SCENT AND GREAVSIE
Harry needs just one sniff to become a legend... and now he’s after more goals as he boosts Arsenal dream
THE whole stadium stayed to worship one of their own.
Harry Kane, record breaker, Tottenham legend and curse of Manchester City lapped up the adulation after his coronation as the greatest goalscorer in the club’s history.
Kane made it 267 goals for Spurs in all competitions – overtaking Jimmy Greaves – and became the third player to reach 200 Premier League goals after Alan Shearer (260) and Wayne Rooney (208).
England captain Kane could so easily have taken months, even years, to come back from the misery of missing a penalty in the World Cup quarter-final against France.
Instead, he has roared back, showed an incredible mentality and maybe even proved a point to City who tried so hard to sign him 18 months ago as he upstaged their goal machine Erling Haaland.
Of course Kane wants to win trophies, but his loyalty deserves respect and the post-match celebration – the club staged a post-match interview with the stadium announcer in front of a packed ground – will take some beating.
And they may not just build a statue for
Kane at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, perhaps bitter rivals Arsenal will feel like recognising him at the Emirates after his goal created yet another twist in the title race.
Kane’s historic winner condemned City to another defeat, and Pep Guardiola’s side have now lost all five of their visits to Spurs’ new stadium and have failed to score a single goal.
City were woeful yesterday, lacking any ideas and inspiration.
And they are in serious danger of handing the title on a plate to Arsenal without much of a fight.
Spurs were terrific, spurred on by Kane, but also led by Pierreemile Hojbjerg who was a menace in midfield as he ran himself into the ground and frustrated the life out of City.
Once again it ended in frustration for Guardiola, who is still searching for the right balance and formula from a City
side who far too often provide the right service for Haaland but have become leaky in defence.
Kane’s 15th-minute decider summed up City.
Rodrigo Bentancur led the charge, Hojbjerg backed him up and, under pressure, City midfielder Rodri made a bad pass to put Rico Lewis in trouble and
Spurs moved in for the kill.
Hojbjerg nicked the ball, drove forward, then fed Kane who almost scuffed his crossshot past City keeper Ederson.
Twelve years on from his first Spurs goal – against Shamrock Rovers in the Europa League – the talisman celebrated his piece of history. City tried to get going but another unfamiliar line-up – with Kevin De Bruyne only a substitute and a weak looking defence – hardly helped. Riyad Mahrez crashed a shot against the bar in first-half injury time and that was as close as they came.
It was Mahrez who eventually made way for De Bruyne as City pinned Spurs back but created little while the home side were increasingly dangerous on the break.
Kane went close again. City piled on the pressure but Julian Alvarez saw his shot deflected wide by Eric Dier which just typified Spurs’ resilience.
Eventually there was a crack in the home side’s armour. Jack Grealish ran forward, Cristian Romero brought him down with a clumsy trip which earned him a second yellow card (left) and Spurs were down to 10 men in the 87th minute.
But they held firm. Guardiola said before the game City pulled out of the race to sign Kane when the price went above £100million.
But the strike star has proved time and again he is priceless and there is time to break even more records.