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Tottenham Hotspur got their 2021-22 Premier League campaign underway with a narrow but important win over Manchester City. Son Heung-min scored the only goal of the game after a goalless first half, in which neither side was able to record a shot on goal.
Manchester City started both halves on the front foot but were not able to get the final touch in the box. Pep Guardiola once again opted for a lineup that involved neither an established striker nor their star man from last campaign, Kevin De Bruyne. The move backfired in the end.
Tottenham looked solid after a slightly dull start to the game. They matched the visiting side blow-to-blow, though they were always lagging for possession. Nuno Espirito Santo left Harry Kane out of the squad, but that decision did not come back to haunt him as Son's strike proved to be the difference.
Both sides played with great energy in their first game of the season which ended in a memorable win for the home side. As Santo tasted victory in his first Premier League game as Spurs manager, here we take a look at the five talking points from the game.
#5 Manchester City's woes at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium continue with a fourth-straight loss
Pep Guardiola and his men suffered a demoralizing loss in the season opener against Tottenham Hotspur. While there were a couple of major reasons for the defeat, we can't help but think that bad luck might've also played a part here.
The former Barcelona manager has been unable to record a win in his travels to Spurs' stadium. With this loss, he has now had five unsuccessful trips against Spurs with Manchester City, more than any other club he has faced across all competitions.
While Manchester City dominated possession, it took Spurs just one quick counterattack to score the winning goal. The Cityzens also lacked concentration at times in defense and backed off, allowing Spurs to take shots. It ultimately backfired for the visiting side in this game.
#4 Super Son proves to be the difference-maker yet again
Son has proven his ability as a great finisher in the last couple of seasons at Tottenham. The 2020-21 campaign was the best season of his career, as he scored 17 goals in the Premier League.
Whenever Spurs are in action, especially in a game against a big opponent like Manchester City, Son is expected to deliver. Tonight, he did not disappoint and recorded more shots (five) than anyone else throughout the 90 minutes. The South Korean ultimately scored the winning goal from the edge of the box at the end of a swift counter-attacking move from the home team.
Son will once again be one of Spurs' key players this campaign and has gotten off to a great start.
Also See: Ranking the 10 best players in the UEFA Champions League this season (2020/21)
#3 Too much creativity and a lack of goal-scoring threat from either side
It would not be wrong to say that Tottenham and Manchester City matched each other's intensity evenly in the game. This was more evident in the final third than any other area of the pitch. Both sides repeatedly made some promising runs in and around the box but lacked sharpness inside it.
City had better chances in the early stages of the game while Spurs also caught the visiting side on the counter-attack. However, the hosts rarely threatened the City defenders.
There was not a single shot recorded on target in the first half. By the final whistle, Tottenham attempted 13 shots out of which only two were on target and they scored from one. Manchester City had 66% possession, and had 18 shots, of which only four were on target. Both teams struggled massively in the final third and this will be an equally urgent source of concern for Santo and Guardiola.
#2 Tottenham academy product Japhet Tanganga impresses in the narrow win
Japhet Tanganga will be looking to cement his place as the first-choice right-back at Tottenham this season. The youngster left a great account of himself in the opening fixture of the 2021-22 campaign. Tanganga was picked ahead of Matt Doherty and put in an excellent shift, receiving a standing ovation from the Spurs faithful when he was substituted in the 82nd minute.
The home-grown talent will be looking to become one of the first defenders from the academy to break into the main team in recent years. At 22, he was one of the youngest players on the field tonight and Manchester City players might've looked to target him. But the young defender rebuffed City's advances on his side, locking the left-flank down with some astute defending.
Tanganga has done enough to secure his place for the away game against Nuno Espirito Santo's former side Wolverhampton next weekend.
#1 Manchester City sorely need an established striker
Manchester City faced an alarmingly familiar problem in their opening day outing against Spurs. They had the majority of the possession, started strongly and even had more goal attempts and shots on target, but lacked decisiveness in the final third.
City recorded three shots on target, one more than Tottenham, and yet it felt as if they did not test the hosts' defense enough. City's rivals, including Chelsea and Liverpool, scored three goals in their first games of the campaign. More importantly, Manchester United thrashed Leeds 5-1 and are atop the table after Matchday 1. In comparison, City's start to the season was woefully disappointing.
Signing a striker might not be the answer to all their problems. But having an accomplished finisher will fill in what seems to be their only weakness at the moment. Whether that player is Tottenham striker Harry Kane remains to be seen.
Also See: Top 10 football players with the most fans in the world
