Son brings up century in Spurs victory
Son Heung-min reached a century of Tottenham goals as his team ended a four-game winless run in the Premier League with a 3-0 victory over Leeds, and Arsenal surged to a third successive win that allays relegation jitters in a bright start to 2021 for the north London rivals.
Son and Harry Kane equalled the Premier League record for most goal combinations in a season — with 22 games to go — levelling Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton’s tally of 13 from 1994-95. After Kane had opened the scoring from the penalty spot, he teed up Son for his landmark goal.
Son returned the favour by setting up the third. Toby Alderweireld benefited from Illan Meslier’s error as the Leeds keeper allowed a header from Son’s corner to squirm in for the third in the second half. It was the first time Spurs scored three times in a league game since they drew 3-3 with West Ham in October, as the shackles finally came off after a month of sitting on leads.
“We could have scored more goals,” Spurs manager Jose Mourinho said. “We had good opportunities to score, and not just from the traditional Sonny and Kane.”
After snow was cleared from the Hawthorns pitch, Arsenal swept aside a hapless West Bromwich Albion, with Alexandre Lacazette scoring twice in a 4-0 rout that lifted Arsenal to 11th.
Kieran Tierney curled in the opener, and Bukayo Saka was part of a flowing move with Emile Smith
Rowe and Lacazette before tapping in the second before halftime.
Lacazette made it 3-0 after 61 minutes when Saka’s cross caused chaos. His delivery was turned on to his own post by Semi Ajayi, Smith Rowe’s follow-up was blocked and Lacazette fired in the rebound from 10m. Lacazette was on target again when he turned in Tierney’s cross from close range.
West Brom have now conceded nine goals in their last two games to leave Sam Allardyce’s new side nextto-last in the league.
A five-game winless run ended for Crystal Palace thanks to a meeting with the league’s worst team and a wonder goal from Ebere Eze after Jeffrey Schlupp’s deflected opener.
Sheffield United remain winless 17 games into the season, after Eze collected a pass deep inside his own half, skipped past two defenders and then produced a measured curled finish into the bottom corner beyond Aaron Ramsdale.
The most goals of the day came at Brighton, who fought back from a two-goal deficit to snatch a 3-3 draw with Wolverhampton.
After Aaron Connolly’s early opener, Brighton conceded from Romain Saiss’ header, an own goal from Dan Burn and a penalty from Ruben Neves after Burn brought down Adama Traore. But Neal Maupay won and converted a penalty before Lewis Dunk headed in the equaliser to secure a draw that took Brighton three points clear of the relegation zone.
We could have scored more goals.
Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho