relentlessly in Spurs press; it was Dele’s hustle to cut the supply to Jorginho that really put a scupper on the Chelsea attack.

Return of the Rising Son

As I had

predicted in our Hotspur HQ preview

of the match, not only did Pochettino return

Heung-Min Son

to the starting XI, Son delivered with his best game of the season in the League. While South Korea didn’t advance in the World Cup this past summer, they did play three matches. Son was a major part of all three.

Then Son led his country to victory in the Asian Games, saving himself and 22 more South Koreans from mandatory military service. Add in the fact that Son was one of the more visible faces on tour in America this summer with Spurs, and it is no wonder Son was not at his best for much of the early campaign.

Toss in the early emergence of Lucas Moura and the healthy return of Erik Lamela and Son suddenly seemed the odd man out. However, after a couple of great campaigns for Spurs, Pochettino never lost faith in Son. That faith was rewarded in spades on Saturday.

Beyond Son’s wonder goal that we will long remember, Son harassed the Chelsea defense at will. He was relentless in his running between and behind their lines. With a little luck or a better bounce or two, Son could have scored two or even three goals. As it was, the one was enough to put a big smile on the South Korean’s face and remind all Spurs fans what a difference-maker he can be. It was great to see the smile, the pace, and production from Son.

Eriksen and Dele are Back

As I noted in my story on Dele Alli and Tottenham being unbeaten when he scores in the Premier League earlier this year, Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli have a special connection. Coming into the season, no one had assisted more Dele goals than Eriksen. Saturday, the two connected again for Spurs’ opening goal. This was the 10th time Eriksen has assisted Dele in League, and it was a beauty.

Off a free kick from just outside the penalty area, Eriksen drove in a superb ball, which Dele managed to glance off his head and past Chelsea keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga. Dele’s deflection was just enough to change the pace and angle, making Arrizabalaga unable to block the effort.

Beyond the assist to Alli, Eriksen also set up Spurs’ second as he played the ball to Kane who bested Arrizabalaga from distance. As mentioned, Dele was a menace for Jorginho, and likewise Eriksen worked hard off the ball defensively, in addition to the seven shots he set up.

For Spurs to compete for silverware this season, they need both Eriksen and Dele to be at the top of their form. If Saturday is any indication, they are both heading in that direction. While neither has been on fire yet this year, both are likely to produce some numbers over the next month based on this most recent outing.

Thoughts in Extra Time

While Dele, Kane, and Son provided the goals; all three had opportunities they will be thinking about until they take the pitch again. Arguably, all three missed chances easier than the goals they scored. On a different day Spurs could have easily had six or even seven goals, but it wasn’t to be. Harry Kane, in particular, had a perfect opportunity from seven yards out on a nice cross from Sissoko, only to fluff his lines and send the ball over.

Speaking of more goals on a different day, Juan Foyth was a bit fortunate not to concede a penalty to Hazard when the score was still 1-0. Was Foyth clumsy, late, and from behind? Yes. But was Eden Hazard looking to score or looking for contact? I think Martin Atkinson’s decision to not award a penalty tells us everything we need to know.

I have no doubt Hazard takes a lot of shots, but no more than any other star and like it or not, maybe he is starting to build a reputation for going down. Maybe not, but Saturday’s displays didn’t result in any penalties and frankly should have drawn at least one yellow for simulation, which even Hazard was laughing about as he picked himself up off the turf.

Speaking of should have received a yellow card, Antonio Rudiger was fortunate himself not to receive a second yellow and take Chelsea down to 10 men. His late challenge on Kane in the second half was worthy of a yellow, but Atkinson kept the card in his pocket.

The three goals were the most Chelsea have conceded this year and it was the club’s first loss in all competitions this season.

Jan Vertonghen was an unused substitute on Saturday, but it marked the first time he has been named in a squad in over a month, as he is returning from injury.

Mauricio Pochettino now has a winning record as skipper of Tottenham against Chelsea. He’s had 4 wins, 3 losses, and 2 draws across nine matches. The victory is also the first time Spurs have won two in a row against Chelsea since 1989.

Tottenham Hotspur are now unbeaten in 35 games in the Premier League when Dele Alli scores.