Antonio Conte insists Harry Kane will remain on penalty duty for Tottenham at Norwich City, despite Son Heung-min’s pursuit of the Golden Boot.
The South Korean is enjoying his best ever season and is on 21 Premier League goals, just one behind Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah in the top-scorer race.
Son will be trying to overhaul the Egyptian when Spurs visit Norwich on Sunday, but will not be assuming spot-kicks should Spurs be awarded one.
Conte reiterated that the team’s need to get the point that would clinch Champions League qualification is greater than Son’s personal quest.
The Italian said: “Before [personal interest] there is the interest of the team and Harry Kane is our player who has to kick. If there is this opportunity Kane has to kick.
“Then I am pleased for Sonny, he deserves to stay in this position, but don’t forget the first interest is the target of the team not personal targets, the personal target comes later.
“If we are good to match both situations I am the first to be happy, but I repeat, I know Sonny thinks my way because he is a really good guy, he is a smart person, a very intelligent person.
“I am the first person to be happy to have a player in my team win the Golden Boot, I am the first. But if you ask me to pick one of these two, you know which is my answer. I also know Sonny’s answer.”
Spurs 1 Burnley: player ratings
-
TOTTENHAM RATINGS: Hugo Lloris - 7: Called on to make good save from Cornet just before half-hour mark having barely touched the ball up to that point. Found himself under an aerial bombardment with crosses into box at times after break but dealt with them well. Booked for time wasting. Reuters -
Davinson Sanchez - 6: Seemed to have plenty of possession in first half which Burnley were happy with as Colombian’s distribution isn’t the best. Incurred wrath of manager Antonio Conte for not being in required position midway through second period. Reuters -
Eric Dier - 8: Not much to do for long spells at back with match set-up like attack v defence training exercise. Under some serious pressure from Burnley balls into box after half-time but stood up to it well. AP -
Ben Davies - 7: Struck left-footed shot straight at Pope in 15th minute. Untroubled against Burnley’s limited attacking intent until those spells in second half when the crosses were flying in AFP -
Emerson Royal - 7: Swerving long-range shot that forced Pope to turn over bar for corner in first half. Solid defensively and pushed forward when he could. Reuters -
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg - 6: Excellent back tracking and tackle and deny Cornet early chance to get through on goal and kept Spurs ticking over in midfield. Reuters -
Rodigo Bentancur - 7: Such a clever passer of the ball in midfield but finishing skills weren’t so impressive as he fired wild shot high over bar in first-half injury time, then sent glancing header straight at keeper in second period. Getty -
Ryan Sessegnon - 7: Picked out Kane’s head with curling cross that needed Collins to divert wide for corner. Brilliant defensive header to clear Burnley ball into box in first half. Final ball continues to be erratic on occasions. AFP -
Lucas Moura - 7: His pace caused Burnley problems at the start - one run and lovely dinked cross picked out Kane for one of his early headed chances – then went quiet until just before break when he set up chance for Kane. Booked for clipping heels of Taylor. Reuters -
Son Heung-min - 7: Nearly caught out Pope with low shot to near post but keeper scrambled for corner. Twice must have thought he’d scored in second half only for Pope to produce two superb stops. PA -
Harry Kane - 7: Two headed chances in opening 20 minutes – one not enough power to trouble Pope, the other looked goal-bound until Collins diverted wide. Glorious chance just before break but sent shot wide from Moura pull back. Did score with clinical penalty minutes later. PA -
SUBS: Dejan Kulusevski – (On for Moura 79’) N/A. Struggling with illness so didn’t start game. Booked for foul on Taylor. Reuters -
