Tottenham Hotspur have been fortunate to have a number of top-level attacking talents over the last few years, often giving their supporters moments to cherish forever.
Son Heung-min is just one player who falls into that category, with the Korean forward often having the talent to score inside the final third.
The winger scored a total of 173 goals for the Lilywhites, which puts him fourth on the club’s all-time list, with most of his impressive goals coming against local rivals Arsenal.
He scored nine goals in 22 games against the Gunners, the third most of any team he has faced in his career, further underscoring his influence in the North London derby.
However, despite his impact on Spurs, he could not outweigh one player who often proved to be a thorn in the club’s side when playing against them.
Bukayo Saka’s performance against Spurs
Since his breakthrough in 2020, Arsenal star Bukayo Saka has made 10 appearances against Spurs, going on to win 60% of his appearances.
The Englishman scored five goals against the Lilywhites and is averaging a goal every other game, often popping up and finding the back of the net at key moments in derby clashes.
He may not have scored in any of last season’s games, but he provided the assist for Gabriel’s late winner and Mikel Arteta’s side claimed bragging rights once again.
Saka now has more than 25 goals and assists in total over the past three seasons, further underscoring his top-level talent despite being only 24 years old.
There’s no denying that the Lilywhites faithful wish they had a player of his caliber, given the level he’s produced, but it’s safe to say that signing a star player like a winger would now cost a considerable amount of money.
But coach Thomas Frank need not worry. Because the Dane already has his own English player in his ranks at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Frank’s own Spurs star
Spurs’ 2024/25 season was an eventful one to say the least, with the team under manager Ange Postecoglou achieving great results while failing to achieve results in other competitions.
The Europa League win ended the Australian’s 17-year wait for a trophy, but it ultimately covered up the cracks that had appeared in the Premier League.
He could only finish 17th in England’s top flight, subsequently losing 22 games in the process, which cost him his job in North London.
Frank was appointed as the pick-up manager, and he has quickly settled into the role with ease, as evidenced by the team’s record of just one loss in their opening nine games.
This summer he added the likes of Mohamed Kudus and Xavi Simons to his ranks, but the North Londoner already had an answer for Saka within his ranks.
Dejan Kulusevski is yet to feature for Denmark due to injury, but there is no denying that the attacker will play a big role when he returns in the coming months.
The Swede, described as “phenomenal” by one creator, is currently sidelined with a knee injury, but managed to star consistently in the 2024/25 season before going under the knife to resolve a recurring problem.
He scored 10 goals and provided 11 assists in all competitions last season, finishing the season as one of the Lilywhites’ most creative expressions in attacking areas.
His level of performance last year was comparable and he was described by FBref as a Saka-like player, further underscoring how impressive he has been under Postecoglou.
Comparing their respective numbers, Kulusevski outperformed the Arsenal star in a number of key areas, showing the vast amount of quality he possesses.
This table highlights the depth in areas where he was able to outperform Saka, and his return to fitness has undoubtedly given Frank and the Spurs fan base a huge boost.
Kulusevski V SAKA – PL Statistics (2024/25) | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics (every 90) | with sepci | of |
games played | 32 | twenty five |
goals and assists | 11 | 16 |
Accuracy of shots on target | 36% | 32% |
Goals per shot on target | 0.4 | 0.2 |
advance to the final third | 2.3 | 0.7 |
pass into the opponent’s box | 2.1 | 1.9 |
advance to the final third | 2.5 | 1.6 |
aerial won | 40% | 33% |
Statistics by FBref | ||
It is unclear what fitness level he will have after such a long injury spell, but once he is at full capacity, the Swede will add a new dimension to the club’s strong front line.
If he can repeat or even better his results from last year, there’s no reason the forward can’t help make Frank’s first season in north London a memorable one.
