“I love this”: Redknapp highlights what he observed about Solanke just before his second goal in Tottenham’s 4-1 victory.
Dominic Solanke netted his first brace for Tottenham in Sunday’s 4-1 victory over Aston Villa.
The £65 million summer signing from Bournemouth scored his third and fourth Premier League goals of the season as Tottenham staged a comeback from 1-0 down against Aston Villa, with those four goals coming in just eight appearances.
This victory propelled Spurs up to seventh place in the Premier League table.
The England international’s first goal was a stunning display of skill, as he delicately chipped the ball over the advancing Emiliano Martinez, following a beautiful buildup involving Brennan Johnson and Dejan Kulusevski.
However, during the post-match analysis on Sky Sports, Jamie Redknapp chose to highlight a key moment involving Dominic Solanke before he netted his second goal, which was a much simpler tap-in.
Redknapp praised Solanke for his determination, noting how he shrugged off an attempt by Youri Tielemans to pull him back by the neck as he made his way into the box to support the attack.
“In today’s game, many players would likely have fallen to the ground to attract the referee’s attention after such an incident,” Redknapp commented.
“But Solanke pressed on, showing his desire to connect with Richarlison’s cross.”
Solanke, who equaled a Rafael van der Vaart record with his performance, was clearly in fine form against Aston Villa, scoring both of his goals within just four minutes.
His overall contribution to the game was excellent, demonstrating his ability to influence play before finding the net.
For Tottenham, Solanke has emerged as a talisman.
Following Harry Kane’s departure to Bayern Munich in August 2023, Spurs struggled to find a clinical edge in their attack.
None of Richarlison, Johnson, Heung-min Son, or Timo Werner could effectively fill the physical role of a dominant No. 9, largely due to their playing styles and profiles.
Now, under manager Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham has a genuine striker in Solanke.
Even on a day when the team was not at its best, he stepped up and shifted the momentum of the match against a strong Aston Villa side, showcasing his finishing ability.
It was a ruthless performance from Solanke, who effectively took control of the game within four minutes, leaving Unai Emery little time to adjust tactically after Villa fell behind 2-1.
If the 27-year-old can maintain his fitness, Spurs will have a strong chance of competing for either the FA Cup or UEFA Europa League with him leading the attack.