Joe Rodon – (On for Emerson 90’) N/A. Getty -
BURNLEY: Nick Pope - 9: Busy start for the England goalkeeper with saves from Son, Kane and Emerson. Gambled on Kane hitting penalty down middle but England captain slotted into corner. Like opposite number Lloris, booked for time wasting. Two fantastic reaction saves to deny Son in second half. Getty -
Connor Roberts - 7: Right wingback in Burnley back five that felt like a back eight large parts of game. Took painful knee in face off Sessegnon in opening 10 minutes but earned stupid booking for kicking ball away after pulling down same player later in half. Reuters -
Kevin Long – 7: Club’s longest serving player in at centre-half for only second start of season and should be pleased with his efforts. Towering header just wide of target at start of second half. Reuters -
Nathan Collins - 8: Seemed to be one-man defensive magnet at start of game as everything Spurs threw into box, Collins was on hand to clear - one a goalbound Kane header. Clever through balls to set-up chances for Cornet and Barnes. Reuters -
Matthew Lowton - 6: The left of Burnley’s three centre-halves struggled to deal with some of Moura’s flying runs down his flank at times but played part in well organised defensive display from Clarets. PA -
Charlie Taylor - 7: One of Burnley players guilty of giving possession straight back to Spurs in opening 20 minutes but was his dangerous ball into box that almost picked out McNeil for first-half chance. One excellent tackle to prevent Emerson shooting on goal in second half. Reuters -
Jack Cork - 6: Given talking to by referee after flare-up with a couple of Spurs players early in second half as tempers began to fray. Never stopped running and challenging in centre of park. PA -
Josh Brownhill - 7: Like Cork, relentless workrate from midfielder chasing and harrying Spurs as home side dominated possession. Fine free-kick into box from right picked out Long for his header wide just after break. Getty -
Dwight McNeil - 5: Must have thought goal was on when Taylor ball from left looked destined for his head until Sessegnon came to Spurs’ rescue with superb challenge. Had shot blocked in last five minutes but attacking opportunities limited. Reuters -
Maxwell Cornet - 6: Put through on goal by Collins but saw shot well saved after trying to beat Lloris at his near post from tight angle. Left with bandage round head after being caught by Sanchez’s flying arm. AFP -
Ashley Barnes - 6: Thankless task up front with Burnley set-up so defensively. Furious when handball call was given against him by referee after VAR intervention. Accidental, but arm was in unnatural position so had to be given under current rules. Hit post with thumping strike on the hour. Reuters -
SUBS: Aaron Lennon – (On for Lowton 79’) N/A. Former Spurs winger given warm reception by home fans. Wout Weghorst – (On for Barnes 79’) N/A. Getty
Spurs will return to the Champions League after two seasons away if they can earn a point against already-relegated Norwich.
The Canaries have lost 12 out of their last 15 games as they head back to the Championship, but Conte is not letting anyone think it will be a foregone conclusion for his side.
“I don’t forget in the past what happened, I remember Manchester City in the last game when they were losing against QPR. In England it is not easy,” he said.
“I remember when City lost the FA Cup against Wigan. Football is beautiful especially for these reasons.
“You start 0-0 and if you don’t start with the right concentration and focus anything can happen.
“We know very well the importance of the game. We prepare very well and the focus has to be massive for everybody, if someone thinks the situation is easy I am not that person and I don’t transfer these thoughts to my players.
“Football is beautiful for this reason because it is unpredictable, if you don’t go with 100 per cent focus you risk to lose, especially in England. Everton and Crystal Palace was incredible, 2-0 and then 3-2.
“We have to pay attention but we work a lot to arrive mentally strong at this appointment.”
