Postecoglou’s fringe player stakes claim – Three things learned from Tottenham v Arsenal
Tottenham beat Arsenal 1-0 in Hong Kong on Thursday as they continue to step up their preparations for the new Premier League season.
Pape Sarr’s spectacular goal put Spurs ahead just before half-time, the midfielder chipping David Raya from long range after Myles Lewis-Skelly had been dispossessed.
Micky van de Ven looked to have doubled the lead for Thomas Frank’s side but his header flew just wide of the post.
Spurs will next play Newcastle United in the South Korean capital of Seoul on Sunday (3 August).
Here, Tottenham News highlights three things we learned from a fiery affair.
Set-pieces are part of Frank’s plans
Arsenal are the side known for their strong set-pieces, but it was Tottenham who took full advantage of them on Thursday.
Spurs went close on two different occasions in the first half, with the first hitting the post, before Richarlison inexplicably failed to convert from close range following another.
Set-pieces were among Brentford’s strongest tools while under Frank, so it should not be a surprise to see them put to use at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium too.
Spurs fans would have been pleasantly surprised to see some strength in defending them too, with set-piece goals a recurring issue under Ange Postecoglou.
Spence stakes case for starting role
Djed Spence made his breakthrough for Tottenham last season following Destiny Udogie’s injury, and retained his place for much of the remaining campaign despite previously being a fringe player under Postecoglou.
The Englishman impressed, but has sometimes remained prone to letting mistakes creep back into his game.
| Djed Spence | v Arsenal |
| Clearances | 3 |
| Recoveries | 4 |
| Ground duels won | 5 |
Up against Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, though, Spence was strong and resolute, managing to keep the winger quiet for much of the game, whilst providing a threat going the other way.
And with Udogie unlikely to return before the start of the season, the former Nottingham Forest man is doing a good job of placing himself firmly in Frank’s favoured XI.
Sarr will be key for Frank
Sarr’s goal was both his and the game’s highlight, but the midfielder’s general performance was excellent.
The Senegal international refused to stop running, constantly pressing his opposition and making five tackles – the game’s most.
The midfield was an area of mass change for Postecoglou’s side last season, but Sarr can expect to be heavily involved for Frank, with the 22-year-old’s intensity far too valuable to neglect.
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