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5 talking points from Tottenham's 3-2 victory at West Ham
Tottenham secured a 3-2 victory away against West Ham in an exciting London derby, taking a 3-0 lead after a Harry Kane double and a Christian Eriksen strike before being pegged back.
Spurs’ Serge Aurier was sent off as Javier Hernandez and Cheikhou Kouyate narrowed the deficit, but Mauricio Pochettino’s side held on. Here are five talking points:
Mousa Dembele is absent from the squad
Mauricio Pochettino admitted on Thursday that the Belgian’s game time needs to be managed, due to a long-term foot problem – and his omission from today’s 18-man squad perhaps revealed just how much of a rest he needs between matches.
The 30-year-old’s involvement from the start in Tuesday’s League Cup tie against Barnsley seemingly ruled him out of any part against West Ham.
On the surface it seemed curious. If Dembele needs time to recover between outings, why pick him against a Championship side in a competition that Pochettino has conceded is low on his list of priorities, and then rest him for a crunch London derby?
The answer, presumably, is that Spurs’ manager wants to call upon Dembele in the Champions League matches, which all come in midweek.
And, if the midfielder needs a full seven days or so to shake off pain in his foot, that effectively rules him out of any weekend matches. If he did play in the following Premier League contests he would be doing so in discomfort and his impact might be limited.
If the plan has been to pick Dembele against both Borussia Dortmund and then Apoel Nicosia in Cyprus this Tuesday, and he needs a full week off between games, it made sense to pick him against Barnsley rather than overlook him for the whole fortnight between the European matches.
The more pertinent issue is whether Pochettino has made the right call in saving Dembele for these two Champions League matches, leaving him unable to start the last three top-flight fixtures – and, presumably, next Saturday’s trip to Huddersfield too.
Eyebrows were furrowed an hour before kick-off – Dembele had, after all, been benched at West Ham back in May and been missed in the 1-0 defeat which ended Spurs’ title bid. This time, however, his side coped in his absence.
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2. Andy Carroll’s early introduction proves to be a fillip for Tottenham
Spurs’ defenders were probably a little relieved when they saw the Irons forward was missing from the hosts’ starting line-up, given the physicality and aerial threat he brings to their front line.
However, West Ham’s pacy front three caused the Lilywhites problems in the opening 25 minutes and Hugo Lloris had to come off his line on a couple of occasions to clear balls played in behind the defenders.
Slaven Bilic’s plan was ruined just before the half-hour mark, though, as Michail Antonio limped off, being replaced by Carroll.
At first the big Hammers forward gave his opponents an uncomfortable time, testing 21-year-old Davinson Sanchez in particular. But, in the end, Carroll helped Spurs to score twice in quick succession, losing the ball on both occasions.
He made the costly error of passing the ball straight to Christian Eriksen inside his own half in the 34th minute and, seconds later, Dele Alli was crossing for Harry Kane, who headed home to get the crucial breakthrough.
Four minutes later Carroll failed to hold the ball up, being dispossessed by Jan Vertonghen, who strode upfield and released Alli. While the initial shot was saved by Joe Hart, the rebound fell to Kane, who finished into the empty net and registered his sixth goal in four games.
Carroll’s arrival into the fray had been pivotal – but not in the way Bilic would have hoped.
3. Serge Aurier ruins positive performance with a needless red card
For over an hour of his first Premier League start, the Ivorian showed plenty of evidence that he will be an effective replacement for Kyle Walker, displaying speedy powers of recovery and offering a threat going forward.
When the game was still goalless he made what could have been a damaging error, going to ground to cut out a through ball to Marko Arnautovic and missing it.
He seemed to be out of the game as Arnautovic attacked the box and turned past Toby Alderweireld to create a shooting chance, but suddenly Aurier was there again, making a goal-saving sliding tackle.
Later in the half a foray upfield left Aurier out of position and Arnautovic again attacked the space behind him. But Alderweireld slowed the Hammers man down and Aurier again reappeared and made the tackle.
Offensively, Aurier’s low first-half cross gave Kane a gilt-edged chance at close range, but the striker somehow missed and was flagged offside anyway.
Then, in the second period, Spurs’ new right-back made a lung-bursting run forward to support Alli and leave the hosts 2 v 1 on the edge of West Ham’s box. Unfortunately for him, Alli carelessly lost the ball.
Aurier’s physical strength was also evident when he muscled his way past Aaron Creswell on the touchline and won a free kick.
But a positive showing was ruined with 20 minutes left as Spurs’ new right-back was shown a second yellow card after trying to tackle Carroll from behind.
It was a stupid thing to do, given he had already been booked and that his side were leading 3-1. His suspension will also limit Pochettino’s ability to rotate.
When Spurs signed Aurier it seemed they were getting a fine player who is prone to lapses in judgement. His performance today showed both sides.
4. Spurs nearly throw away their lead
Like Aurier, Tottenham almost turned a good day into a very bad one, taking a 3-0 lead but then conceding twice and having to endure a nervy finale.
The aerial problems that Spurs might have been fearing this morning eventually materialised and the Hammers scored with two headers.
First, in the 65th minute, Jose Fonte beat Alli to a flick-on at the near post and Chicharito scored at close range.
Then, with three minutes of the 90 left, Arthur Masuaku got outside Harry Winks and floated the ball into the middle, where Cheikhou Kouyate headed powerfully past Lloris.
Like against Burnley, when they also held a slender lead in the final moments before conceding an equaliser, Spurs could have managed the period better.
The experienced Fernando Llorente, who appeared as a late substitute, was involved in two attacking moves in West Ham’s box when he and his team-mates could have headed to the corner instead.
Hearts were in mouths as the hosts won a corner, and Carroll screamed for a penalty, claiming he had been pushed by Sanchez as he attacked the ball. But, after an injury-time scuffle, Spurs held on.
5. Lilywhites continue to enjoy away days
Tottenham may not have won a Premier League home game at Wembley yet this season, but their away form has been impressive – victories in all three top-flight matches on the road and eight goals scored.
The difference may be partly down to the fact that Spurs are yet to fully get used to playing at the national stadium – a much-published issue – but there is another significant reason: their opponents generally feel obliged to show greater ambition in their own stadiums.
Pochettino’s side have encountered defensive foes at Wembley in recent weeks, with Burnley and Swansea both camping outside their own box and getting the draws they were aiming for.
Spurs sometimes face a similar challenge away from home – Newcastle sat deep at St James’ Park on the opening weekend and were only broken down when Jonjo Shelvey was sent off.
Today, however, West Ham attacked from the off and left themselves open if they lost the ball – which is precisely what happened when they conceded the opener. It is hard to imagine that scenario would have occurred against Burnley or Swansea at Wembley.
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