When Allan Saint-Maximin went down with an injury, it seemed like the start of another dismal day for Newcastle. But enter Christian Atsu…
The Ghanaian missed pre-season due to injury, but three games in and he’s a key reason why we’ve got three points on the board.
Atsu set up the only goal of the game with a brilliant pass. He clipped the ball just over Davinson Sanchez’s head, allowing Joelinton to take a touch and tuck home his first goal for the club.
Joelinton will take all the plaudits for a brilliant finish, but it wouldn’t have been possible without Atsu’s vision and execution.
His final ball and decision making often leaves a lot to be desired, but Atsu got it bang on against Spurs. He also had a chance to get himself a goal, but his first touch let him down before Toby Alderweireld took the ball off him.
He’s a player who has had a weird Newcastle career. He’s never really set the world alight, but often does enough to justify being in the side.
And after his performance against Tottenham, Steve Bruce may have to include him from the start against Watford next week.
Nobody expected Newcastle to beat Spurs, and if they did, they certainly won’t have expected Christian Atsu to be the difference. But here we are; three points on the board thanks to a wonderful assist by that man himself.
Newcastle fans can’t believe how good Atsu was off the bench
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