Tottenham Hotspur 1 Crystal Palace 0
Wanyama (83’)
Man of the match: Vincent Janssen (Tottenham)
It has been a summer of change in the Premier League.
Manchester City, Chelsea, and Manchester United, winners of 11 of the last 12 titles, are all under new management this season, while Jurgen Klopp has brought in six players as he embarks upon his first full campaign as Liverpool manager.
The continuity among the sides expected to contend at the top of the league comes from north London, where Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have made subtle tweaks rather than sizeable transformations.
While Arsene Wenger has been criticised for his policy of largely sticking with what he has at the Emirates Stadium, Mauricio Pochettino’s equivalent approach seems sensible after last year’s unexpected title challenge.
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It has been a case of evolution instead of revolution at White Hart Lane. Vincent Janssen and Victor Wanyama are the only additions to the squad so far, with both men initially expected to be backup options rather than first-team regulars.
The duo were included in Tottenham’s starting XI for Saturday’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace, though, with Wanyama deployed next to Eric Dier in midfield and Janssen joining Harry Kane in attack after an impressive cameo against Everton last weekend. Both made their mark.
Tottenham were not at their best for much of this encounter, their pressing not as sharp as usual and their passing not as crisp. A handful of good chances were spurned in the first half as the hosts struggled to take advantage of their territorial dominance, with Palace growing into the game in the second period as they sensed an opportunity to steal an unlikely victory.
It was Wanyama who finally broke Palace’s resistance, heading home from close range in the 83rd minute after Kane flicked on Eric Lamela’s corner from the left.
The Kenya international only managed four Premier League goals in three seasons at Southampton. Although not bought for his scoring credentials, his late winner was the icing on the cake of an assured all-round performance.
Wanyama, 25, was full of industry in midfield, while his distribution was efficient. He may not possess Mousa Dembele’s ability to drive forward in possession, but his defensive qualities will be important to a Tottenham team who lacked midfield strength in depth the last season.
Janssen, meanwhile, was excellent, even if he did scuff one of the game’s best chances wide after being played through on goal by substitute Dele Alli.
Tottenham’s new No 9, who played ahead of Kane as his side’s most advanced player, showcased an excellent touch and some intelligent movement, while his tireless running and pressing from the front impressed a manager who has always stressed the importance of a strong work ethic.
“I’m very happy with the performance of Vincent and Harry,” Pochettino said. “It is an option for the future: we can play with two strikers. It’s a very good combination.”
Tottenham have gone a little under the radar in recent months, but a settled setup could work in their favour in the opening weeks of the campaign.
Wanyama and Janssen both proved their worth on Saturday, when Pochettino’s side ensured they picked up all three points despite not being as fluent as the Argentine would have liked.
Tottenham can and will play better than this, but a return of four points from their first two matches is a promising start.
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