Mohammed Kudus has emerged as Tottenham’s new star man after his sensational Premier League debut against Burnley.
Tottenham produced a 3-0 win against Burnley in their opening Premier League game of the season on Saturday, 16 August.
Richarlison netted two incredible goals for Spurs on the day – but it was Kudus who stole all the headlines.
The right winger created ample attacking threat from start to finish. His precision, decisiveness and power saw him produce one of the best debuts at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in recent history.
Kudus masterfully sets Richarlison up for the volley
Kudus’ back-to-back crosses for Richarlison were a mastery that should be hung in the Louvre.
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The first goal was all down to his impressive wing play down the right channel.
The right winger received a pass from Pape Matar Sarr with his back to goal in the right half space. He shifted the ball onto his left foot before flicking it behind.
On the turn, he readjusted and reclaimed the ball on the touchline before running it down the channel, lofting in a high cross to Richarlison, who took it on the volley.
It was a spectacularly worked goal which highlighted the winger’s freak acceleration, pace and technical quality.
Kudus’ second assist was one for the ages
There is no doubt that the bewildering physical quality of Richarlison’s scissor-kick goal stole attention from the sheer brilliance of Kudus’s assist.
But his work from the right half-space should not be understated. Kudus received a pass from Pedro Porro near the edge of the area and proceeded to size up Burnley’s Quilindschy Hartman.
One-on-one with the left-back, Spurs’ new signing shifted the ball onto his right foot with an insane change of pace. Before sending in another precise cross, which Richarlison spectacularly latched onto.
Two sublime crosses. Two sensational goals. This emerging attacking duo may be the ones to define Tottenham’s season.
How does Kudus’s performance compare to James Maddison’s debut?
Against Burnley, Kudus became the second player to provide two or more assists on his Premier League debut for Tottenham after James Maddison.
While both players provided two assists on their debuts, Maddison’s were of a better and higher quality. The midfielder also took the cake when it came to passes into the final third, providing six more than his teammate.
However, Kudus offered more precision and range in his passing. The right winger’s crosses and long balls were more accurate and direct compared to the Englishman’s. He was also a greater dribbling and one-on-one threat, which makes sense given their roles on the pitch.
Therefore, while both provided ample creative opportunities. Kudus’ combination of technicality, chance creation and direction saw him made him more threatening.
The Verdict
It was an overall stunning display from the right-winger. From his wing play to cutting-edge when in the box – Kudus had it all.
There are several key takeaways from his performance:
All in all, the right winger’s display was masterful to witness. After the departure of Son Heung-min from Tottenham, there were questions of whether another leading man would take his place.
Following back-to-back elite performances in the UEFA Super Cup final and the Premier League, it seems Spurs have found their man.