Tim Sherwood praised James Maddison for the role he played in helping Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur secure a point against Arsenal on Sunday.
Tottenham’s summer signing, who was the Premier League’s Player of the Month for August, continued where he picked off at the Emirates by securing two assists in the north London derby – Jude Bellingham praised the playmaker.
That included James Maddison getting the better of his England teammate Bukayo Saka out on the left flank, before he surged towards Arsenal’s box and fed a lovely ball into the danger area for Son Heung-min to poke home.
Former Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood was impressed by the ‘turn of pace’ shown by the 26-year-old, as he told Premier League Productions (24/09/23 at 8:50 pm).
That proved to be a pivotal moment in the game because that equaliser, not only came just before the half-time break, but it also came moments after James Maddison nearly gifted Gabriel Jesus with a goal.
If the Brazil star had made it 2-0, at the time, then Spurs would have made the short trip back home empty-handed.
James Maddison’s assists against Arsenal
“This really is all about Maddison,” said Sherwood. “They were putting pressure on, but they just keep it alive.
“They have a good shape. Udogie heads the ball to him and Saka gets the wrong side, then he says ‘see you later’. Change of pace and what a finish that is from Son. He gets across the defenders.
“It’s all about Maddison there. He has no idea or sight of Saka, but what he does is he feels him. He knows exactly where he is, then just slips him, change of pace and it’s a great pull pack. It was a wonderful equaliser from Tottenham.”
James Maddison gets the best of Saka
When the duo are on international duty, they are the best of friends, with the Spurs man recently handing the 22-year-old England’s Player of the Year award.
But, on the domestic scene, it is a different story, with Maddison coming out on top yesterday.
After Saka, via a Cristian Romero deflection, had opened the scoring for Arsenal, he proceeded to do Maddison’s dart-themed celebration.
And whilst the Hale-End star was laughing, at the time, it would be his fellow countryman who would get the last laugh.
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