Tottenham 3 Arsenal 0: player ratings
-
TOTTENHAM RATINGS: Hugo Lloris - 7: Needed a few attempts to gather a cross after 25 minutes but not called into action again until he turned Nketiah shot over bar just before break. No serious saves to make in second half. AFP -
Davinson Sanchez - 7: Defender’s first start for three months with Cristian Romero out injured and, after coming under some early pressure, enjoyed a stress-free night in defence. Getty -
Eric Dier - 8: Well-timed sliding challenge to prevent Nketiah getting through on goal in opening two minutes. His long ball forward heading for Son resulted in Holding’s challenge and a red card for the Gunner. Reuters -
Ben Davies - 7: Early booking for tripping Saka but that was only blot on copybook. Flying block on Saka effort early in second half but Spurs were three up by then. Standing ovation when taken off late on. Reuters -
Emerson Royal - 7: A couple of first-half chance but failed to find target with either strike. Saw header saved brilliantly by Ramsdale just before hour mark. Getty -
Rodigo Bentancur - 7: Uruguayan’s flicked header supplied assist for Kane’s second goal and helped Tottenham dominate midfield. AFP -
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg - 7: Rock solid in middle of park as attacking players ran riot in front of him. Good night’s work from Dane who never wasted a pass. AP -
Ryan Sessegnon - 7: Mixed bag with his delivery but one lovely curling cross from left set-up chance for Emerson who couldn’t finish. Teed-up another opportunity for Son who scuffed shot over. Getty -
Dejan Kulusevski - 8: Swede’s cross into box resulted in Spurs’ winning penalty that Kane dispatched and helped Spurs cause Arsenal defence constant problems. Has been key player for Conte's team since his January arrival. AFP -
Son Heung-min - 9: Took some heavy treatment from Holding that ended with Arsenal man sent-off. Earned Spurs penalty when barged over by Soares. Poked home third after good work from Kane and ballooned another chance over bar. Fuming at substitution when he clearly wanted more goals. Getty -
Harry Kane - 9: Side-footed confident penalty into bottom corner to put Spurs in front then headed second from a metre out for his 12th and 13th goals against Arsenal. Denied hat-trick when swerving shot from distance saved by Ramsdale. EPA -
SUBS: Lucas Moura – (On for Kulusevski 72’) 7: Pace caused immediate problems and resulted in two Arsenal players being booked for fouls trying to stop him. AFP -
Steven Bergwijn – (On for Son 72’) 6: Joined with party in full swing and Spurs in total control. Getty Joe Rodon – (On for Davies 82’) N/A. -
ARSENAL RATINGS: Aaron Ramsdale - 7: Not to blame for any of the goals as defence imploded in front of him. Fabulous one-handed stop to stop Emerson making it four. Reuters -
Cedric Soares - 4: Clumsy shove on Son after getting on wrong side of attacker gave away first-half penalty. Gifted ball to Spurs that lead to another Kane scoring opportunity. Redeemed himself slightly with vital challenge to deny a lurking Kane. Reuters -
Gabriel - 6: Left short-handed at back when defensive partner saw red and manager Arteta should have brought on another defender immediately. Rolled by Kane and ended up poking ball straight to Son for third goal. Limped off injured with 15 minutes to go. EPA -
Rob Holding - 1: Absolutely brainless performance from defender in such a crucial game. Third needless challenge on Son in opening half hour resulted in yellow card and red followed not long after for arm/shoulder in South Korean’s face. Reuters -
Takehiro Tomiyasu - 6: Brilliant defending to block Kane chance that would have made it 2-0 in first half. One of Arsenal’s better defender’s on night. AFP -
Granit Xhaka - 5: Shot high and wide from way out just before half-hour mark and looked like he was starting to lose his head after Holding’s red card. Ended up in defence due to sending-off and injured teammates. Booked late on which had been coming. AFP -
Mohamed Elneny - 6: Given job of blocking balls heading into path of Kane and was doing fine until first goal then England captain stepped up a gear, Gunners went down to 10 men and gameplan went out of window. Getty -
Bukayo Saka - 5: Gunners attacker couldn’t get foothold in game with Spurs dominating at other end and didn’t have chance to score until just after half-time when had shot blocked. AFP -
Martin Odegaard - 5: Had game’s first shot on goal straight at keeper from distance but in-form midfielder saw his influence kept to minimum. Should have pulled back to 3-1 but side-footed straight to Lloris. Booked for fouling Moura. Reuters -
Gabriel Martinelli - 6: Ran Leeds ragged at weekend and looked a threat early on here until Spurs scored and Holding was sent off, turning game on head. Good run and ball supplied chance for Saka after break. AFP -
Eddie Nketiah - 5: Lost Kane ahead of Spurs’ attacker’s second goal with Arsenal a defender down due to Holding’s stupidity. Saw curling shot palmed over bar by Lloris just before half-time. EPA -
SUBS: Emile Smith Rowe – (On for Martinelli 64’) 5: Not the greatest time to come on with team down to ten men and three goals down. Booked for pulling back Moura. AFP -
Alexandre Lacazette – (On for Nketiah 73’) 5: No chance to change game that was already lost. Reuters -
Nuno Tavares – (On for Gabriel 75’) 5: Came on due another defensive injury for Gunners. AP
