Finally Ange has found his Game changer perfect Spurs’ answer to Bukayo Saka in “world-class” star and it is NOT Johnson
Tottenham Hotspur has long been a club that has fostered and showcased some of the best attacking talents in football, and over the years, many forwards have etched their names into the hearts of the Spurs faithful. Among these players, Jermain Defoe stands out as a particularly beloved figure. The striker had two memorable spells with Spurs, during which he scored an impressive total of 122 goals, 91 of them in the Premier League. His scoring exploits place him fifth on the list of the club’s all-time top scorers in the competition. Defoe’s two stints at White Hart Lane spanned nine years, and he consistently provided a reliable source of goals. His clinical finishing and sharp movement made him a fan favorite and a dependable presence up front.
Fast forward to 2024, and it’s another attacking star, Heung-min Son, who now leads Tottenham’s charge in front of goal. The South Korean international, now 32 years old, has been a central figure in the Spurs attack since his arrival in the summer of 2015. Over the years, Son has become an integral part of the team, accumulating over 400 appearances for the club, and only Harry Kane surpasses him in the Premier League goalscoring ranks for Spurs. Recently, Son marked his return to action with a goal in Tottenham’s resounding 4-1 victory over West Ham United, a performance that underscored his continued importance under new manager Ange Postecoglou.
While Postecoglou has a wealth of attacking options at his disposal, it is Son who remains his most potent threat in the final third as the club pushes for a top-four finish this season. However, he’s not the only standout performer in Spurs’ attack, as the current campaign has seen other players step up under Postecoglou’s guidance.
One such player is Brennan Johnson, a Welsh winger who joined Spurs from Nottingham Forest in a £47.5 million move last summer. Johnson’s first season at Tottenham was a mixed bag, as he made 34 appearances but struggled at times to find consistency. However, despite the challenges, he still managed to contribute five goals and ten assists in his debut campaign, a testament to his potential. One of his memorable goals came in a 2-1 defeat against Wolves at Molineux, but it’s been this season where Johnson has truly begun to show why Spurs invested so heavily in him.
The start of the 2024/25 season wasn’t easy for Johnson, as he faced a wave of criticism on social media after some underwhelming performances in the opening matches. This led the 23-year-old to deactivate his Instagram account, a move that seemed to fuel his determination to prove his doubters wrong. Since then, Johnson has embarked on the best goalscoring run of his career, finding the back of the net in seven consecutive games for both club and country. His resurgence has been a major boost for Postecoglou, and his form is now a key factor in Spurs’ push for success this season.
Despite his impressive displays, Johnson has found himself compared to one of the Premier League’s brightest young stars—Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka. The rivalry between Spurs and Arsenal is one of the fiercest in football, and every North London Derby is filled with anticipation and tension. Earlier this season, Arsenal came out on top in their first meeting with Spurs, with Gabriel Magalhães scoring the winner from a Saka corner. Saka has been a revelation for Arsenal, contributing seven assists in just seven league matches, the highest in the division so far. His creativity is highlighted by his passing accuracy of 87% and the 27 chances he has created this season, an average of 3.9 per 90 minutes. The England international has also added two goals to his tally, further showcasing his well-rounded ability.
Saka’s influence in the North London Derby has been significant, as he has recorded six goal contributions in ten meetings against Spurs, with Arsenal winning six of those matches. However, despite Saka’s brilliance, Tottenham believes they have their own answer in Dejan Kulusevski, who has been a vital player for Spurs since his permanent move in the summer of 2022.
Under Postecoglou, Kulusevski has often been deployed as a right winger, but with Brennan Johnson’s emergence, the Swedish international has been pushed into a more central midfield role. This change has allowed Kulusevski to excel, as he now sees more of the ball and has become a key playmaker in the Spurs midfield alongside the likes of Rodrigo Bentancur and James Maddison. The switch in position has unlocked new dimensions in Kulusevski’s game, with the 24-year-old becoming a creative force akin to Saka.
Despite having fewer combined goals and assists than Saka, Kulusevski has matched the Arsenal star in terms of passes leading to shots per 90 minutes and take-ons attempted. Furthermore, Kulusevski has outperformed Saka in terms of carries into the final third, showcasing the effectiveness of his new role and how it has allowed him to flourish in recent weeks.
Kulusevski’s performances have been nothing short of outstanding, and his ability to create chances and drive the team forward has made him one of Postecoglou’s most important players this season. As Spurs aim for a top-four finish and a return to the Champions League, Kulusevski’s form could prove crucial in their ambitions. Alongside Son and the revitalized Johnson, Tottenham’s attacking trio offers the team a dynamic and potent threat capable of challenging the best in the Premier League.