LONDON: Harry Kane and Son Heung-min equalled the Premier League record for most goal combinations in a season as they inspired Tottenham’s 3-0 win over Leeds.
Kane, who opened the scoring with his 16th successive penalty, then teed up the South Korean’s 100th goal for the club as the pair combined for a 13th time this term, matching the tally set by Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton at Blackburn in 1994-95.
They have been the story of the season for Spurs and are just four short of equalling the total record of 36 set by Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard while at Chelsea.
Their unison here was timely as their contribution ended a four-game winless run in the Premier League, with Toby Alderweireld adding a third shortly after the break, though Matt Doherty was sent off at the death for two yellow cards.
It was the first time Spurs scored three goals in a league game since they drew 3-3 with West Ham in October as the shackles finally came off after a month of sitting on leads.
Marcelo Bielsa’s men had their moments, and peppered the Spurs goal with 16 shots, but they lacked the quality to ever look like scoring and their two-game winning run is over.
The early signs for Leeds were promising as they found space and opportunities at the expense of Tottenham, who earlier on Saturday condemned players Erik Lamela, Sergio Reguilon and Giovani Lo Celso for breaking coronavirus rules.
Ezgjan Alioski drilled into the side-netting while Patrick Bamford put a free header over from 12 yards after he lost his marker in the box.
Spurs, criticised for their lack of adventure in recent weeks, came to life and Kane flashed an effort over before Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg shot straight at Illan Meslier.
It was the hosts who broke the deadlock in the 29th minute, but Leeds more than played their part in their own downfall.
Playing out from the back, goalkeeper Meslier misplaced a pass to Harry Winks, who found Steven Bergwijn and the Dutchman drew a foul out of Alioski.
Kane made no mistake from the spot as he fired home his 17th goal of the season in all competitions.
Spurs should have doubled their lead five minutes later as Bergwijn did brilliantly to turn in the box but he blazed over from close range.
Leeds threatened a response as Jack Harrison curled just over and Bamford shot straight at Hugo Lloris, but the half ended badly for them as the hosts doubled their lead.
It was the trusted duo that came up trumps again for Spurs, as Kane whipped in a cross for Son at the near post and the South Korean brought up his ton with a neat finish.
Spurs killed the game five minutes after the restart with a third but Meslier will not want to watch it back as his difficult afternoon continued.
He fumbled Alderweireld’s header from Son’s corner at the near post and goal-line technology ruled the ball had crossed the line by millimetres, though Eric Dier converted the rebound anyway.
Jose Mourinho’s side had been accused of sitting on leads in recent weeks but they did not do here as they racked up enough chances to score a hatful.
Son chose the wrong option when he raced in on goal, Bergwijn saw an effort saved by Meslier, who also kept out Kane as he tried to redeem himself.
Leeds kept on pushing for a consolation but lacked the quality to make the breakthrough as Spurs won comfortably, even though Doherty picked up his second caution in added time.
Arsenal thrash Albion
Resurgent Arsenal continued to resurrect their season after thumping West Brom 4-0 to pile more misery on the Baggies.
Alexandre Lacazette’s second-half brace added to excellent strikes from Kieran Tierney and Bukayo Saka.
The Gunners overwhelmed Albion to record three successive Premier League victories for just the second time under Mikel Arteta.
Albion remain second bottom, with just one win, and have now conceded 12 goals in Sam Allardyce’s three home games.
They caught the Gunners on one of their best nights of the season, though, with Arteta’s side breathing life into a campaign which was going off the rails just a few games ago.
Arsenal only climbed to 11th but they are at least within striking distance of the top six, sitting three points behind Chelsea having played a game more.
Baggies boss Allardyce had said the Gunners were in the relegation battle with them before Arsenal beat Chelsea and Brighton over the festive period.
Albion came into the game after Tuesday’s 5-0 hammering by Leeds and, on Saturday’s evidence, there is only one team heading for the drop.
No team with eight points or fewer from their opening 17 games has avoided relegation from the Premier League and Albion were outclassed.
Hector Bellerin and Saka tested Sam Johnstone inside the opening 10 minutes to set the tone for a dominant first half.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also almost marked his 100th Premier League appearance with a goal but just failed to turn Saka’s teasing low cross in at the far post.
Albion’s only chance came when Matt Phillips’ fired straight at Bernd Leno after Matheus Pereira’s cute pass.
But Arsenal grabbed the lead and total control after 23 minutes when Tierney proved why, when fit, he is such an asset.
The full-back twice beat Darnell Furlong to embarrass the defender on the left and cut inside before firing high past Johnstone from 15 yards.
Five minutes later it was 2-0 when the Gunners tore their hosts to ribbons with an incisive move.
Emile Smith Rowe swapped passes with Saka and Lacazette before being slipped through by the Frenchman to cross for Saka, who had continued his run unmarked, to tap in.
Just like Leeds, the Gunners threatened to run riot at the Hawthorns and Johnstone needed to turn Lacazette’s cross over after it hit Grady Diangana.
Albion were, again, out of their depth and Johnstone denied Lacazette two minutes before the break after the striker outmuscled Branislav Ivanovic.
The hosts needed a response and Callum Robinson fired in after Pereira hit the post after the restart only for the offside flag to halt their elebrations.
But Arsenal wrapped up the points with two more quickfire goals from Lacazette.
Saka again caused chaos for the first when his 61st-minute cross was turned onto his own post by Semi Ajayi, who then blocked Smith Rowe’s follow-up strike, but Lacazette gobbled up the rebound.
The second, after 64 minutes, was equally as simple as the striker converted Tierney’s cross from close range.
Johnstone stopped Aubameyang adding a fifth late on and saved from Willian before Leno denied Rekeem Harper a stoppage-time consolation.
Brighton hit back
Struggling Brighton battled back from two goals down to snatch a point from a thrilling 3-3 Premier League draw with Wolves at the Amex Stadium.
Sheffield United suffered another Premier League defeat as Jeffrey Schlupp and Eberechi Eze were on the scoresheet in a 2-0 victory to Crystal Palace.
The Blades are the first club in EPL history to go the first 17 games without a win.
#############