Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United shared the spoils in a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday. In an end-to-end encounter full of chances, both sides will feel they could have won it, but ultimately had to settle for a point apiece.
Son Returns as Spurs Held at Home
The headline team news for Spurs saw Son Heung-min return to the starting lineup after recovering from a hamstring injury, with the South Korean replacing Timo Werner. Yves Bissouma also came in for Rodrigo Bentancur in midfield. West Ham were unchanged from their 4-1 victory over Ipswich Town before the international break.
Spurs started brightly and took the lead on 11 minutes. Dejan Kulusevski drove at the West Ham defence before slipping a pass through for Dominic Solanke to slot home his 5th goal of the season. But the home side’s joy was short-lived as the Hammers struck back almost immediately.
A quick free-kick caught Tottenham napping and Jarrod Bowen raced clear down the right. His cross picked out Michail Antonio whose snapshot hit the post, but Lucas Paqueta reacted quickest to bury the rebound. It was the Brazilian’s first goal for West Ham since his summer move from Lyon.
“We started well and got our noses in front, but then switched off for their equaliser which was disappointing,” Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou told reporters after the match. “I thought we controlled large parts of the game but just lacked that cutting edge in the final third to get the winner.”
Chances Galore But No Winner
Both teams had numerous opportunities to grab all three points in a frenetic second half. Son saw a dipping volley spectacularly tipped over by Alphonse Areola, while at the other end Mohammed Kudus fired into the side netting after a mazy dribble.
Spurs thought they had won it late on when Dane Scarlett bundled home after a goalmouth scramble, but the 18-year-old’s effort was ruled out for offside following a lengthy VAR review. In the end, a draw was probably a fair result on the balance of play.
“It was a typical derby – intense, passionate, a bit scrappy at times,” said Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui. “We probably had the better chances overall so there’s a tinge of disappointment not to get the win. But this is a tough place to come so we’ll take the point and move on.”
Spurs Seeking Consistency
The result leaves Tottenham in 6th place on 14 points, already 7 adrift of leaders Arsenal. After a mixed start to the campaign, Postecoglou knows his side need to start stringing wins together to keep pace with the early frontrunners.
“No one is happy in the dressing room, but that shows the standards we’ve set,” the Australian stated. “We want to be challenging at the top end of the table and to do that we have be clinical and see games out like today. It’s still early days though and I’m confident this group will gel and get better as the season progresses. We go again on Wednesday night.”
Spurs travel to Everton in midweek before the small matter of a trip to in-form Manchester United next weekend. October promises to be a pivotal month for Postecoglou’s new-look side as they aim to click into a consistent winning groove.
Hammers Showing Resilience
A point lifts West Ham up to 12th and continues their solid if unspectacular start under Lopetegui. The Spaniard will have been pleased by the character his team showed to come from behind and then hold firm under late pressure.
“The boys dug deep and showed great resilience today,” he said. “This is never an easy place to get a result so we can be satisfied overall. We still need to work on being more ruthless when we’re on top in games. But I can’t fault the effort and commitment.”
Performances have steadily improved since that chastening opening weekend defeat at Bournemouth, and optimism is growing that this West Ham squad is gelling into an effective, balanced unit. Tougher tests lie ahead, but the signs are positive that the Hammers can more than hold their own against the division’s top sides this term.
A Glimpse of the Future
This match showcased plenty of exciting young talent that points to bright futures for both clubs. Spurs handed a first start to 19-year-old midfielder Miles Graham-Carr, who impressed with his composure and range of passing. Oliver Skipp, Harvey White and Scarlett also featured off the bench.
Meanwhile, West Ham included Kudus, Maxwel Cornet and Ollie Scarles in their lineup, with Amadou Diallo and Kamarai Swyer coming on as substitutes. In a league often criticised for its lack of opportunities for youth, it was refreshing to see both managers put their faith in emerging stars.
“We have some hugely exciting young players at this club and I have full belief in them,” declared Postecoglou. “If they’re good enough, they’re old enough. I’ll never hesitate to throw them in. They are the future and we are committed to developing our own talent.”
On this evidence, that future looks extremely bright for these two proud London clubs. While there may have been no winner today, both teams will take heart from their performances as they plot assaults on the top half of the Premier League table. If this match is anything to go by, fans are in for a rollercoaster ride.
