Tottenham Hotspur staged a spirited comeback from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw against Bournemouth in an intense Premier League encounter at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this afternoon.
Despite their European aspirations, Ange Postecoglou’s side struggled to assert themselves early on, allowing the Cherries to take a commanding lead. Bournemouth struck first through Marcus Tavernier before summer signing Evanilson doubled their advantage, leaving Spurs with a mountain to climb. However, a crucial goal from Pape Matar Sarr, whose deflected effort looped over Kepa Arrizabalaga, sparked a response from the home side. The former Chelsea goalkeeper then fouled Heung-min Son in the penalty area, allowing the South Korean star to step up and confidently dispatch the spot-kick, restoring parity for Tottenham.
The result sees Spurs move onto 34 points in the league table, though they remain ten points behind Andoni Iraola’s impressive Bournemouth side. With just ten games remaining this season, Postecoglou now has the opportunity to rotate his squad, assess his options, and potentially decide which players might not have a long-term future at the club. Given the struggles displayed against Bournemouth, several individuals could find their roles under threat moving forward.
Tottenham’s Underperformers Against Bournemouth
One of the biggest concerns from today’s performance was the rustiness displayed by key players returning from injury. Cristian Romero, back in action after a lengthy spell on the sidelines, showed clear signs of struggling to regain his sharpness. The Argentine defender, who had not played since early December, lasted just an hour before being substituted. In that time, he lost possession 13 times and committed two fouls, highlighting his lack of match fitness. While Romero remains a vital presence in Tottenham’s backline, his return to full form will be crucial in the coming weeks.
Another player who endured a difficult afternoon was midfielder Yves Bissouma. The former Brighton man was handed his first league start since February but failed to make the most of the opportunity. He looked off the pace from the outset, getting dribbled past once and picking up a yellow card for a cynical foul on Evanilson to halt a counter-attack. His struggles prompted Postecoglou to withdraw him at halftime in favor of a tactical reshuffle.
Despite these two underwhelming displays, one attacking player stood out for all the wrong reasons, raising serious doubts about his suitability for Thursday’s crucial Europa League tie against AZ Alkmaar.
Brennan Johnson’s Struggles Continue
With Tottenham’s injury crisis easing, competition for places in the attacking lineup has intensified. Postecoglou was able to name Dominic Solanke and Wilson Odobert in his starting XI, but neither player found the net in North London. While both played the full 90 minutes, Brennan Johnson endured a nightmare outing and failed to justify his selection.
The Welsh winger, deployed on the right side of Spurs’ front three, endured yet another frustrating display, marking his third consecutive Premier League game without a goal since his brace against Ipswich Town last month. Johnson struggled to influence proceedings, managing just 29 touches throughout the match—an alarmingly low tally, especially when compared to goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario’s 47 touches. His lack of involvement in attacking phases was glaring, and he failed to complete a single one of his two attempted dribbles, repeatedly losing out in his individual battles against Bournemouth full-back Milos Kerkez.
Adding to his woes, Johnson failed to register a single shot on goal and won just 25% of his duels, rendering him ineffective in the final third. His struggles saw him hooked at halftime, with Son Heung-min replacing him—a move that ultimately changed the game as the South Korean talisman salvaged a point for Spurs.
Football London journalist Alasdair Gold was particularly critical of Johnson’s display, awarding him a 3/10 rating—the joint-lowest among Spurs players who started the match. Such a poor performance raises serious concerns about his suitability for the upcoming Europa League clash, with Postecoglou likely to consider alternative options.
Postecoglou’s Selection Dilemma Ahead of Europa League Tie
With Tottenham set to host AZ Alkmaar in the second leg of their Europa League tie, Postecoglou will have some big decisions to make. Spurs enter the match trailing by a goal following their defeat in the Netherlands, meaning they need a strong attacking performance to overturn the deficit. Given Johnson’s lack of impact against Bournemouth, it seems highly unlikely that he will retain his place in the starting lineup.
Postecoglou has shown patience with the 23-year-old, but his struggles in front of goal and inability to influence key moments make him a liability in such a high-stakes fixture. With Son, Solanke, and Odobert all available, the Australian manager may look to a different combination in attack, ensuring Spurs have the best chance of progressing to the next round.
As Tottenham push for a strong finish to the season, underperforming players like Johnson, Romero, and Bissouma must quickly step up their game. Otherwise, they risk falling out of favor as Postecoglou starts shaping his squad for the future.
Imagine having Fewer touches than Vicario- Ange must drop 3/10 Spurs dud who lost ball every 5 mins vs Bournemouth
