Ray Parlour says Tottenham Hotspur duo Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son were the difference in the North London derby with Arsenal’s attacking options not quite so fearsome, speaking to talkSPORT (13 May, 9am).
Heading into Thursday’s clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Eddie Nketiah was playing arguably the best football of his whole Arsenal career.
The England U21 international followed up a Man of the Match display against Chelsea with another brace against Leeds United, all the while supplementing his impressive finishing ability with the sort of impressive link-play more often associated with Gunners’ team-mate Alexandre Lacazette.
But the fact remains that Nketiah hadn’t even started a league game this season until April.
And, with all due respect, the academy graduate is only Arsenal’s number one striker right now by default. The byproduct of Lacazette’s wastefulness, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s departure.
In stark contrast to Antonio Conte – who can boast two of the finest forwards not just in England but in Europe – Arteta would be forgiven for feeling he was taking a knife to a gunfight.
A switchblade going up against Tottenham’s military grade artillery.
Kane and Son shine as Tottenham beat Arsenal 3-0
“I wouldn’t say (Tottenham are) head and shoulders (above Arsenal),” says Gunners legend Parlour.
“But with Kane and Son in the side… I’m not being rude but Nketiah, he’s done so well in recent weeks, but he’s not a Son or a Kane is he?
“How many teams do Son and Kane get in? They get in Man City’s, probably, both of them. And Liverpool.”
Kane scored twice in the first-half as Spurs cruised to a 3-0 win, finding the net either side of Rob Holding’s most needless of red cards.
The England captain then turned provider mere moments after the interval, setting up Son as Tottenham moved to within one point of the Champions League places.
But, as Parlour points out, Arsenal are still in pole position, even if Spurs are breathing down their necks. Beat Newcastle United and Everton and the Gunners will be a Champions League team in 2022/23.
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“In the end, it was a poor performance and a bad result. The circumstances didn’t go their way but they’ve still got every chance of winning the next two games. It’s in their hands still,” Parlour adds.
“That’s what Arteta’s got to do now. Let’s see how good a manager he is, and how they bounce back.”
Arsenal host relegation-threatened Everton on Sunday.
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