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Club Focus - Tottenham - Champions League bid still alive following overdue Derby win
After an agonisingly long wait, Tottenham finally earned their first Premier League victory over arch-rivals Arsenal for 11 years.
After a horrible past couple of weeks, where hopes of Champions League qualification looked to have evaporated in defeat at Sunderland and the FA Cup was kissed goodbye to against Portsmouth at Wembley, Spurs put in a massive performance to secure a well-deserved three points. From the back to the front, there were thumping displays all across the field from entire Tottenham cast, as well as some inspired selection decisions from Harry Redknapp. After 120 hard minutes on a sapping pitch at the home of football on Sunday that ended in demoralising defeat, Redknapp made five changes to his starting side. The headline selection would have been the return after several weeks out injured of skipper Ledley King but Redknapp had a bigger surprise in store. Having made promising cameos in the cups, Danny Rose was handed his Premier League debut in place of David Bentley. The boss was coy in explaining his decision pre-match, admitting after the game that he had not wanted to mention Rose’s left foot in case Arsene Wenger and his scouts had not done their homework given that he was deploying the youngster on the right flank.
Sky Sports’ premier pundit Andy Gray did not have long to wait to bring out his favourite catchphrase of “take a bow, son” but rarely has it been more warranted. Rose’s sublime 30-yard volley was fantastically controlled as the ball angled past the helpless Manuel Almunia in the visitors’ goal, a strike as good as anything hit by the Premier League’s king of technique, Paul Scholes. Whilst Rose is 19-years-old and not quite the sprightly 16-year-old that Wayne Rooney was when he announced his arrival, there was more than a shade of the impact that the then-Everton striker had when he smashed a wonder-goal past the same opposition for his first senior strike back in 2002. Redknapp obviously had enough faith in the Doncaster-born winger to throw him in for such a huge game, but there must have been at least minor doubts in the manager’s mind that his unexpected gamble could backfire. However much belief he had in his young charge, Redknapp could not have dreamed of such a telling impact from Rose. Not only was the strike “one in a million” according to Wenger, but it was a key moment in setting the pattern of play for the remainder of the game. The Gunners had started the brighter team, and had the hosts firmly on the back foot for the first ten minutes, but following Rose’s belter Spurs grew in confidence. There was still much defending to do, but it was done with solidity and assurance. The returning King was a class above, and Michael Dawson alongside him did his England World Cup chances no end of good. Benoit Assou-Ekotto had possibly his best ever game in a Lilywhite shirt and Younes Kaboul looked much-improved from the player that departed for Fratton Park.
Rose’s dream debut ended at half-time, with Redknapp revealing that he had tweaked some ligaments. In truth, Rose found it hard to get in to the game aside from his goal, but it was entirely understandable for the lad to be a bit overwhelmed considering the stage and what he had just achieved. Taking him off at the break would have been a wise move even if he had been fit to continue. Even though a standing ovation from the White Hart Lane crowd would have been totally deserved after such a wonderful and important strike, it will be beneficial to the player to have had a low-key exit. The newspaper headlines were always going to belong to him so the less attention and pressure heaped on him on the better. Expectation has hindered many a young player and Rose will need time to adapt to the inevitable spotlight. Bringing on the experienced Bentley allowed Spurs more control in possession, and Bentley will have been keen to make an impact. Not only was he denied the chance to feature against his former side from the start of the match, but he may have had his pride wounded being overlooked in favour of an unproved debutant.
Heurelho Gomes picked up the Man-of-the-Match award for his trio of stunning late saves, but a mention must also go to the ever-maturing Gareth Bale. It was the Welshman’s brilliant run from wide on the halfway line into space vacated through the middle by Jermain Defoe that enabled him to take advantage of slack defensive positioning from Arsenal to grab what ultimately proved to be the winning goal. Fourth spot will still be a big ask, but on this showing, Spurs have far from given up hope.
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