Unlike Son & Odobert: 5/10 Spurs dud just proved why Ange must axe him for the final

Tottenham’s 2-0 loss at Aston Villa marked their 21st Premier League defeat of a turbulent season, yet the North London club emerged from Villa Park with their Europa League final hopes largely intact.

While the scoreline made for grim reading, Ange Postecoglou’s experimental lineup avoided further injury catastrophes ahead of Wednesday’s showdown with Manchester United – arguably the most significant result from Friday’s dead rubber.

The match statistics reveal a one-sided affair that belied Tottenham’s occasional promise:

Despite being comprehensively outplayed, Tottenham produced flickers of encouragement through Wilson Odobert and Heung-min Son.

Odobert’s transition to a central role in James Maddison’s absence yielded promising moments, with the French teenager demonstrating intelligent movement and willingness to interchange positions.

While his final product lacked polish – completing just 71% of passes and failing to register a shot on target – his 6/10 match rating from the Evening Standard’s Dan Kilpatrick reflected a performance that at least offered tactical variety for the final.

Son’s return to the starting lineup provided greater cause for optimism. The South Korean captain, making his first start since April, showcased bursts of acceleration that commentator Seb Stafford-Bloor noted were “quicker with the ball at his feet than he has in months.”

Though similarly lacking end product (0 key passes, 0 successful dribbles), his 67-minute outing served its primary purpose – rebuilding match sharpness ahead of Bilbao.

However, not all experiments proved successful. Eighteen-year-old Archie Gray’s midfield struggles continued following his difficult outing against Crystal Palace.

Stationed alongside Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, the teenager won just 1 of 4 ground duels and completed a modest 83% of passes before being substituted.

His 5/10 rating underscored a performance that reinforced his current limitations in central areas, despite an otherwise impressive debut Spurs campaign featuring 24 appearances across four positions.

The match also raised questions about Postecoglou’s final selection dilemmas:

Positives

• Odobert’s adaptability in advanced roles
• Son’s returning explosiveness
• No new injury crises emerging

Concerns

• Gray’s midfield growing pains
• Limited creative output (3 total shots)
• Defensive vulnerability (18 shots conceded)

As Tottenham prepare for their first European final since 2019, Postecoglou faces critical decisions. Does he trust Odobert’s raw potential in a creative role against United’s experienced midfield?

Can Son’s partial recovery compensate for Maddison’s absence? And how does he shore up a midfield that has been bypassed with alarming frequency?

The answers to these questions will determine whether Friday’s dead rubber proves a valuable dress rehearsal or merely the latest chapter in a season of frustration.

With first-choice defenders rested and key attackers regaining fitness, Tottenham’s Bilbao prospects remain alive – but their Villa Park showing confirmed that United will present a challenge of entirely different magnitude.