Three highlights from Tottenham Hotspur 2020-2021 season

While moments worth remembering were few and far between in Tottenham’s 2020-2021 campaign, three highlights standout in a season full of ups and downs. 

It’s not a season that will be etched forever in Spurs folklore for the right reasons. But there were individual performances and moments worth highlighting. Usually whittling these lists down to three is a no easy task. The same cannot be said for this season, but these highlights, if nothing else, should bring some solace in a tough year of football for the Lilywhites.

3. Son Heung-Min reached new career milestone

Sonny scored 17 top flight goals, his most since arriving in the Premier League in 2015-2016. Tottenham’s adored winger came out of the gates like a gangbuster, scoring four against Southampton in the second match of the season.

He had eight goals in the first six matches, including a brace in Tottenham’s famous 6-1 at Old Trafford.

While Sonny’s pace slowed considerably in the second half the campaign — which severely hampered Tottenham’s overall progress — he can look back on the season with pride, a sense of profound individual accomplishment.

He also appeared in all but one of Tottenham’s Premier League encounters, doing his best ironman impression. Fatigue, coinciding with a drain in confidence, took a toll on Son toward the tail end of the campaign, but take nothing away from Sonny’s invaluable contribution.

The South Korean’s 17 goals made up 25 percent of Tottenham’s overall scoring. He also chipped in with 10 assists, meaning Sonny was directly involved in 40 percent of Tottenham’s 68 goals. Based on his comparatively low shots-per-90 minutes, Sonny was only expected to score 11 goals. Son, with 1.95 shots per game, was fifth on the team in that category, behind Kane, Gareth Bale, Carlos Vinicius and Erik Lamela.

Spurs won nine of 13 matches when Sonny scored, an impressive record reinforcing his unquestionable value to the side. He now has 70 goals in 197 Tottenham appearances.

2. Tottenham’s 6-1 thrashing of Manchester United at Old Trafford

In what turned out to be Jose Mourinho’s biggest margin of victory as club manager, Tottenham humiliated Manchester United 6-1 at Old Trafford way back in October.

The demolishing of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer‘s side made Tottenham faithful believe a title push was possible. It was not only the heaviest defeat since Solskjaer took temporary charge in December 2018, but also the largest United have suffered since Ed Woodward took over as executive vice-chairman in 2013.

It was also Tottenham’s biggest win at Old Trafford and matches their record home win over United, 6-1 in September 1932.

Gary Neville went on one of his infamous rants in the aftermath, condemning an “absolutely pathetic” United side.

Sonny and Kane both bagged a brace while Serge Aurier and Tanguy Ndombele also added to United’s misery.

I remember watching, thinking the performance was a defining moment in both side’s seasons. Unfortunately things didn’t pan out the way most of us envisioned, but we always have that scoreline to fondly reminisce about over a cold, refreshing pint.

1. Harry Kane racks up individual honours

Adding to his already swollen trophy cabinet, Harry Kane once again racked up the individual honours. He won the Premier League Player of the Year, a feat he followed by bagging his third Golden Boot and, for the first time, Playmaker of the Season, awarded to the individual with the most assists.

Kane became the first player in the Premier League era to win both the Golden Boot and Playmaker of the Season, an achievement underpinning Kane’s indomitable importance to the side.

Kane scored his 23rd goal on the final day of the season at Leicester, ensuring he won the Golden Boot outright. He added 14 helpers to his Golden-Boot-winning tally and finished with 37 direct goal contributions in 35 appearances.

That equates to Kane being involved in 54 percent of Tottenham’s 68 goals, a staggering output from England’s captain, who is expected to leave the club in the summer, with Manchester City and Manchester United as probable suitors.

Kane will leave a void the size of the Grand Canyon if he does indeed leave Tottenham in the summer. But no matter what, he will go down as the most productive player to ever don the Lilywhite.