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Tottenham battle back to snatch dramatic Man City draw in six-goal thriller – 6 talking points

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10 months ago

December 3, 2023

ETIHAD EPIC! Tottenham battle back to snatch dramatic Man City draw thanks to late Kulusevski strike as Pep’s side throw away victory in six-goal thriller

MAN CITY 3-3 SPURS: Dramatic late goals from Jack Grealish and Dejan Kulusevski ensured that the spoils were shared between two of the Premier League’s great entertainers

Manchester City gave up ground in the Premier League title race after Tottenham struck at the death to earn a 3-3 draw.

The hosts swarmed all over Spurs from the off but Son Heung-min kept his cool to finish a swift counter-attack by fizzing a low strike through Ederson after just six minutes.

His joy was short-lived, though, as he put through his own net just two minutes later to inadvertently restore parity. And Phil Foden finished off an incisive move involving Jeremy Doku and Julian Alvarez to complete the turnaround on the half hour mark.

Giovani Lo Celso arrowed a pinpoint strike beyond Ederson which kissed the post to spark a frantic finale in the second-half. Jack Grealish thought he’d won it when he struck late only for Dejan Kulusevski to pop up in additional time to dent City’s title hopes. Here, 90minsoccer delves into all the big talking points from the match

If anyone needed a breather after 10 minutes, it was the Tottenham captain.

The manner in which Son ghosted beyond Doku to nudge Spurs into an early lead was enthralling, but he barely had time to appreciate it before putting through his own net.

Just two minutes and 17 seconds separated Son’s dramatic double – and in many ways, it set the tone for a memorable afternoon.

Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden were at their devastating best against Spurs (

Image:

Stu Forster)

Upstaging Erling Haaland is no mean feat, but it’s something Julian Alvarez has managed on more than one occasion this season.

The World Cup-winner was in inspired form operating behind Haaland against Spurs; he completed SIX key passes in the first-half alone and bagged a well-deserved assist after seamlessly linking the play between Doku and Foden for City’s second goal.

City boast an array of attacking talent to support Haaland but few have stood out more than Alvarez this term. He rarely seems to waste a pass and has chipped in with goals of his own, too. Like Doku, he was also denied by the woodwork in a highly entertaining first-half.

The man pegged as Haaland’s understudy has become a star in his own right this season – and his performance against Spurs underlined why.

Foden celebrates his goal alongside Alvarez

Foden had been in red-hot form in the build-up to Sunday’s match, so it came as no surprise that he was the one to nudge Manchester City into the lead in the 31st minute.

He now has five goals in his last six games across all competitions after keeping his cool to beat Vicario from 10-yards. Plenty of people have called on to Pep Guardiola to deploy Foden in more a central role, but he showed once again versus Spurs that he is at his devastating best out wide.

While Jeremy Doku teased Spurs’ makeshift defence on the other flank, Foden was free to ghost into dangerous areas time and time again.

Ange Postecoglou still attempted to take the game to Manchester City

Spurs headed into Sunday’s match with a horde of players unavailable due to injury – but Ange Postecoglou refused to compromise on his principles and still attempted to take the game to the Premier League champions.

That was always going to be a big ask. And although Spurs led briefly at the Etihad, it felt like Guglielmo Vicario’s goal was under constant siege.

City were relentless in their attempts to smother Tottenham’s attempts to build play from deep. And while Tottenham stayed active with their own forays forward, it always looked there was only likely to be one winner in the first-half.

But Spurs rallied impressively after the break. And Postecoglou was rewarded for sticking to his guns when Lo Celso and then Kulusevski pegged the champions back to seal a precious point.

Jack Grealish thought he’d won the match for Manchester City right at the death

Manchester City have found a new way to hurt opponents in recent weeks: give the ball to Doku.

The £55million man from Rennes has tormented many a Premier League defender in recent weeks to leave Grealish kicking his heels on the bench, but the England star made his mark after replacing Doku early in the second-half.

Not only was Grealish’s late impact a reminder for Guardiola, it also served as a reminder to the Premier League.

Manchester City’s attacking repertoire is unmatched; if Doku doesn’t get you then Foden will. If they strike out then Grealish is waiting in the wings. Then you’ve got Alvarez, whose influence has only grown in the absence of Kevin de Bruyne, and the imperious Erling Haaland, too.

It’s why overthrowing Manchester City is such a tall ask for Arsenal – or anybody else for that matter. But there is seemingly a chink the champions armour

Dejan Kulusevski celebrates after scoring against Manchester City at the death

At half-time it seemed as though City would canter to the comfortable victory they needed after Arsenal opened up a four-point lead at the Premier League summit on Saturday.

But Kulusevki’s thumping late header strike spoiled City’s afternoon to spark wild celebrations in both the red and white halves of north London.

A three-point gap at this stage of the season won’t overly worry a Manchester City side who effortlessly chased down the same opponents last year, but their penchant for shipping goals is a cause for concern.

The champions have now conceded 10 goals in their last four matches – and no matter how many attacking riches City have, their soft underbelly will leave Guardiola concerned.