There is one striker who could decide the destiny of the title.
And his team will be kingmakers during the run-in over the course of the final weeks of one of the most exciting races of the Premier League era. Incredibly, it is not Erling Haaland, Mo Salah or Kai Havertz who could have the final say as to who will be crowned champions on Sunday, May 19.
Tottenham striker Son Heung-Min will lead his team into the North London derby in one of the most important matches for Arsenal in 20 years. Arsenal clinched the title at White Hart Lane during the Invincibles season of 2003/04 but, even though Mikel Arteta ’s men know it is a must-win game, nothing will be decided on Sunday.
That is because Tottenham still have to go to Liverpool on Sunday, May 5, and then they must entertain Manchester City in a re-arranged game on May, 14. It shows that Tottenham could have a huge say in the destiny of the title and Son admits they are relishing the chance to play some of the best teams in Europe.
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But Son also admitted that Tottenham still themselves as a young, developing squad while the Spurs captain says Arsenal must now be classed as among the best in the world. Son said: “It will be a good test for our team. We're very young and we're still a little bit inexperienced because we're building a young team with a young team with new experiences.
“Some of them are in their first season in the Premier League. So look, we can test ourselves against one of the biggest teams in Europe and the Premier League. But also in the world.
“It's very important the way we play. Stick to our play, stick to our game. It's a very, very good test. It's against one of the best teams in the world so it's perfect [for us]. You want to always have good competition and you always want to face the best teams in the world.”
Liverpool’s defeat at Everton on Wednesday night showed the dangers of a derby and how a rival would dearly love to spike the title ambitions of their neighbours. It was back in 2010 when Tottenham - with Danny Rose scoring a spectacular effort - beat Arsenal in a North London derby in April to end any of their neighbour’s lingering title ambitions.
Spurs were thrashed by Newcastle last time out and Son has warned his team-mates they must improve (Richard Lee/REX/Shutterstock)They could do the same again this time and Son has his own impressive record against Arsenal, scoring six times in the Premier League and classes Sunday as the biggest game of their season so far. Son said: “We're working hard. We had a massive week to prepare for this big game and we're feeling great. It's a game everyone is looking forward to.
“It's a big derby and we know what it means for the team and the club and also for the fans. So we're going to prepare well and play our style of game.
“I'm always the type of guy with full confidence going into the games, believing in myself. Every single game is the same mindset. It doesn't motivate me even more because it's Arsenal.
“Every single game is big for me and a chance to show how impressive I can be. It's not important who scores the goals or that I scored six goals previously in this game. I just need to be ready for the biggest game of the season.”
For Tottenham it is also a big game for their own season. They are desperate to make it into the Champions League and it looks like it will be between them and Aston Villa for the fourth spot.
But it will also be 15 days since Tottenham’s devastating 4-0 defeat at Newcastle during which time Arsenal have played FOUR games. However, Son was brutal in his assessment of that Newcastle game, including his own “unacceptable” performance and it is clear they will be fired up against Arsenal.
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Son added: “We have to be ready. It was an unacceptable result and unacceptable performance, as well from me.
"As a group, we're talking a lot about this game and performance and everybody knows how to step up, they've all been playing long enough in the Premier League or a professional team. So they're working really hard to bounce back.
“It will be a really good game to bounce back and obviously the motivation will be even higher than in other games so we've got to just work hard until the game and do our style of play. Then there's no doubt we can bounce back.”
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