Ben Wylie

Wed 19 April 2023 17:14, UK

It’s been a season to forget for everyone involved with Tottenham, but perhaps for none more so than Heung-min Son.

Coming off a near-perfect campaign in 2021/22 in which Son claimed the Golden Boot alongside Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, a summer transfer window which saw Antonio Conte welcome several statement signings was meant to see Spurs and Son really kick on.

The South Korean’s 23 goals were impressive for a number of reasons.

Not only, as mentioned, did it see him crowned the league’s top scorer, but not one goal came from the penalty spot, and his 23 goals were from a near-even split between his left and right foot (12L 11R) (Sofascore); versatility which is seen in few others at his level.

Last season’s Son was unpredictable – able to cut in and shoot, get to the by-line and cross, or even drive centrally through the middle – likely chasing a trademark Harry Kane pass.

But this campaign Son has looked like a shadow of his former self, often struggling to beat defenders and create chances for himself and others, and just generally looking low on confidence and in need of some rejuvenation.

Compared to last season, Son’s overall touches, touches in the final third and opposition box, carries into the penalty area, and progressive carries per 90 have all fallen this campaign, with Korean also attempting seven fewer passes per game in the Premier League (FB Ref).

Moreover, and perhaps most importantly, Son is completing just 0.8 dribbles per game in the Premier League this season, a drastic drop from his impressive rate of 1.5 per 90 in 2021/22 (Sofascore).

That being said, in contributing to 4.04 shot-creating actions per 90 – a rate that leaves him in the top 25% of Europe’s attacking midfielders for said metric, there can be no doubt that Son is still pulling his weight for Spurs, and if his recent performances are anything to go by he may finally have turned a corner.

Son’s Premier League record this season sits at a respectable eight goals and four assists in 29 appearances and granted whilst it’s not the heights 2021/22 – signs of improvement are starting to show.

The South Korea star has always been a form player – perhaps his only negative trait in the eyes of Spurs fans, often going on extended purple patches where he can do no wrong to suddenly being unable to buy himself a goal.

This has certainly been on show this season, picking up his infamous off-the-bench hat-trick against Leicester City before assisting at Brighton two weeks later, but then going a further six games without a goal contribution.

However, in Son’s last seven appearances for Tottenham, a record of four goals and an assist sees him as the club’s second-most prolific player – no prizes for guessing who takes first, as he could be rediscovering his form just as Spurs need it.

Moreover, even if his goals have dried up, his aforementioned versatility has remained, with Son’s eight league goals again being made up of a perfect split from his left and right foot.

His strike against Brighton two weeks ago was trademark Son, cutting in from the left before releasing a beautiful strike into the far corner that left Jason Steele helpless as Son claimed his 100^th Premier League goal – becoming the first Asian player to achieve such a feat.

Then again against Bournemouth last weekend, Son found himself free in the middle of the box, and guided a confident, albeit deflected finish into the goal to open the scoring as Spurs looked to be cruising to victory from the off; but the less said about that the better.

For Spurs fans, this is the Son they remember; an energetic, industrial, threatening forward who can make something from nothing.

With games against Newcastle, Manchester United and Liverpool on the horizon, even if a tad late, now is as good a time as any for Son to find his shooting boots, as if Tottenham hold aspirations of European football next season, they will likely have to take points off at least one of their rivals.

Regardless of how this season ends, neither Son nor Tottenham will likely harbour fond memories of 2022/23, but the South Korean is certainly still able to salvage a respectable season if he is to reach double figures in the Premier League, and hopefully, guide Tottenham to yet another European campaign for 2023/24.

In other Tottenham news, Vincent Kompany could be an option to take over at Spurs